One of the most important aspects of wedding decor is the flowers. In most cases the bride has her favourite flower picked out because that is what she wants as her bridal bouquet, and thus the decor usually coincides. The origin of a floral bouquet began with ancient Greek and Roman tradition of having the bride and groom wearing circular garlands around their necks. These were made of fragrant herbs and sprinkled with spices that were meant to ward off evil spirits, ill health, and bad luck. As traditions changed and evolved people began carrying bundles and bouquets instead of the wreaths. Then came the Victorian era, where the Queen forever changed the bridal bouquet when she married Prince Albert in 1840.  She clutched a small collection of snowdrops, said to be Prince Albert's favourite flower, surrounded by the normal greenery. Another interesting fact about Victoria, is that she reportedly planted myrtle (a green shrub) in her garden at the Osborne House after the wedding. Since then, it has become a royal bride tradition to pluck a sprig from the same bush and carry it in their bouquets. It was the public use of flowers in the royal bouquet that quickly started the floral trend.

Now, 171 years later that is still the normal dream for brides. Whether silk or fresh, flower bouquets are a timeless tradition. Like most traditions though, some people want to be unique and stand out. Within the last few years, unique bouquets of different natural elements and more crafty materials have made an impact on wedding bouquet design. Do-it-yourself solutions to the bouquet have become popular because the very low price, creative freedom, unique look, and the benefit of  it being everlasting. Below I have collected some of my favourite unique bouquets to share what is happening in the world of weddings.

Brooches

The biggest unique bouquet trend that I have seen as of late is that of one made of brooches. A brooch bouquet can include many different elements such as fabric, lace, buttons, paper, beads and clips. What I find so intriguing about some these bouquets is the emotional and loving stories attached. I have read of women having brooches that once belonged to a dear Grandmother or Aunt, even a Mother who died while the bride was a child included within the arrangement. This can allow the bride to feel a connection and presence of the people that passed on. These pieces of art are can also be made with such differing styles that it can suit many personalities and wedding themes. Depending on the texture, colour, and size of the elements these bouquets they can be fun and quirky, glam vintage, sweet or edgy. The possibilities are endless!

Felt & Buttons

The more crafty bride may choose to make one of these unconventional but fun bouquets. Some arrangements combine felt, brooches, and buttons, while others are for the majority just buttons. These are very inexpensive to make and are truly one of a kind creations.

Feathers

In recent years, feather centrepieces have become a popular replacement for the classic flower display. Feathers are also often seen in hair accessories and with birdcage style veils. Most recently, I have found that feathers have moved into the bouquet department. With an abundance of colours, shapes and sizes they can make a normal arrangement into something spectacular. Whether in combination within a conventional floral bunch, or on their own with accented beads a feather bouquet is a soft and elegant choice for an original style.

Lanterns

I have found the trend of lanterns in place of flowers only recently and it is incredibly intriguing. Most DIY arrangements still resemble flowers and the basic shape of a classic bouquet, but this breaks the mold completely. This idea is really thinking outside of the box, but I can imagine how beautiful it could be if the lanterns were glowing at an evening wedding. The image of the sun setting in the background of an outdoor wedding or the lights dimmed with glowing candles inside a church is breathtaking.

Nature Based

With the current green movement and rediscovered love for the outdoors, natural weddings are very popular. Within this theme I noticed a few things that are used: Butterflies, wheat, lavender, and twigs.These are a few different examples of unique nature themed and natural element bouquets I have come across.
11/22/2011 01:04:50 pm

I love the idea of lanterns in place of bouquets; I've never seen or thought of that before!

For my cousin's wedding, all us bridesmaids held bouquets of flowers we made from feathers, silk ribbons, lace and tulle. It took hours but we each had unique and crafty bouquets.

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Janine
11/22/2011 08:33:33 pm

These are really unique and cool ideas. I'd never seen anything like the felt, button, or butterfly bouquets before. They're really wonderful!

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