I’ve been pondering for a great while what to do about the flower situation. Although i think flowers are gorgeous and lush and add a lot to any wedding, they are just so. damn. expensive. So i put flowers way down on the list of priorities for our budget and have kind of just kicked around thoughts in the back of my brain without ever really focusing on what i want (or who i want to do it — eek!).
One of my early thoughts was hydrangeas — they’re giant, bold, and lovely and don’t require much in the way of ornamentation. They look gorgeous in bouquets, and a few can really go a long way.
(image. The word “bodacious” comes to mind.)
But they’re also expensive, and i was worried about how well they’d hold up to a day of my clutching them, dragging them around, probably dropping them a couple of times … and i kind of pushed them from my mind, thinking i’d go with something simpler. And cheaper.
Enter baby’s breath.
Right? You’re thinking, “Caroline, baby’s breath is filler. And not too attractive at that. Plus it kind of smells.” Well, you’re right on that last part (at least if it’s old baby’s breath — or so i’m told), but my lads and lasses, check it out:
That’s baby’s breath! In simple containers! Lining the aisle! How genius is that? (TTO agrees.)
Since i stumbled upon the idea for baby’s breath, it’s been everywhere, yo. Grey found baby’s breath on wreaths:
As centerpieces:
And even as a bold, unexpectedly glorious bouquet:
I mean. I seriously gasped loud when i first saw this picture. It’s not exactly the vibe i’m going for, but talk about drama and glamour and — i mean, can you imagine? I’m sure i’m not the only one who’d be guilty of an audible gasp if a stunner like that came strolling down the aisle. It’s breathtaking. It’s GENIUS.
So, i’d like to claim credit for combining these two genius ideas into one jaw-droppingly brilliant flower scheme for my own wedding, but alas. As usual, the internet beat me to it. Janie at The Bride’s Cafe, in particular, has combined the two into a dreamy confection:
Stunning, no? Again, not exactly my vibe, but the combination of the bold, confident hydrangeas and the soft unexpected touch of the baby’s breath is really intriguiging me today. (I can’t even talk about the anemones. So dreamy. So expensive. So sigh.)
But then! I saw today! This wedding on Style Me Pretty! That IS my vibe exactly — vintage, retro, quirky, a little glamorous and a lot comfortable. And the flowers: Hydrangea + baby’s breath! Gorgeous!!
The bouquets, people. And the centerpieces. And her headpiece — feather fascinator + tiniest of birdcage veils. I am in love!
(all pics via the incomparable Style Me Pretty!)
Hi Caroline. Glad you liked my wedding
My bouquet was Queen Ann’s lace mixed with viburnum and I got it from Martha Stewart, as featured here: http://www.stylemepretty.com/2007/09/19/martha-stewart-weddings/
But, you’re right. That bouquet was a little pricey but more importantly, it held up all of 5 minutes! It was drooping almost immediately. Meanwhile, the baby’s breath looked cool, I thought, and required no care, and no water at all for the soup can centerpieces that I did. Go for it!
OMG, hi Leah! Welcome!! I’m terribly flattered that you stopped by
Sorry i mixed up the identities of your gorgeous wedding flowers — but i am glad to know about the droop factor! The more i look at the baby’s breath, the more i like it — thanks for the encouragement!!
Baby’s breath is absolutely magical—it’s going to look stunning for you! It’s proof that any flower in mass quantities is breathtaking.
And just in case you need one more picture to convince any skeptics: http://www.sarahkaye.com/show.php?PicID=4572
OMG, that picture is just breathtaking. I’ve pretty much decided that baby’s breath is the route i want to go; now i just have to find a florist who’ll agree to make me up bunches of weeds for my wedding
[...] 4, 2009 by Caroline So, remember when i was all about the baby’s breath? Yeah, those were good times. Innocent times. Beautiful, fluffy, black-and-white [...]