Weddingbee Blog

I know I’ve already talked a bit about our flower inspiration, but there’s one very special flower that I haven’t mentioned yet.

It was around one Valentine’s Day that Mr. Crepe bought me flowers for the first time. He and his roommate had gone to the local florist and shopped for flowers together. (How cute is that??) They picked out some very beautiful pink and yellow gerbera daisies.

Mr. C in the back, with his bud, 2001. This is by far my favorite photo of them together.

When he gave me the daisies, he told me they had found an enormous specimen, so wild looking that they joked about getting it for me instead. He described it as being spiky, fuzzy, and a really “manly” looking flower. I logged it away in my file cabinet of a brain, and when Mr. Crepe was accepted into the major of his choice, you can be sure your homegirl set out to the florist with a mission. I wasn’t sure if I would recognize it, but shouldn’t have been worried because there wasn’t anything like it in the entire shop.

Ladies and gentlemen, the king protea.

Source

I purchased one and presented it to Mr. Crepe, who just about died laughing when he saw my gift, but the story doesn’t end there. We were transfixed by this mysterious flower that seemed almost alive because, that same evening, it began to change. The dusty silver spikes in the center of the bloom opened up, and the whole thing became impossibly more magnificent. It’s no wonder that this flower symbolizes “transformation.” That thing was transforming right before our eyes.

Mr. C had to get on a plane the next day, back to Nashville on break, so the king went with him (even got its own seat!). This flower is not only amazing when fresh; it also dries beautifully. I’ve given him other king proteas through the years, but the original is still back home in Nashville, a decade later.

Everyone loves a ruffly peony or fragrant roses for a wedding, but proteas rarely make an appearance. I didn’t even consider this special flower of ours; it just didn’t feel wedding worthy. Or so I thought.

Via Once Wed

Can you imagine my face when it saw this photo?? My jaw dropped to the basement. I heard singing.

Via 100 Layer Cake

Via Modern Day Floral

I’m so excited that we could potentially use these! Mr. Crepe is, too, which is wonderful. There are definitely many moments when we don’t agree on details, but this is one we are both equally excited for. I just hope we can get them in May!

Is there a particular flower that is special to you as a couple? I’d love to hear your flower stories!