Traditionally the bridal bouquet would be torn apart by single female guests fighting over who got to be the next bride. However, many modern brides are forgoing the bouquet toss altogether and those that do include this ritual often have a special throwing bouquet made to avoid damaging their actual bouquet.
So, your bouquet is still intact but now you’re not sure what to do with it. The significance of the bridal bouquet combined with its cost means that most brides can’t bear to watch the flowers whither and then simply throw it away.
Here are four ideas on what to do with your bridal bouquet:
Have it preserved
Drying your bouquet and keeping it is one of the most popular ways to turn your flowers into a wedding keepsake. If you have your bouquet professionally preserved it can either be dried with silica gel and presented in a glass case or freeze dried and displayed in an open vase. You could also have some of the flowers of your bouquet pressed and framed.
Have a bouquet dance
The bouquet dance is becoming a fashionable alternative to throwing the bouquet. During a particular song the DJ asks all the married couples at your wedding to take to the floor for a slow dance. After a minute the DJ should ask all couple who have been married less than five years to leave the floor, then ten years, fifteen years, and so on. Finally you should be left with the longest married couple on the dance floor and you can present them with your bridal bouquet.
Give it as a thank you
Has someone been especially supportive and helpful to you in the run up to your wedding? If your mother, your sister, or your maid of honour has been a rock for you to lean on during the whole wedding planning process, find a quiet moment to present them with your bridal bouquet as a token of your appreciation. You could also give one flower from your bouquet to each of your female guests and tell them it symbolises joy and good fortune.
Give it to an absent friend
It may be that there is a special person such as your grandmother, who should have been at your wedding, but couldn’t attend because of ill health. Visiting them the day after the wedding to present them with your bouquet will be a touching gesture and may make up a little for their disappointment at missing your big day.
Perhaps a significant member of your family that you would have loved to attend your wedding has passed away. Saving your bouquet to place on their grave is one way to include them in your marriage celebrations.
Whatever you decide to do with your bouquet, if you want to keep it you should store it in a cool dark place as soon as possible after the ceremony. See whether your caterer has room for it in the refrigerator, or if you have cut flowers try to stand the bouquet in water. If you want to give it to someone a couple of days after the wedding, or take it to be preserved on the Monday after a Saturday wedding, keep it in the refrigerator and transport it in a cooler lined with wax paper.
