What I love about weddings today is how they reflect the style and personalities of the bride & groom. Modern weddings aren’t bound by meaningless traditions, today’s brides don’t conform to the conventional – you want your wedding to be as unique as you are! And this desire for the different doesn’t have to end with your dress, vows or decor. There are a plethora of pretty alternatives to the traditional floral bouquet out there, and not just of the non-floral bouquet kind. Oh no, I am talking beautiful alternatives to a bouquet for your bridesmaids altogether!……

1 ~ Bridesmaid Bags

Bags make a great alternative to the traditional bridesmaid bouquets. For something quirky but cute and just perfect for a Spring or Summer Garden wedding with a touch of whimsy, how about a bag of flowers…..

1 ~ Huckleberry Karen Designs captured by Love Life Studios via Bridal Musings, 2 ~ Whimsical Floral Design captured by Two Spoons Photography via Green Wedding Shoes, 3 ~ Steven Bruce Design captured by Charlotte Jenks Lewis Photography via SMP, 4 ~ Bella Rugosa Inc captured by Rennard Photography via Belle The Magazine, 5 ~ California Floral captured by Laura Izumikawa Photography via Green Wedding Shoes

Or for something that your bridesmaids can love and use after the big day, try filling a bag with flowers…..

Captured by Shannen Natasha Photography via Style Me Pretty

Or, save a few pennies on flowers and splash out on something super chic!….

Oh and do take a peek here if you like the sounds of carrying a clutch rather than or as well as a bouquet! 1 ~ Photography by Annie McElwain via Brides, 2 ~ Feather Wedding Purse by Britten via Etsy, 3 ~ Embroidered Box Clutch via BHLDN

2. Beautifully Bound Books

Choose meaningful books that are beautifully bound for your bridesmaids and they will make a wonderful wedding day gift as well as a romantic (and budget friendly) alternative to the traditional bouquet. Add a small floral spray or simply wrap each one in delicate lace or rich velvet ribbon to make them extra pretty…..

 1 ~ Unknown, 2 ~ Photography Skys The Limit via Green Wedding Shoes, 3 ~ Photography Jenna Petersen via Wedding Chicks, 4 ~ Ryan Ray Photography

3. Whimsical Fresh Flower Necklaces

Add a touch of boho whimsy to their look and leave your bridesmaids hands free (to help with your train, bouquet and of course for throwing some shapes on the dancefloor) by having them wear their bouquet! Fresh flower necklaces make a gorgeous alternative to the traditional bouquet, although depending on the flowers and size, may not be a much cheaper alternative…..

 1 ~ Magdalen Hill captured by Toni Larsen Photography via Chic Vintage Brides, 2 ~ Love’n Fresh Flowers captured by Love Me Do Photography, 3 ~ Love’n Fresh Flowers captured by Love Me Do Photography, 4 ~ Magdalen Hill captured by Natalie McNally Photography via Chic Vintage Brides, 5 ~ Holly Viles Design captured by Ben Q Photography via Green Wedding Shoes

4 ~ Fans

Perfect for a summer wedding, fans come in many colours, materials, shapes and sizes, so you’ll be sure to find some perfect for your wedding day style. Bright coloured paper for a fun retro celebration, painted silk for an elegantly timeless look or feather for a deliciously deco affair…..

1 ~  Molly Anne Photography via SMP, 2 ~ L Hewitt Photography via SMP, 3 ~ Polly Alexandre via Rock My Wedding, 4 ~ Ivory Feather Fan by Britten via Etsy,

5 ~ Beautiful Brooch Bouquets

The ultimate in vintage alternative wedding bouquets has to be the brooch bouquet. Gorgeous, glamorous and (if you’re lucky) bursting with sentimental meaning, brooch bouquets make beautiful gifts for your bridesmaids to remember your big day and the important part they played. These are understandably quite expensive to buy (although in my opinion worth every penny) however, if you’re a prolific collector of vintage treasure and are feeling crafty, you might want to have a go at making them yourself. Leave plenty of time, especially if you’re having to search for additional baubles, but there are a couple of tutorials here and here – with 2 quite different ways of making them, if you want to give it a go.

If you’re short of time though, or would rather leave things to the professionals, take a peek at Noaki‘s store on Etsy for some truly gorgeous examples.

 1 ~  Campbell Photography via One Fab Day, 2 ~ Photography by Jessica Lorren, 3 ~ via Style Me Pretty, 4 ~ via Design Me Vintage, 5 ~ Brooch Bouquet by Noaki via Etsy

6 ~ Pretty Parasols

Lace or paper, natural or brightly coloured, nothing says ladylike luxury quite like parasols! Perfect to keep off the bright sun at a summer wedding and they make just the perfect props when it comes to portraits…..

1 ~ Photography by Ben McGee via Ruffled, 2 ~ Photography by  Jordan Brittley via Green Wedding Shoes, 3 ~ Photography by Graham Teruhune via Grey Likes Weddings, 4 ~ Jerome Cole Photography via Polka Dot Bride, 5 ~ Photogaphy by M&J Photography  via SMP

Or Umbrellas if there is a chance of rain on your wedding day – make the most of it and the photo opportunity it presents!

Jac & Heath Photography via Chic Vintage Brides

 7 ~ Flower Crowns

Or how about a flower crown in place of a bouquet? First a fashionable trend for the bride, flower halos or circlets are now adorning the heads of our bridesmaids (or both!) And why not? This is by far my favourite wedding trend of recent years and you’ll find LOTS more flower crown inspiration on Chic Vintage Brides Floral Crowns board on Pinterest!

1 ~  Gypsy Floral captured by Loft Photographie via Green Wedding Shoes, 2 ~ Esther & Gabe of Bell Studio via Chic Vintage Brides, 3 ~ Fleurs De Famille captured by Wookie Photography via Chic Vintage Brides, 4 ~ Mignonne Handmade via Etsy, 5 ~ The Real Cut Flower Garden captured by Sarah Gawler via Snippet & Ink

Or if you would prefer something a little less bohemian and a little more refined, how about incorporating fresh flowers into an exquisite updo…..

 Top ~ Marina Shentyapina captured by Anastasiya Belik via Magnolia Rouge; Bottom ~  Ashley Kelemen

8 ~ Light The Way With Lanterns

Lanterns make a lovely alternative whatever the season or style of your wedding – and they can always double up as decor as the night draws in!

 1 ~ Teale Photography, 2 ~ Photo Love via Sweet Violet Bride, 3 ~ Teale Photography, 4 ~ Brett Heidebrecht via Ruffled, 5 ~ A Host of Things

 9 ~ Chic Corsages

If Mr E and I were to get married again a chic corsage is the alternative I would choose for my bridesmaids. Affixed to a pearl or diamante bracelet they are the perfect compromise by being floral, but more affordable than a bouquet, whilst also offering a little momento for after the big day. And if you’re wondering what your bridesmaids should do as they walk down the aisle, how about asking them to carry the corsages like a posy? Or having them walk down the aisle holding the hands of your flower girls?

 1 ~  Butterfly Floral & Event Design captured by Caroline Tran via SMP, 2 ~ Natalie Bowen Designs captured by Edyta Photography, 3 ~ Bella Lu Floral captured by Our Love is Loud via Ruffled, 4 ~ Campbells Flowers captured by Lifeline Photography via Love My Dress, 5 ~  Tanarah Luxe Floral captured by The Nolans via Ruffled

10. Other Stunning Ideas

Here are 5 more quirky and creative alternatives to traditional bridesmaid bouquets, guaranteed to make your wedding day memorable – and that are sure to be loved just as much by your girls, as they are by you!

1 ~ Magdalen Hill captured by Toni Larsen Photography via Chic Vintage Brides, 2 ~ Antique Brass captured by  Jessie Holloway Photography via Green Wedding Shoes, 3 ~ Dear Idea captured by Moira West via SouthBound Bride, 4 ~ Julian Beattie via Ruffled, 5 ~ Cow Bells captured by Taylor Lord via Wedding Sparow

Seen something you love? For more bridesmaid ideas, take a peek at some of my favourite looks here, here and here, or pop across to my Bridesmaids board on Pinterest.

Amy

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