From Proposal to Wedding Day: Flowers for Bride, Groom

If there’s one place in your wedding budget that I recommend to splurge on is the bridal bouquet. Even if you were to choose some exotic flowers that cost a lot, it will not break the bank and it will probably make you happy.

Here’s few tips for choosing your bridal bouquets and flowers for your wedding party.

Don’t go too large, bouquets tend to get heavy and you carry them for quite some time. My rule is-the bouquet should not be bigger than your head

Go for a naturally looking hand tied bouquet. I still see, although occasionally thank goodness, some “formal” bouquets arranged on a plastic holder. Even though you can’t tell in the photos, once you lay your bouquet down, well it looks like flowers pinned on the plastic holder.

Use your imagination and accessorize your bouquet with things that you love and cherish. Your childhood photos in a miniature frame, your mother’s pearls, your grandmother’s veil.

Go for the classic white or for the burst of color. There’s no right or wrong. And you don’t have to “match” your wedding colors. Sometimes the bridal bouquet is a perfect opportunity to introduce a different color and surprise everyone.

For a different look try “textured” flowers and plants, like succulents, lamb’s ear, grasses etc. They are especially appropriate for outdoorsy, relaxed weddings and look so different from your typical wedding flowers.

If you don’t want real flowers and are “brave” (and strong enough!) go for a brooch bouquet. One of my recent brides created a beautiful one (see photo) out of the brooches her late mother used to collect. The bouquet was stunning, but it did weigh a hefty amount. Plus we needed a weighted vase to store the bouquet in!

You don’t have to have a bouquet per say. I’ve seen some beautiful individual flowers carried in lieu of the bouquet. Single calla lily or a lotus flower can be stunning and incorporated into the wedding ceremony.

For your wedding party, you can go as large or as small as you wish or as your budget allows you. Gone are the days when the entire wedding party needed flowers to distinguish them from the rest of the guests. My absolute favorite, minimalist boutonniere was just a pin that said “I am a boutonniere.” I dare you! Or go with an unexpected, groom or theme inspired, like feathers, or golf inspired boutonnieres. Check Fritts Rosenow’s website for a truly unique boutonniere ideas at http://rosenowfloral.com/frittsrosenow.

In my next blog I will talk more about other elements of the wedding décor. In the meantime – happy wedding planning!