Weddingbee Blog

Okay hive, honest time? I talk out of my ass—not TMI ass talking—but rather, I have a tendency to make a declarative sentence and then go back on what I’ve said. Whatever, not worried about it. This particular declarative, now defunct statement is about our formerly flowerless wedding reception. That’s right, we are now investing in colored leaves that die. Or more accurately, my future in-laws are generously gifting us flowers.

I had several reasons against flowers, the first being the price tag. I also thought they were expected at a wedding—a reason to not have them. (I have a tendency to go against the norm, it’s the designer in me.) I’ve also heard many a story where wedding day flowers were completely different than what the florist and couple had previously agreed upon. Finally, the vases I purchased for the centerpieces are beautiful in their own right and don’t (read: didn’t) need flowers.

We started ordering candles for the vases and it became apparent that some just wouldn’t be able to accommodate candles.

Rhode Island has established very strict (with good reason) fire codes ever since The Station nightclub fire in 2003. I tried to think of other ways to decorate the vases but in the end thought flowers would be the best solution. I want them to look beautiful, not different for the sake of being different.

So, on Halloween I separated the vases into boxes. 17 into boxes bound for the Biltmore, complete with candles, (I am full of alliteration today—please bear with) and 17 into boxes bound for the florist with inspiration photos, peacock feathers, and swatches. Last Friday, my FMIL and I headed over to the florist for a little consultation. Here’s the deal though—I don’t want to get invested into the flowers. I am purposely not giving a clear vision of the flowers I want because I do not want something like colored leaves that die to interfere with my wedding day happiness. Has anyone else done this? I am literally making a decision to devest (it’s a word—I just made it up—it’s better than Beyonce’s Bootylicious). Devesting is an important step in the SEDIP philosophy. We’ve done it in other areas of the wedding but I just realized what we’re doing. There are certain details of the wedding day, mostly the ones that we cannot control, that I am just not interested in caring about.

In the end, we ordered 6 pew flower decorations, 17 flowered centerpieces, 6 corsages, and 1 bouquet. Wait, what? Miss Zebra! Oh yeah—when I said I made my bridal bouquet out of fake flowers- is that what you’re thinking about? I couldn’t help it. I have an awesome mother-in-law that sometimes convinces me to spend her money. My bouquet will have light pink peonies and deep purple David Austin roses.

David Austin Rose

Peony

The rest of the flowers I instructed the florist to use “bright pinks, purples, and greens.” That’s it. Devested and it feels so good!

In what areas have you devested in your wedding?