Wedding trends are always changing, but one look remains the same. WEARABLE FLOWERS or sometimes referred to as personal flowers for your honored family and friends.
From boho flower crowns to traditional wrist corsages, & floral tattoos to pin on boutonnieres (or buttonholes), the options are truly endless. But with so many creative options, why is it that weekend after weekend florists are slaving away to make ribbon loops and gluing flowers onto metallic, Made in China, one size fits all bracelet wrist corsages?
We think, it’s our own fault.
Our industry sells a look, gets comfortable and in turn the costumer thinks there is only one option for grandma in terms of wedding day personal flowers.
So what are the personal flower options called and what do they look like?
We’ll let’s see…
Partial or Full Flower Crown
Floral Headband
Wrist Corsage (Slap Bracelet, Metal Cuff, Satin Ribbon, or Wristlet)
Pin On Corsage
Boutonnière (also called a Buttonhole)
Floral Clip or Flower Comb
Floral Tattoo
Floral Jewelry (Bangle, Earrings, Ring, or Necklace)
This is just a starting list. Really the options are endless. Wouldn’t it be amazing to see your 92 year old grandma rocking a full flower crown down the aisle? Hair as fluffy as the flowers? Or an amazing floral bangle? Or a necklace made with preserved botanicals and flowers that lays on top of her gown and can be kept for years after the wedding? Anything is better than a mass produced wrist corsage, that’s often uncomfortable and people are constantly complaining about how hearty the flowers are even when processed carefully, hydrated specifically in a hydration chamber and meant to only last a few hours on your wedding day.
So what to do? Is there a problem with corsages, not really… But let’s be more thoughtful here. The positives effects of COVID on the wedding industry have helped free up couples to be more intentional when choosing customs that suit their day and budget best.
When clients hem and haw about the added expense of wearable flowers for their Honored guests, here’s what I think and some of the responses I share on client calls.
“Wow, you have four grandmothers attending your wedding! What a privilege!”
“How lucky are you to have such a legacy of love and in turn so much family support on the day you vow to your partner to have and to hold.”
“When was the last time you bought your grandma a birthday present? Think of your wedding day as ‘Happy’ Birthday, Anniversary, Christmas, or Mother’s Day. Say, something with flowers that’s personal & emotional, like, ‘I cannot imagine this day without you’”.
…and I know we didn’t talk about Grandpa as much here, but he’s gonna looks so squeezable in his suit with a floral boutonniere. This classic, is more timeless. We just advise, fragrant, locally grown blooms with a bit of texture. Scent and memory are linked, so make sure “he can smell the roses” all day long.
So yeah, bye bye 2020. Bye bye horrible 90’s corsages. Adios unintentional, massed produced corsages (this can be homecoming or prom too, folks), that make “corsage hell” and carpal tunnel for wedding florist, and hello wearable flowers.
Hello intentional, emotional gift giving in flowers on your wedding day.
See more “pin-able” ideas below.
Chin chin,
Rebecca
Here’s an example of a fresh partial flower crown made with Hellebores, Ranunculus, Poppy Pods, and Purple Nettle. This is a perfect wearable flower option for a bridal shower, wedding day, Mother’s Day, photoshoot or even your birthday. This spring look was bright and a perfect pairing to the beautiful gardens at Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum. Milwaukee brides look no further for your wedding day flowers…
& if this feels a bit too large be sure to ask us about flower clips, flower combs, and adding simple blooms to your hair on site.
Photography by Maria Campbell Photography & Hannah Toldt Photography
Or go all the way and consider a full flower crown. This is the best look for a boho bride and honestly nothing will make you feel more special than wearing a flower crown for the day.
For this design we construct a full circle to encompass the whole head, worn either higher up in the hair or right at the hair line. Ask us about adding specialty ribbons or consider adding dried flowers to keep this design light and everlasting. For this bride’s October wedding at Rustic Manor 1848 we used a combination of fresh and dried flowers; including: US grown spray roses, dried Strawflower, Pepperberry, and cascading local Amaranthus.
This look is perfect for outdoor weddings, intimate backyard “mini-monies”, and more rustic wedding venues.
Photography by Monica Lynn Photo
Or consider a full flower crown for your flower girl, maternity photo shoot, family session, bridal shower, or bachelorette party. Some people might be believe this is a flower trend that has had its moment in the spotlight, thinking of it as “a very 70’s look” but we think with some innovation, intentionality, relevance, and interesting floral material, that the flower crown is here to stay.
Photography by Olga Thomas Photography, Bonphotage, Kate Wilhelm Photography and Splendid Musings
If you aren’t feeling the Grecian or Roman style crown, we would highly recommend our current favorite hair piece - the floral headband! This look is extremely versatile, comfortable, easy to wear, light weight, often everlasting, and so chic. Maybe it's semantics or mechanics, splitting “hairs” between a floral crown and a floral headband, but we love this design. We find the overall shape yields a more “tiara-like” shape or can be intentionally designed to be asymmetrical with part of the headband exposed. Please inquire about this look with us today here.
We loved working at Maxwell Mansion and this new venue, Providence Vineyard, creating these three different dried, preserved, & everlasting flower headbands for our Wisconsin and Illinois Brides. Thank you to Jessica Bedore Photography, Stephanie Koppa Photography and Maria Campbell Photography for these images.
Photos by Bonphotage, Autumn Silva Photography and Jessica Bedore Photography.
Below are a couple of images of recent corsages we have been making for our clients. Consider instead of a traditional wristlet corsage, a satin or silk tied wrist corsage. These are comfortable, do well in heat, and have the added bonus of fancy or naturally dyed ribbons, which we love. Then if you are wearing jewelry or a watch on one had, the other wrist will have a soft, elegant, draping look that is bound to perfectly pair with the Mother-of-the-Bride’s gown. Wisconsin weddings can often be very warm or very cold, so consider this option for the perfect go to look for all your honored guests - from your personal attendant to your pianist, or your best girl friend or officiant, this look says “Thank you for being here today with me”.
Photography by Maria Campbell Photography
If you prefer a simple, timeless look for your mother or grandma, please opt for our traditional wrist corsage.
Photography by Monica Lynn Photo, Nicolas Norbert and Kyle John.
And don’t forget the guys! Boutonnieres or Buttonholes are the best option for your groom, father of the bride, father of the groom, groomsmen, ushers, ring bearer, pastor, priest or officiant.
Truly the options are endless! And thank you to the following photographers for capturing our beautiful boutonnieres: Bonphotage, Meghan Lee Harris, Lara Pucci Photography, Jessica Bedore Photography, Monica Lynn Photo, Melissa Alderton Photography, Maria Campbell Photography, Santiago Murillo Photography, Kyle John and Louie Abellera Weddings.
We also love creating avante garde wearable flowers for the bold bride.
Consider floral tattoos and Botanical-Based jewelry for a signature look.
These designs can be made in advance and carefully placed on the client on site or custom designed safely and quickly to the bride the day of the wedding.
Photography by Autumn Silva Photography at the historic St. James 1868 Bridal Suit.
Not as interested in wearable flowers for your wedding guests? Want to consider something else floral for your bridal party or honored guests?
ALTERNATIVE PERSONAL FLOWER OPTIONS:
Mini Bouquet or Nosegay
Floral Hoop or Wreath
Take Home Arrangement or Hotel Flower Delivery to enjoy for the whole Weekend (or Grandma can’t come due to COVID, drop off an arrangement the day of the wedding)
Some special floral piece at their seat the reception, we recommend a chair swag or a small statement arrangement (especially if they are elderly and might not want to carry something around, right? Or mom might already have her clutch and shall?)
Photography by Bonphotage, Jessica Bedore Photography and Shauna McIver Photography.