All About Bride Bouquets

Bride bouquets have been part of weddings since the beginning. Your bridal bouquet is the statement piece of the wedding.  Bridal bouquets to florists and floral designers are the most important floral arrangement of the entire wedding. This one arrangement is featured in most of the wedding photos and is probably the only arrangement that is kept forever. Where does this tradition stem from? How many different style and trends exist ? Let’s talk flowers and bouquets !

History and meaning

Bride bouquets date back to Roman times. They were used for weddings as symbols of new beginnings, fidelity, and fertility. In the middle ages they used more herbs in their bridal bouquets. Especially herbs like Dill and garlic, Which were believed to keep evil spirits and bad Luck away. In Victorian times bridal bouquets were often used for a message, almost like secret code. Each flower sent a different message. For example:

Dasie: loyal love, gentleness, innocence.

Peonie : Happy marriage,prosperity, and bashfulness.

Sunflower: false richest 

STYLES

Bride bouquets come in many shapes, designs, sizes and color schemes. They are tailored to each brides particular wedding style. Some brides like their bouquets small and delicate and other like their  bouquets to be a statement piece. Bouquets can be really round, some very loose and some cascade flowers which give it a waterfall effect. Most of my brides Choose very loose bouquets.  I have discovered that most brides want their bouquets to be “just right” for their particular body but yet still be a statement piece . The perfect marriage 😉.Make sure to tell your florist or floral designer how tall you are, send a full body photo or even a photo of you in your dress.

Trends 

Bouquets have definitely become more trendy. In the 90’s cascading bouquets  were the it thing. However I think this generation bride go for loose bouquets and have their bridesmaids boquets be smaller less elaborate versions of their bouquets. Flowers like the protea make for a statement flower brides love. For a more romantic bride peonies are a must! Dried flowers and dried grasses like pampas mixed with greenery is all the rage. Even though light colors like blush and creams will never go out of style, brides are steering more towards a “moody” look and feel. Often brides combine both which make for the perfect marriage of trendy and traditional. 

Bridal bouquets are the cherry on top of the perfect bride. There are so many different styles colors and options how do you choose?! Maybe you can incorporate flowers that have meaning to you and your partner almost like the Victorians did. Try going with a bouquet that is proportionate to your body ( ask your florist ). Get to know your style as a bride, remember you are getting to know this part of you and your choices may surprise you. Make sure you have your designer make a bouquet you don’t want to toss. This is the arrangement you will hold as you walk down the isle to your fairytale and will remember always. 

4 Gorgeous Wedding Dresses And The Dreamer Who Created Them

Photography: @findinglightphotography
Dress @dorasasu
Florals @thebridecandy
Planner @ohmyoccasions
Hair/makeup @tashymariemakeup
Model @camicuesta_
Stationary @tintaypulso
Venue @penthouserw

Dora Sasu is a wedding dress designer born and raised in Romania and now residing in Miami Florida. Dora’s soul is as beautiful as the wedding dresses she designs. Her story is written in her dresses which she has named after the people she loves. This is a story about 4 dresses and a childhood dream turned reality. Let’s get to know her and the dresses she creates.

Styling and planning @socoalicea
Photo: @ericamelissa_
Floral design: @rodristudio
Venue: @thetemplehouse
Makeup & Hair: @katytc
Headpiece: @roxlynch
Model: @camicuesta_
Dress: @dorasasu

The Lilian

Dora has been sewing by hand since she was seven years old. She would sneak into her mothers closet and take old clothes so she could sew dresses for her dolls. The Lilian dress was named after Dora‘s mother. Dora’s design style is sexy and elegant. So to reflect her mothers graceful reserved persona this dress is the most modest of her collection. The beading of the dress has no sparkle but adds beauty and texture to the entire dress. Lace is in homage to how delicate her mother was. This dress defines elegance with a subtle approach – her rendition of her mother as a dress.

The Isabella

Dora received her first sewing machine at 14 years old. In high school she wore her clothes and people would ask her where she got them. This is the age where she started to get paid to make clothes for other people as a side gig. Growing up in Romania there wasn’t many options for clothing so it was interesting for her to see who had a different style of clothing from other parts of the world. The Isabella was named after her cousin she admired for her style which she described as sexy and Italian. 

The Michelle 

Throughout her life, Dora has never stopped sewing. Even in college or when she was waitressing she would sew on her breaks. She later moved to the United States where she eventually started working for a production company that produced weddings and other events. This is where she was inspired to create wedding dresses. The Michelle was named after a friend of hers she cared for very much. Michelle felt very lonely and Dora understood the feeling as they both left their homes in Romania to build a new life in the United States. Even though Michele is an introvert, Dora made the Michele dress sparkle so that it could bring light in to her life and make the sadness go away. Almost like the night sky even in its darkness the stars still sparkle.

The Viorela 

Designer wedding dresses are mostly hand beaded and sewn. This was a talent Dora honed over years of sewing. So she started doing photo shoots for her dresses. The more she created, the better she got and the more innovative her dresses became. The Viorela was named after her father Viore. Dora met her father later on in life and discovered that he liked to sew as well. In fact he loves unique styles and patterns like she does. He would often get his clothes made and designed for himself. She took this into consideration when creating this dress/pantsuit and made it interchangeable. This is her favorite of the collection and is three outfits in one. The pant suit comes with a train and a skirt that turns it in to a dress. 

Photography: @findinglightphotography
Dress @dorasasu
Florals @thebridecandy
Planner @ohmyoccasions
Hair/makeup @tashymariemakeup
Model @camicuesta_
Stationary @tintaypulso
Venue @penthouserw

Dara started designing dresses full-time a year ago. I think what I love most about Dora’s collection is learning about her story. I think it’s amazing when a dreamer makes their childhood dream a reality. Dora’s devotion for sewing her whole life has manifested beautiful dresses created with love for brides to be. When you wear one, it’s as if you’re wearing love itself. Not only has she made beautiful dresses but touched the hearts of all the women who wear them.

The Millennial Bride

Photography by Vanessavelezphotography and enuelvieraphoto

Model @Laurahelton

Apparel by @thebeachbride

Florals by @thebridecandy

Members of Generation Y (millennials) were born between 1980 and 2000. This generation usually prefers to combine personalized and traditional wedding elements to create a unique wedding. For example some brides choose a unique way to display the tradition “something blue”. I’ve seen brides wear blue shoes , blue jewelry, even blue dresses making the tradition of something blue become a statement. The millennial bride knows that traditional never goes out of style but making it your own tailors it to you. 

Photography by Vanessavelezphotography and enuelvieraphoto

Model @Laurahelton

Apparel by @thebeachbride

Florals by @thebridecandy

Millennial Bride Fashion 

The Millennial bride goes beyond just her wedding dress for her bridal fashion. Of course she has to look fly for all of her occasions (all for the gram ). From bridal bathing suits, bride bags, and wifey jean jackets, the millennial bride knows life is a fashion show. Her wedding dress tends to be romantic and timeless in style. This bride breaks all the rules that need to be broken while keeping things classic and chic. 

Photography by Vanessavelezphotography and enuelvieraphoto

Model @Laurahelton

Apparel by @thebeachbride

Florals by @thebridecandy

Millennial Music

The Millennial bride’s music choices may include anything from country to rock to techno music. The 90’s music culture made this bride one of the cool kids. She will definitely ditch the 90’s fashion (or maybe not) but the millennial bride wants to have fun and relive childhood memories with her friends and family. This bride digs the oldies but holds her dress up so she can definitely twerk too. Often times this bride will chose live music and a DJ too.

Photography by Vanessavelezphotography and enuelvieraphoto

Model @Laurahelton

Apparel by @thebeachbride

Florals by @thebridecandy

Insta Bride 

The millennial bride will likely find her wedding vendors through Instagram and if she doesn’t, she will definitely check their vendor’s insta handles for sure. The millennial bride is #BrideAF. She will make sure to #hashtag everything and have fun doing it too. What’s more fun than getting your #bridessquad matching shirts with a hashtag? This bride is tech savvy and will document everything via iPhone. She’ll also change her relationship status on her wedding night . 

Photography by Vanessavelezphotography and enuelvieraphoto

Model @Laurahelton

Apparel by @thebeachbride

Florals by @thebridecandy

This Millennial bride is more than just a generation. She is the one who will carry the torch to the daughter after her. She will teach them to be themselves but value their traditions. Often we hear the word Millennial thrown around in a negative way and I hope this has helped bring a positive view to this generation. I wonder what the next generation of bride will be like. For now, I am enjoying hearing Backstreet Boys with these Millennial brides.  

Photography by Vanessavelezphotography and enuelvieraphoto

Model @Laurahelton

Apparel by @thebeachbride

Florals by @thebridecandy