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

Photo courtesy of weddingchicks.com and Fantasy Floral Designs

The bridal bouquet has a long and storied past. A quick Internet search will show that no one knows exactly where and when the tradition started, but many stories have a similar beginning. Regardless it’s a tradition that has stood the test of time and is beloved by brides all over the world no matter their budget or style. Researchers say that wedding bouquets were originally made of herbs and spices and were used to keep away evil spirits that could plague the future, but others suggest that the bouquets were a way to show love to the couples’ friends and family. As time went on the bridal couple began to share flowers with their guests, which may reveal the history of the bridesmaid bouquet and groomsmens’ boutonnieres. The first record of wedding flowers dates to the ancient Greeks, who used fresh flowers to make a crown and garland, which represented new life and fertility for the bride and groom.

Photo courtesy of Rue 42 on Etsy

The story goes that when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert the traditional herbs and spices were replaced with fresh flowers (but often edible flowers, especially marigolds.) Throughout the Victorian age specific flowers took on specific meanings, and in the 19th Century floriography - the study of flower meanings - was established. Roses, for example mean love; freesia means trust; ivy means fidelity; violets mean hope; and ferns mean sincerity. Dill was often included, and later eaten by the bridal couple, because it was said to increase lust. In modern times, of course, flowers are chosen mostly because of style and color and are used to complement the bride’s choice of bridesmaid gowns and decor.

Tips for choosing a bridal bouquet:

* A bridal bouquet should not be so large that it competes with the details of the bridal gown.

* Weight of the bouquet should be considered because some brides like to hold their bouquet throughout the evening.

* If the bride has allergies you may want to discuss flower smells with the florist.

* The price and availability of flowers depends on season (unless, of course, the budget has no limits.) If your bride has her heart set on a bouquet of certain flowers it would be wise to discuss her wedding date first!

Photo courtesy of realbadkitty on Etsy

* Some photographers suggest avoiding blue flowers in winter because the season’s dull light will also dull the color of the flowers in photographs.

* Brides are often choosing silk flowers for their bouquets because they are obviously long-lasting. Another good suggestion is to make a silk bouquet for bridal portraits, which the bride can keep, and use fresh flowers for the wedding so the bride has a bouquet she won’t mind throwing at the end of the reception.

Wedding and event planners have to do a lot of research to stay on top of trends, especially in the wedding industry. Bouquets made of buttons and brooches are popular because they’re not only unique keepsakes, but they’re also “green” choices. What trends are you seeing in bouquets? What are some of the favorite choices you’ve run across as you’ve worked with brides?