ReCaps- DIY Bouquet and Boutonniere

In this next collage you will find my DIY bouquet and DIY boutonniere.
The bouquet had a blend of silk dark purple flowers, brooch pieces, feathers, and various handmade flowers from different materials. I also made pom pom "dandelions" from yarn which you will later see incorporated into other decor. I made the handle wrap from a small lace cloth table runner I found at a generic dollar store. I cut it in half, then folded that in half, then wrapped it around the base. I then added a wide ribbon at the base of the flowers, and crisscrossed a thin decorative ribbon along the handle. I used a "silk bouquet foam top" handle.....it had fake stems built in. You just add silk flowers. To make it cost me about $20. This was not my throw away bouquet. The throw away was real flowers.....the ONLY real flowers that were in any part of our day. I'll have pics of that in a later post.
My "something borrowed" was the dragonfly pin at the top of the handle that I borrowed from my mom.
I made the picture charms (my first and only attempt at these thus far) which included, from top to bottom, my husband's mom (who passed away almost 2 years ago), my father's mom, and my mother's mom. I REALLY love the way these came out! I feel it's my best project ever. Maybe because it's such a sentimental thing.
You know, handmade "fake" flower bouquets are not for everyone. We all have our preferences, likes, dislikes and attitudes & such. When I first told my sister that I was making a bouquet from fake flowers (I already knew she had attitude against fake flowers) she scoffed. When she finally saw it on my wedding day, she said, "I take it all back". That made me smile. Not that I really cared what people thought. After all, it was MY wedding, and MY bouquet and I wanted things MY way. But like I said, I know that everyone has their own preferences, and I don't think anyone should be knocking other people just because they don't like the same thing they like. Individuality.........it's part of what makes life so fun! OK....so let's continue.
I made bouts for my Mr., my dad, and our ring bearer. They're all basically the same with the exception that the ring bearer's is smaller, and my Mr.'s has a little something extra in it.
My mom's corsage was on the last post I shared.
~~~~CLICK ON PICTURE BELOW TO ENLARGE~~~~


pictures taken by: Sweet As Pie Weddings

Monkey Tails?

You remember my post on the awesome bout I fell in love with? If you don't remember, you can look here. I really like it because it has a "manly" masculine look to it, don't you agree? Well, I found out a few things about the dark swirly thingy that's in it. It's called a Fiddlehead Fern, but also goes by the name of Monkey Tails, Uluhe Ferns and False Staghorn.
I was thinking of incorporating this "monkey tail" into my bouquet. I think just a few speckled around my bouquet would be enough. But I don't really plan on making my own bouquet (though, that can change), but I am definitely planning on making a DIY bout....ok, not definitely...more like probably. hehe
Here is another bout I found using this strange fern.......
....and more.
Here, they've used them in their centerpieces. They look interesting, but as centerpieces they sorta creep me out. They somehow remind me of venus fly traps, even though they look nothing like them....hmmmm?
Here's a whole family of them. =)
A bouquet with them. This is about how many I think I would use in a bouquet....maybe a little less considering the least expensive you can probably find these for is about $1.50 a piece! Expensive little suckers!
I also found out that these are edible! They are, from what I understand, a unique
delicacy from northern New England, particularly prized in Maine and New Hampshire. They are also very rich in vitamins A and C. Whoulda thunk?
And here's yet another bouquet with these whimsical, strange and expensive (maybe even yummy?) little guys.
Anything a bit "unusual" you'll be having in your bouquet?


Pic sources: marthastewart.com, camflor.com, sherrilee.wordpress.com, jesse leake photography, photobucket, petalsedge.com, visionart and wedding day photo

I'm Not Keeping Much From My Wedding.....

(image by erinchris Photography)


I know that it's customary to keep your wedding dress. To pay extra money to have it preserved in a box. To keep the top layer of the cake for your 1st anniversary (ewww), and to pay yet even more cash to preserve the gosh darned bouquet.
Well, I'm not saving any of those. I will sell my dress on Craigslist or Ebay, eat all I can of my wedding cake, and throw my actual bouquet at the bouquet toss. I consider myself to be a sentimental kind of gal, but I really don't feel the need to take up a bunch of extra space with stuff that's just going to sit there. Will my daughters or granddaughters ever wear the dress that I wore? I seriously doubt it.
Pictures, scrapbooks, videos, our rings and each other are all I will need. These are all easily handed down to the next generation without imposing. Yes, even each other can be handed down as long as we're cremated or made into diamonds. Have you ever heard of that? Being made into diamonds when you die? Well, if you haven't, check this out: LifeGem Cool stuff!

Well, I think I've gone off track.....I do that from time to time......ok....often!

The Bouquet

This is the wedding bouquet I will show to my florist (ummmm, no I don't have a florist yet). But when I do, this is what he/she will see. The colors are PERFECT!
I've read a lot about the throw away bouquet, and completely understand brides who want to keep their "actual" bouquet and buy a separate one to throw. To be honest with you, this is the first I had ever heard of this being done, and I've decided to just have one bouquet which I will throw. I am very sentimental, but at the same time I've been working on (for years) to get rid of my pack rat ways. So no keeping the bouquet for me. Besides, that would just be an added expense for us anyways....to preserve it. And for whatever reason, I feel like I'd be ripping off the fortunate (unfortunate?) girl that ends up catching the darned thing. You know what I mean? Well, maybe some of you do.....???