Bouquet Jewels

By Pat Esden

From the ring on the bride’s finger to the ballroom’s chandeliers, sparkle plays an important role in weddings.

An inexpensive way to add that sparkle to a wedding is by embellishing the bride and attendants’ bouquets with jewels.

This is not a new idea. For years brides have tucked heirloom jewelry and rosaries into bouquets as their “something old.” But now, the heirlooms are proudly displayed by tying them to the stems of a hand-tied bouquet or by draping them through the front of cascading bouquets.

Jewelry need not be heirloom.

Pins, brooches and pendants specifically made for floral bouquets can be purchased from specialty shops. They are easy for florists to attach to bouquets and double as a keepsake for the bride and gifts for the bridesmaids. They can be custom engraved for an extra special touch.

Jewelry not specifically designed for bouquets can also be used. Small prisms, shards of sparkling metal and tiny hand blown glass bobbles add a personal touch as well as glitter. As long as it’s small and shines, it can be considered. However, a florist should be consulted before purchasing any item to make sure it will accent and blend with the flowers and style of the bouquet. Also the florist will want to make sure that attaching the sparkle to a bouquet is physically possible.

Sparkle is available directly from florists. Without significantly raising the cost of the bouquets, the florist can stud roses with rhinestones or pearls. Inexpensive crystals may be tucked between the bouquets’ blooms to provide a subtle glint and add an extra touch of coordination between the gowns and flowers. Strings of pearls can be used as cuffs on the satin wrap of hand- held bouquets. Likewise, pearls can stud the entire wrap for an Elizabethan look. The ideas are limited only by the florist’s creativity and the wedding’s style.

Whether heirloom or new, the key to adding sparkle to a wedding bouquet is to make sure it coordinates with the jewelry the bride and attendants plan to wear as well as with the veil and any hair accessories. Coordinating is usually easy, since faux jewels come in a rainbow of colors and styles.

In addition to coordination with the bride and attendants, touches of the same type of jewel can be used in other wedding flowers to unify the wedding look. The boutonnières could have a fleck of glittered baby’s breath or a crystal studded pin that matches the bride and attendants’ bouquets. The mothers’ corsages might be attached to jewel or pearl bracelets that accent their dresses.

But be sure not to overdo—sparkle taken to an extreme can look tacky.

Here is where the bride and groom’s taste and the florist’s experience can work together to provide the right touch of glitz without going too far.

Vermont Bride Magazine - Vermont's Most Trusted Wedding Resource Since 1990

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