Alternatives to Floral Bridal Bouquets
Through the centuries, brides have carried elaborate bouquets of fresh flowers. Today's brides can throw this tradition out the window. Perhaps you are allergic to flowers or would rather carry something more original. Let the season and your wedding theme inspire alternatives to a traditional floral bouquet.
Other People Are Reading
-
Shells
-
If you're getting married on the beach or hosting a nautical or summer-themed affair, carry a sea shell bouquet. Purchase a shell bouquet on websites like Etsy or make one using seashells, floral wire, a styrofoam ball and hot glue.
Feathers
-
Feathers add a quirky touch to a wedding and are available in a wide variety of colors and sizes. Visit a craft store for feathers to match your wedding colors, or select peacock feathers for an exotic look. Tie the feathers together with a ribbon for an inexpensive, yet striking bouquet, or purchase a feather bouquet from websites like Etsy or eBay.
-
Parasol
-
If your wedding is taking place in a garden, on the beach or in a park, carry a parasol to shade you from the sun and add a lighthearted touch to your ceremony. Find paper parasols on websites like Luna Bazaar and Asian Ideas, or visit stores in a Chinatown area. Choose a parasol in your wedding colors or one to match your gown.
Fans
-
A paper or silk fan is inexpensive and practical during an outdoor ceremony or in a building without air conditioning. Fans are especially suitable for Asian-themed weddings, but work well for any outdoor or warm-weather location. Order personalized fans that can also be used as favors for guests, or choose a fan to match your wedding colors.
Rosaries
-
The Catholic bride may forgo flowers and carry a rosary down the aisle instead. Choose a rosary to match your wedding colors, or consider asking a family member for a treasured rosary; this also could serve as your "something old" or "something borrowed."
Muffs
-
A fur muff will not only keep your hands warm for a winter wedding, but it will lend an air of old-fashioned glamour. Purchase a fur muff -- real or faux -- or sew your own using fake fur material from a crafts store.
-
References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
