Is this a bad idea?

[happilyeverafter]

Is a dried flower bouquet a bad idea? I know the norm is fresh flowers, but i''ve been looking for alternatives. I don''t really have a real good reason for not wanting fresh flowers, except for that they are quite $$, and I''m not overly keen on diy. Also, for some reason I really want to have the bouquet before - I have this need to cross it off my list for some reason!

I was looking at doing sinamay roses (which I did do and they turned out great) but then I saw dried flowers at michaels and thought they were so beautiful. But before I cut them up and can no longer return them, I thought I should see what other PSers thought of the idea first. I know dried can be fragile, but I think they''d survive my low-key wedding. Anything else i''m not thinking of??

fyi the dried flowers I bought are 1" pale pink roses (although they look like tiny shriveled peonies) and what looks like baby''s breath, though i''m not sure what it''s called.

Also, not sure how real flowers hold up in really cold weather, but i''m getting married in December, and we''ll most likely have snow.

 

[partyjewels]

I was thinking about doing a dried boquet myself actually My reason was that I had/have every single flower my FI has ever given me (aside from potted plants! ) and I thought it would be sweet as they all look lovely together... However, when I went to gather all of these up after he proposed, I found that several had been smashed in my move to his house because some of the people who were helping me pack didn''t think

In any case, The only problem I see with it is them being fragile and breaking throughout the night. You might have people tell you that using dried flowers is weird because they''re dead, but I think they''re beautiful! If you intend to do a toss though, I''d get a tossing bouquet for that definately or you''d have dried flower bits all over the room

 

[misysu2]

I think combining all of the flowers FI has given you is a super romantic, personalized idea! I haven''t seen anyone used dried flowers in my wedding experiences, but I think it''s really unique! You know what I really love? I love the look of dried flowers with some neat bird feathers. You could use some rich-colored peacock or some neutral quail...and, of course, you can get synthetic.

 

[happilyeverafter]

oh that is such a romantic idea, incorporating all the roses from your FI! Unfortunately mine''s not nearly so romantic - I just saw beautiful flowers haha

But i''m glad to hear i''m not crazy in wanting one!

Are you at all worried about how they''ll come together at the base (where they''re tied together)? I''m worried about breaking the stems...

I''m not doing the bouquet toss. Actually the wedding is super relaxed - short ceremony, some pictures, and then a lunch reception and that''s it. No dancing even. So I was hoping the dried flowers could withstand the day, but i''ve never worked with them before either, so I wasn''t sure.

 

[happilyeverafter]

Date: 11/4/2007 12:17:32 AM
Author: misysu2
I think combining all of the flowers FI has given you is a super romantic, personalized idea! I haven''t seen anyone used dried flowers in my wedding experiences, but I think it''s really unique! You know what I really love? I love the look of dried flowers with some neat bird feathers. You could use some rich-colored peacock or some neutral quail...and, of course, you can get synthetic.

misysu2, the feathers idea is awesome! It''s funny you mention that actually, because there were feathers right beside the dried flowers in michaels! I was toying with the idea of a marabou collar around the base of the flowers, but wanted to see if I should even do the dried flowers first. Neat idea for sure!

 

[misysu2]

I love feathers, too! Trying to figure out how to incorporate them into my wedding, also!

I've never worked with dried flowers before either, but maybe there's some kind of finishing spray or something you could spray on your bouquet to kind of "seal" the flowers so maybe they won't be as brittle?


ETA: Happily, check this out! Maybe this will help?? http://www.flowerdepotstore.com/drflrespandc.html

 

[happilyeverafter]

Oh misysu2 you are super great!! I''m going to get a bottle of that stuff before I even think of arranging my flowers. Thanks so much!!

Mmmm, now how to incorporate feathers into the bouquet

I''ll have to play around. Good luck with your feather theme - I think that would be beautiful, soft and romantic!

 

[partyjewels]

I'm not doing the dried bouquet anymore since about half of the ones I intended to use were smashed. FI didn't buy me too many flowers, after a while he started buying me plants instead, which he stopped after two since I kept inadvertently killing them

The ones he's gotten me since the plants I accidentally killed I didn't end up getting to dry quick enough. Now I don't know what I will end up using! Though maybe you've stirred up the want to use dried flowers again

In any case, when I was pondering the thought of using dried flowers, I did have worries about how they would come together at the base. I think if you buy fresh flowers that you want to use in your bouquet and arrange them how you want and THEN dry them, it would be pretty easy, at least, in theory

Let us know how it goes with the spray stuff!

ETA: I really love the feather idea, there are so many unique ones out there! It also reminds me of these awesome flowers I found a while back that reminded me of feathers (at least from the picture online), but I doubt they'd dry well. Roccoco Novelty Dark Red Tulips and Flaming Parrot Novelty Tulips I don't know what they look like in person but I'm dying to see, they look so unique and pretty!