One of the best pieces of advice we’ve ever heard was to tell brides to carry their wedding bouquet as long as they can. There are two reasons to do this. For one, bouquets aren’t exactly inexpensive, and most brides these days want to get their money’s worth! And second, when will they ever get a chance to carry a bouquet of gorgeous, absolutely perfect flowers ever again? One bride we know had her bridesmaids do the typical bouquets-around-the-cake deal, but for her own bouquet? She carried it throughout the night, and you can even see it in her get-away photos. Of course some brides do the traditional bouquet toss, which means someone else gets to take the bouquet home. If you have a bride who wants to keep her own bouquet, however, consider suggesting that she have her florist create a separate throw-away bouquet for tossing!

Speaking of that traditional toss, have you ever wondered about its history? Experts say that the bouquet toss goes all the way back to 14th-century France. Brides were thought to be lucky, and at the end of the festivities guests would rush toward the bride in an effort to actually rip off a piece of her gown! Obviously this wasn’t exactly safe for anyone involved, so brides began throwing things to their guests such as their garter or stockings. As time went on this practice was considered undignified so brides instead started throwing their bouquets. Today, catching a bride’s bouquet is still considered lucky, lucky if you’re a singleton awaiting her own ring and wedding!

When it comes to choosing a bouquet there are so many options a bride’s head may start to spin! As certified wedding and event coordinators it would be very helpful to have a quick handout that you can give to your clients so they’ll know exactly what their choices are. The following is a rundown of some of our favorite designs. If you have more to share, please let us know in the comments! (Be sure to check the source links at the end of this post for more information on these amazing bouquets!)

Photo credits:
1. Bloom for Brides
2. My Wedding Flower Ideas
3. Bizarre Wedding Flowers
4. Opulence Floral
5. Bizarre Wedding Flowers
6. Unique Weddings by Janay
7. Wedding Flowers and Reception Ideas
8. Gifts Florist 2000
9. Blossom Sweet
10. Wedding Flowers and Reception Ideas
11. Preserved Florals by Lizann
12. Martha Stewart Living
13. Lil Fish Studios News
14. Silk Wedding Designs
15. Debutante Clothing
16. Martha Stewart Living
17. Flower Divas
18. Judy Carr Florist

We’ve talked before about Lovegevity’s Green Wedding Planning course, and we’ve even discussed why it’s important to go green. Have you decided to take the plunge? (Pun intended, of course!) Or are you still wavering? Lovegevity’s Green Wedding Certification Course comes from a class designed by Kate Harrison and her book, The Green Bride. Harrison graduated from Vassar with a major in Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Development. She wrote The Green Bride after she and her husband, Barry, planned their own green wedding in 2007. According to Kate:

“With 46% of couples looking for green options, there has never been a better time to go green as a wedding professional. There are so many reasons to take the Green Wedding Professional certification class, but I think this Ripple (above), hosted by Andre Yap, might be helpful. For additional information, see the Green Wedding Planning Certification class page.”

As professional, certified wedding and event coordinators you’re expected to carry every available tool in your tool belt. Becoming certified as a green wedding coordinator is just one more way to grow your business and show your clients that you’re on top of things. If you’re still unsure of the reasons why to go green be sure to watch Kate’s video above. It will answer a lot of your questions about the green wedding industry, and how you can be a part of it!