All you need is love … and an alternative to a wedding bouquet.

So maybe you’re not a big flower person, maybe you or your groom are allergic to flowers, maybe you want to save some bucks or maybe you want something that is going to last longer than 2 days.  There are tons of alternatives to a traditional wedding bouquet, many that can be adapted to suit your colour scheme and many that may be a better match to your theme/location than a traditional bunch of flowers.

Back in the day brides carried a bouquet of flowers to disguise the poor hygiene habits of old, when normal showering each day was not the done thing.  These days this isn’t really too much of an issue, but it is still a tradition many partake in, the carrying of a bouquet not the not showering!

Here’s a list of alternatives to the wedding bouquet, you can use them as your bridal bouquet or incorporate them into your entire wedding party.

• Pinwheels – always look cute and fun, and are generally colourful, you can make smaller versions for the groom and his boys.
• Lollipops – love the look of a bunch of giant lollipops tied with a colourful ribbon, can be tailored to your colour palette.

• Succulents – group together a variety of succulents.
• Sprigs of dried herbs and/or dried flowers – imagine the smell of a bunch of lavender or rosemary.
• Feather flowers – look beautiful with wee diamante included.
• Stack of favourite books – wrap a stack or even a single favourite book with some beautiful fabric ribbon.

• Brooches – Brooch bouquets look stunning, you can even ask all your favourite female family members/friends to gift you a brooch that you can use in the bouquet, making it extra special.
• One giant paper flower –  looks very striking
• Origami flowers – or any origami shape pulled together into a bouquet would be lovely, especially paper cranes.
• Giant pom poms – definitely fun, can be matched to your colour scheme, you could either use one giant pom pom or a bunch of them together.
• Balloons – either fastened into balloon flowers or a bunch of helium balloons held together with a ribbon.
• Button bouquet – these are becoming very popular and look stunning.

• Lantern – either by itself or filled with foliage and/or a candle, would look stunning for a night wedding.
• Fan – can be adorned with a little foliage, or a favourite poem, would be handy on an especially hot day.
• Seashells – would be a perfect fit for a beach wedding.
• Parasols – look awesome for all the bridal party.

• Flower crown – if you’re going for a more boho look this would be ideal, with long wavy natural looking hair.
• Corsage/flower necklaces – a corsage either worn on the wrist/upper arm or ankle keeps the hands free for all the hand-holding you’ll be doing on your wedding day.

• Metal wire bouquets – use think stainless steel with beads or diamante for a definite showstopper.
• Paper butterflies – would not look out of place at a garden wedding.
• Pinecones/Fruit/Vegies – For something completely different.
• Paper flower – you could have them made out of pages from your favourite book, or love poems, or maps, if you love to travel.
• Felt or fabric flowers – can be made to suit your colour scheme and will definitely last.

and the last and definitely my favourite a large dollop of candy floss, imagine the smell as you walk down the aisle.