Wedding bouquets - is there any point?

shivvie

I'm getting married next Autumn and I've just started planning - looking at dresses, have the venue booked. I'm not overly traditional so won't be having a veil or mass. Looking at bridal magazines etc I've really been turned off the idea of carrying a bouquet down the aisle. I'd rather hold my dad's hand. Photos of new couples seem a a little unnatural - while the bride is supposed to be gazing at her new husband she has to think about pointing these flowers at a camera. I do love fresh flowers I will have flowers at the reception and may get a bouquet for my one bridesmaid. Anyone I've said this to has said 'oh you have to have flowers' but I dont' see the point.

Any opinions?

Alliandre

I'm still undecided about this myself. I'm certainly not paying hundreds for flowers. If I decide to have a bouquet, I will get a cheap bunch or just get something from the garden. But I think I would feel weird and awkward holding one, so I mightn't do it.

You don't have to have flowers if you don't want to.

Kooli

I like that they give you something to do with their hands.

I can imagine if I was walking up the aisle I'd suddenly get nervous and be like 'Uh how do I walk normally again?!'

If I wasn't doing the whole aisle thing I wouldn't bother though.

And I'll definitely be getting silk flowers. No interest in paying hundreds for the real thing when the silk ones look just as good and I can keep them forever!

artyeva

i wouldn't listen to anyone who says ''you have to'' for your wedding. you should do what i do and go ''i have to? why? what will happen if i don't? will the sky fall in?'' smile, nod and move on.

you do see a lot of awkward brides with bouquets, yes you're absolutely right. if it doesn't feel comfortable for you then why would you put yourself through discomfort and awkwardness just because other people reckon you have to have flowers. and i think the idea of holding your dad's hand as you walk up the aisle is lovely, and imo looks a lot less awkward than when brides and their dads link arms. THAT looks awkward!!

NextSteps

The only reason boquets are useful are as a prop, something to do with your hands. Wedding dresses don't have pockets!

hazeler

NextSteps wrote: »

Wedding dresses don't have pockets!

Mine does!!

Back to bouquets... Mine wont be fresh flowers, or real for that matter. Im felting then embroidering them together with a tonne of buttons. It's something I do anyways so making a full "bouquet" seemed like a no brainer. My flowergirl is carrying windmills, you know the ones from the seaside, in our wedding colours. No real flowers planned for our wedding come to think of it..

I saw a wedding where the bride was a librarian and she carried up her favourite book... maybe you could carry something that you like. But if you are happy holding your Dad's hand then thats perfect. I think that is a real sweet idea

Lillylilly

hazeler wrote: »

Mine does!!

Back to bouquets... Mine wont be fresh flowers, or real for that matter. Im felting then embroidering them together with a tonne of buttons. It's something I do anyways so making a full "bouquet" seemed like a no brainer. My flowergirl is carrying windmills, you know the ones from the seaside, in our wedding colours. No real flowers planned for our wedding come to think of it..

I saw a wedding where the bride was a librarian and she carried up her favourite book... maybe you could carry something that you like. But if you are happy holding your Dad's hand then thats perfect. I think that is a real sweet idea

I just loved this whole post!!!
I love when people do things outside of the norm as too many people feel forced into doing the traditional thing. I like flowers, but don't think they have a place in my wedding. This thread has really started my mind racing for all the possibilities of what I could hold. Other than Daddydaddy's hand!
I once saw someone (on a TV wedding programme, I think), with what looked like possibly a polystyrene sphere decorated with material and brooches she had collected from family members. I liked this as it just looked like a jewelled ball from afar.

taram

My cousin is allergic to most flowers (most everything really!) and she held her mum's hand going up the aisle (as her dad has passed away), everyone said it was lovely, I think go for it OP! I'm going to do the same, and just wear a flower in my hair. My bridesmaid is going to have a bouquet and I'll throw that one at the end.

smelltheglove

I love flowers at weddings, they give texture and detail to the photos but most importantly they give the bride somethign to hide behind if she is anyway nervous at all, you know the moments where you are standing somewhere and everyone is looking at you and you feel completely uncomfortable..... You would also have a choice of pics with and without flowers. Completely up to you but honestly, I would say get flowers without a doubt.

BC

I wasn't going to get flowers but i changed my mind a couple of months beforehand and i was delighted i did. They looked fab and and are great in the photos. Plus as others have said, it was great to have something to do with your hands!!

psycho-hope

shivvie wrote: »

I'm getting married next Autumn and I've just started planning - looking at dresses, have the venue booked. I'm not overly traditional so won't be having a veil or mass. Looking at bridal magazines etc I've really been turned off the idea of carrying a bouquet down the aisle. I'd rather hold my dad's hand. Photos of new couples seem a a little unnatural - while the bride is supposed to be gazing at her new husband she has to think about pointing these flowers at a camera. I do love fresh flowers I will have flowers at the reception and may get a bouquet for my one bridesmaid. Anyone I've said this to has said 'oh you have to have flowers' but I dont' see the point.

Any opinions?

Shivvie, I'd with what ever makes you comfortable, its your day and tbh nobody will notice if you have flowers or not they will all be too busy looking at you and your dress:)

Congratulations btw

Heineken Helen

I'm struggling with this one too... have been looking at the silk flowers and how lovely and real they look these days. I was at a wedding show last week and the flowers I'd been looking at happened to be around the corner from where my dress was so I brought the flowers and the lady with me and they looked horrible against my dress, really cheap so now I'm back to square 1 and not a clue. I know nothing about flowers and if I got that so wrong, how am I gonna get it right?