Bridesmaid Bouquets: Yes or No?

Bridesmaid Bouquets: Yes or No?

May 4th, 2010 @ 4:30 pm by Mrs. Frog
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So I’ve been thinking lately about bridesmaids’ bouquets. I know, I’ve just lost any reader working in the floral industry. But hear me out. I’m not saying that brides should forgo flowers – I definitely think there’s a special place in a wedding for a bridal bouquet, ceremony flowers and reception centerpieces, among other floral adornments – I’m just thinking that in this economy, there might be other ways to address what a bridesmaid could hold that may prove to be easier on the budget.

Has anyone seen the incredibly creative things that some brides have chosen to do for their bridesmaids in lieu of bouquets? I saw one wedding where the couple met as kids, became high school sweethearts and decided to design their entire wedding in a school theme. The bridesmaids carried school books bound in a strap like back in the ’20s. I just loved that it worked in their theme but wasn’t cheesy. I also really love that I can’t find the photo or link to demonstrate. Have I mentioned how organized I am?

That got me thinking… what else could be substituted? What about using the bridesmaids’ gifts for this purpose? There are so many great clutches out there (like the ones below), and we all know girls love purses and will need something at the wedding to hold those few chosen items. Selecting a personal clutch for each girl that shares the colors of your wedding could add a splash of color as they walk down the aisle, plus it’s definitely practical.

Bridesmaid Bouquets: Yes or No? : wedding accessories flowers phoenix Clutch Clutch 1

Or perhaps there’s no need for anything to be carried if the bridesmaids are entering on the arm of a groomsman. In this case, maybe just a great hair piece like these from Etsy or colorful sash for the dress would be enough.

Bridesmaid Bouquets: Yes or No? : wedding accessories flowers phoenix Hairpie hairpiece 1

But really, what do I know? There’s always something special about sticking with tradition… but there’s something equally special about personalizing your wedding in your own way. You see how I sidestepped a real opinion there? I can be good at that. You.Are.Welcome.

Are you planning for something “outside the box” with your bridesmaids?

Tags: accessories, flowers, phoenix |

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32 Responses to “Bridesmaid Bouquets: Yes or No?”

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Member

futuremissh (message) 7 posts, Newbee

My bridesmaid will be carrying the tradtional bouquets. But I LOVE the clutch idea.

5/4/10 @ 4:33 pm (reply)

Member

trishisadish (message) 433 posts, Helper bee

I like all of the ideas! However honestly I prefer nothing at all except those cute hair clips

5/4/10 @ 4:37 pm (reply)

Member

bakingbride (message) 97 posts, Worker bee

Our attenants are wearing a silk rose corsage that I made them. It was super easy! I just stripped the rose from the stem, glued it to a piece of felt and then glued the felt to a wide ribbon that the girls can tie around their wrist!

Since we’re not having a traditional bridal party I didn’t want the traditional bouqets but I did want something that “distinguished” them.

5/4/10 @ 4:38 pm (reply)

Member

rawrkitty1022 (message) 516 posts, Busy bee

I was thinking about this too. I have 2 bridesmaids and they will be carrying small hand-gathered bouquets. I think the morning before the wedding we’re all going to go to a market and make our own bouquets BUT I also have 6 bridal attendants that are close friends and I don’t necessarily want flowers for them either. I too was considering clutches, but now that you mention it, perhaps having them each carry something nostalgic (a picture, a certain card or love letter, a gift we gave/received) that means something to our relationship might be a nice personal touch instead.

5/4/10 @ 4:40 pm (reply)

Member

alivoo01 (message) 2,622 posts, Sugar bee

We’re going traditional and having floral bouquets.

5/4/10 @ 4:42 pm (reply)

Member

SummerCamp (message) 220 posts, Helper bee

Check this beauty out at offbeat bride: http://offbeatbride.com/2010/04/animal-brooch-bouquet

or, since your wedding is in the summer, maybe parasols:
http://weddings.theknot.com/Real-Weddings/60910/detailview.aspx?type=3&id=60910&&wedding+details=bridesmaid+looks&PgReferrer=results.aspx&MsdVisit=1&pageindex=2

or fans: http://wedding.theknot.com/bridesmaids-mother-of-the-bride.aspx

but clutches are super cute (and useful!)!!

5/4/10 @ 4:51 pm (reply)

Member

MerryMary (message) 109 posts, Blushing bee

My bridesmaids are wearing felt flower wrist corsages, and carrying fabric flower pomanders. I don’t think it’s a big deal if the bridesmaids don’t carry anything; the men never do, so I don’t see why the bridesmaids would have to.

Other ideas: books, lanterns, ceremony objects, mementos, photographs, small children…

5/4/10 @ 4:51 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Seashell (message) 1,713 posts, Bumble bee

I’ve seen the clutch thing done - and it was super cute!

5/4/10 @ 4:52 pm (reply)

Guest

After talking with my bridesmaids we picked parasols over traditional flowers…since it was summer & our ceremony is outside I figured the shade will be good! I am thinking something like these…

http://www.lunabazaar.com/yellow-paper-parasols.aspx

5/4/10 @ 5:09 pm (reply)

10.

Bee

Mrs. Pug (message) 3,753 posts, Honey bee

i’ve seen the bridesmaid clutches in photos and they are very cute, and something they can use later on!

5/4/10 @ 5:21 pm (reply)

11.

Member

kamydoo (message) 161 posts, Blushing bee

I’m ordering hair flowers (wired to a comb) for each of my bridesmaids — they’re going to cost about the same as the corsages we’re ordering for the moms. Then, they’ll also each carry a single stem (probably a rose) for the ceremony and just stick it in a vase arrangement afterward. I’m doing hair flowers only also — no bridal bouquet for me! I saw it as an easy way to cut cost and simplify all in one!

5/4/10 @ 5:29 pm (reply)

12.

Guest

mam

I was in a (hindu) wedding and we carried small trays with candles on them. We placed them on a table at the end of the aisle that had photos of the couple’s deceased grandparents. I thought it was a really sweet way to honor their grandparents and include them in the ceremony.

5/4/10 @ 5:36 pm (reply)

13.

Bee

Mrs. Stiletto (message) 918 posts, Busy bee

Looking back, I kind of wish I had ditched the traditional bouquet thing for my bridesmaids..since they walked in/out with groomsmen, there really was no need.

I was in one wedding where we carried lanterns because it went with the theme - cute but heavy!

LOVE the hair pieces you found!

5/4/10 @ 5:54 pm (reply)

14.

Member

tweds (message) 448 posts, Helper bee

I went to a wedding with a picnic theme and the bridesmaids carried balloons! Very cute for an informal, fun wedding.

5/4/10 @ 6:00 pm (reply)

15.

Guest

I think we’re going to forgo flowers. Instead, my bridesmaids will offer “gifts”: salt (so that life has flavor), bread (so that we never go hungry), wine (so that we never thirst), wheat (for fertility!!), and lavender (a mourning color, for the sacrifices which giving one’s life to another entails).

These will be placed on pre-arranged pedestals in containers near the altar, representing our prayers for our marriage. And the meanings will be explained in our wedding program!

5/4/10 @ 6:29 pm (reply)

16.

Member

Dragonsus (message) 1,194 posts, Bumble bee

My girls carried silver satin rose clutch purses instead of bouquets, mostly since everyone was from out of town and I didn’t want people to worry about what to do with their flowers when the day was over. Great look and much more practical!

5/4/10 @ 7:50 pm (reply)

17.

Member

eeyorezsmile (message) 32 posts, Newbee

LOVE the clutch idea! So will my maids, methinks…

5/4/10 @ 8:01 pm (reply)

18.

Member

kamydoo (message) 161 posts, Blushing bee

@MJ - that’s a cool idea!

5/4/10 @ 8:40 pm (reply)

19.

Member

Fudge (message) 8 posts, Newbee

mine will have wrist corsages (made from hair flowers that i ordered off etsy and attached to a ribbon) and lace parasols

5/4/10 @ 11:34 pm (reply)

20.

Member

ms.oohlala (message) 45 posts, Newbee

not doing bouquets either! i’m just going to have them wear a birdcage veil and leave their hands free lol but the clutch idea is cute, as are parasols or candles.

5/5/10 @ 12:18 am (reply)

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