Wedding Flowers - The 7 Most Popular Forms For Bridal Bouquets

You may be well versed on the different wedding gown silhouettes like A-line, Empire, Ballgown or Mermaid, but did you know that wedding flowers come arranged in different shapes too? You'll find that the same combination of flowers can look very different depending on the shape of the bridal arrangement. Though shape is important for your wedding centerpieces and other flowers, the biggest place where shape has an affect on your wedding flowers is in your bridal bouquet.

When you choose the shape for your bridal bouquet, you'll want to make sure that it blends with your wedding theme. For example, a heart shaped bouquet would clash with a modern and minimalist wedding where a cascade shaped bouquet would look quite lovely. You'll also want to keep in mind the level of formality of your wedding when you choose the shape for your bouquet. Loose organic bouquets are best suited for garden and beach weddings while pageant bouquets are ideal for formal affairs.

Flowers

Your bridal bouquet should also flatter the look of your wedding gown. With the right shape, your wedding flowers will lend a beautiful touch to your wedding ceremony and be your best bridal accessory. Large ballgown silhouettes will go well with ornate arrangements like the cascade shape. Simpler gown silhouettes like a classic A-line will work better with simpler bouquets in a round or loose form.

Wedding Flowers - The 7 Most Popular Forms For Bridal Bouquets

No matter what your wedding theme is, you'll find that there's a bouquet shape that's just right for you. If you're familiar with the 7 most popular bridal bouquet shapes, once you choose your wedding florist, you'll easily be able to talk to her about the type of bouquet you want.

Read on to discover the 7 most popular wedding flower shapes and find which one is right for your bridal bouquet.

Round

Round bouquets are the most popular wedding flower choice for brides. Round bouquets are, as the name implies, bouquets with flowers arranged in a round or globe shape. Though the round shape is a very traditional look for wedding flowers, modern brides appreciate its versatility. Simple and elegant, round bridal bouquets are appropriate for both formal and casual weddings.

Crescent

A dramatic shape that consists of flowers and greenery arched from the center and then tapered at the ends, the crescent shape is best suited for formal weddings. Because of the natural way that the flowers seem to fall around your hands, the crescent shape is favored by many brides. Crescent bouquets can be created with a symmetrical look or they can be created asymmetrically by arranging flowers in a graduated fashion for a more contemporary look.

Pageant

Pageant shaped bouquets are characterized by long stems arranged in a sweeping fashion so that the bouquet can fit nicely into a bride's arm. Named for the way that a beauty queen carries her bouquet, the pageant shape can be used for formal or informal weddings. For casual weddings, the pageant shape should be created loosely to lend an organic and wispy look to the bridal bouquet.

Cascade

Also known as a waterfall, the cascade shape features great amounts of flowers at the base of the bouquet that slowly taper along the length of the bouquet. The Cascade shape gives the appearance of flowers spilling over the edge of the bridal bouquet. Sophisticated and elegant, bridal bouquets done in the cascade shape can be used for formal or casual weddings.

Heart

Because the heart is the symbol of love, a heart shaped bridal bouquet is ideal if you want your wedding flowers to have a romantic quality. Arranged in a dense heart shape, heart bouquets add a girlish sweetness to your wedding flowers. If you're carrying a heart shaped bouquet, you'll only want to select one or two different flowers to include so the shape of your bridal bouquet is clearly discernable.

Loose

Also known as organic or hand-tied, loose flower arrangements are the epitome of casual elegance. Loose bridal bouquets are characterized by the stems of flowers and greenery loosely tied together by wire or ribbon. Bridal bouquets done in a loose style appear unfussy and are perfect for beach weddings and other more casual wedding ceremonies.

Now that you know what's available, you can start thinking about which wedding flower shape is right for you. With so many beautiful options, you'll have no problem in finding a bridal bouquet that will compliment your wedding theme and wedding gown perfectly.

Wedding Flowers - The 7 Most Popular Forms For Bridal Bouquets

A wedding expert, Elizabeth Reuth offers wedding tips online for brides and grooms and is the author of the popular wedding vow book Perfect Wedding Vows in Minutes

A Bride's Guide to Reusing Her Bridal Gown, Bridal Jewelry, and Bouquet

If you are like most brides, you will invest a lot of time and money on finding the perfect wedding attire. Bridal jewelry, a wedding gown, shoes, and a bridal bouquet are all components of a bride's wedding attire. Every bride wants to look beautiful on her wedding day and sacrifices a lot of money to do so. After spending thousands of dollars on your wedding, how can you make the most of it after the wedding is over? There are many creative ways that you can repurpose your bridal jewelry, gown, and bouquet.

Reusing Your Bridal Jewelry and getting the most out of it:

Bouquet

o Wear your bridal jewelry when you celebrate your first anniversary.

o Wear your wedding jewelry to your child's wedding.

o Save your bridal jewelry for your daughter, niece, or granddaughter to wear on her wedding day. Note: Be sure to store your bridal jewelry properly. Swarovski bridal jewelry should be stored in a soft jewelry pouch or box. Be sure to keep it away from excessive heat.

o Allow your sister or best friend to borrow your bridal jewelry for her wedding.

o Save your wedding jewelry for your daughter's senior prom.

Reusing Your Bridal Gown to relive the moment:

o Have your wedding gown remade into a christening gown for your son or daughter.

o Save your bridal gown for your daughter, niece, or granddaughter. Note: Remember to have your gown properly preserved.

o Use your wedding gown to make a small decorative pillow or two.

o Cut a swatch of material from your bridal gown to use in a scrapbook or photo album.

o Purchase a special doll or teddy bear and use your bridal gown to make a doll sized version for it.

o Dye your wedding gown another color to wear to a formal event.

Reusing Your Bridal Bouquet for sentimental purposes:

o Preserve a portion of your bridal bouquet to place inside of a scrapbook.

o Preserve your wedding bouquet and display it in your home using a shadow box.

o Have your wedding bouquet professionally pressed and rearranged in a picture frame. Hang the frame in your home and keep as a family heirloom.

The bridal business is a multibillion-dollar industry. The average cost that couples spend on a wedding is nearly ,000. Repurposing your bridal attire makes the money spent well worth it. Creating tangible memories with your bridal jewelry, gown, and bouquet holds sentimental value. Whoever said that the bride's wedding attire is only for her wedding day?

Maria Romain is a writer for Silverland Jewelry and Gifts, a business that specializes in affordable bridal jewelry and gifts.

A Bride's Guide to Reusing Her Bridal Gown, Bridal Jewelry, and Bouquet

http://www.silverlandjewelry.com

Six Alternative Bridal Bouquet Toss Ideas

Is the traditional bridal bouquet toss not for you? Many modern gals are ditching
this traditional altogether, and looking for new variations and interpretations. Many
women see the bouquet toss as pressure, and hate the implication that single
women are chomping at the bit to be married.

Here are six alternatives to the traditional bridal bouquet toss that will make
everyone happy:

Bouquet

• Wish Come True Bouquet Toss -- Invite all the women onto the dance floor, married and single. Ask them all to make a wish right as the bouquet is tossed and whoever catches it will get their wish.
• Fortune Bouquet Toss -- Invite everyone onto the dance floor and have a bouquet that consists of several small bunches of flowers are simply held together in your hand. On each bunch, have a handwritten "fortune" attached to it that you made up. When you throw the flower bunches in the air, they break apart so several people will get a "fortune" bouquet. Before throwing a break apart bouquet make sure they are easily separated and not entwined together so they really do break apart in the air.
• Longest Married Bouquet Toss -- Invite all married couples onto the dance floor and have the DJ announce that everyone married less than 5 years to leave, then less than 10 years to leave and so on until the couple married the longest is left dancing and they are awarded with the bouquet. Keep in mind that this may not be the right bouquet toss for you, especially if you have a recently deceased grandparent that would have been married the longest if they were still living. This also focuses on married people and leaves out the single folks.
• Special Honors Bouquet Toss -- Split up the bouquet into halves and give one half to your mother and one to your mother-in-law. The bridal bouquet could also be presented to grandparents, split apart for all the women in the bridal party, presented to your maid of honor, your sisters, a friend who is engaged, etc. Think of someone you'd like to honor and give it to them as a "good luck" bouquet.
• Favors Toss -- Instead of tossing flowers, toss the wedding favors! Much like candy being tossed in a parade you can toss small or soft favors to the guests. Children can help in the fun, and everybody has a chance to get something. Candy, small stuffed animals, silly toys and gift cards are good choices.
• Gift Cards & Money Bouquet Toss -- Rather than have fortunes attached to a break away bouquet, why not attach gift cards (from coffee shops, record stores, etc) to your bridal bouquet! Rolled up - bills is also fun for everyone. You can invite everyone onto the dance floor, men and women alike. So rather than skip the bridal bouquet toss entirely, why not start your own tradition? Unusual tosses can be explained by your DJ, an appointed person or written in your program. Choose a bridal bouquet toss that is meaningful to you and don't be afraid to simply present it to someone you care about.

Six Alternative Bridal Bouquet Toss Ideas

Amber Dusick is the editor of The Do It Yourself Weddings Guide at http://www.do-it-yourself-weddings.com/ where you can get instructions for wedding crafts, do it yourself favors, centerpieces, make your own invites and programs and more! Learn to do most everything to do with weddings...yourself!