Let’s talk bridal bouquets. Every bride envisions herself carrying one down the aisle and having it in hand for wedding day photos. Here’s what you may not realize; they’re heavy, awkward, and can be a difficult prop to work with.

 

Don’t get me wrong, I love them. My goal here is to have you to think about the flowers, and the size, weight, shape, and comfort of your bouquet ahead of time.

Do You Have to be Buff to Carry a Bouquet?
Do You Have to be Buff to Carry a Bouquet?

Carrying around a flower arrangement all day is generally not something you stop and think about. We all see the slick photos in bridal magazines where the brides are holding exquisite bouquets, and we want one.

 

I’m here to encourage you to think more realistically about the bouquet.

 

As you carry the bouquet around during your event and photo shoot, it tends to get heavy. You’re already wearing an outfit that’s out of your comfort zone, now add to that a big bouquet of stems wrapped in ribbon. One mid-life bride actually said she didn’t know she had to join a gym and get buff in order to carry her bouquet.

 

Besides being lighter in weight, a smaller bouquet might also be easier on your budget. It might even allow you to splurge on a few (or a single) pricier stem.

Do You Have to be Buff to Carry a Bouquet?
Do You Have to be Buff to Carry a Bouquet?

There are a couple of other considerations I’d like to address. The first is placing hard items such as jewelry or decorative pieces in or on your bouquet. I love the sentiment of having a family heirloom strategically placed on the bouquet, and some bouquets today are actually made entirely of jewels. However, tossing a bouquet with your grandma’s brooch attached could create an issue, either damaging the jewel or hurting someone. Having a second bouquet to toss….or not tossing one are simple alternative solutions. Also consider that the brooch or jewels could snag your delicate lace dress, or the possibility of that beautiful heirloom getting lost. I’m just saying think it through.

Do You Have to be Buff to Carry a Bouquet?
Do You Have to be Buff to Carry a Bouquet?

The other consideration is how to hold the bouquet. I highly recommend practicing your poesy poses. You want to look natural and have it be a beautiful prop. Holding it too high or too low won’t be flattering. The tendency, especially if it’s heavy, will be to hold it with your arms extended downward. If you’re nervous the tendency is holding it too high. Photos capture everything and the last thing you want is to wince when seeing your lovely bouquet inappropriately placed or like it was an after-thought.

 

Finally, if you do choose to have a gorgeous, oversized bouquet think about if you can realistically hold it with one hand or is it going to require a two handed grip most of the time. One bride carried long stemmed white tulips in her arms. It was beautiful and an interesting alternative to a traditional bouquet but not something she carried around after walking down the aisle.

 

I’d love to hear your thoughts or if you’ve already walked down the aisle, what was your bouquet size and did you have any issues?

Do You Have to be Buff to Carry a Bouquet?
Do You Have to be Buff to Carry a Bouquet?

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