Something Old, Something New

A new twist to an old bridal tradition…the bridal bouquet has become a lasting memento of a bride’s wonderful day. The flower brooch bouquet emerged last year but has yet to make the scene at the Houston Bridal Extravaganza this January. I personally assisted a bride with the selection of several brooches for her bouquet at the Spring Antique Mall last fall. While she methodically selected the vintage brooches and mulled over her choices, I was thinking “This is going to be the biggest ball of junk.” That is, until I Googled ‘brooch bouquets’ and was stunned at the finished effect which was, well, stunning.

Nosegays have been the current trend instead of the cascade bouquet, so the brooch bouquet is very much in keeping with today’s modern bride’s taste…but with a vintage touch. The bride I was working with said she intended to give brooches from her wedding bouquet to future daughters, daughters-in-law, and granddaughters, so that they would have a lasting memento of her. I immediately changed my attitude about this idea. What a wonderful idea to share her memorable day by sharing her bouquet. One bride even had brooch bouquets made for her attendants as is the tradition to bestow attendants with a gift (picture at top). It the theme of the wedding is vintage, the mothers and grandmothers could even be given vintage flower brooches instead of corsages. And did you know that there are even rosebud pins, which could be opted for instead of boutonnieres for the groom and groomsmen? Even the cake topper can be a smaller version of the bride’s bouquet (picture bottom right.)

The bouquet can consist of multi-colored brooches to resemble a spring bouquet (pic. middle left ), or color-coordinated with the bride and attendants’ dresses (pic. center). It can be embellished with real or silk flowers, greenery, satin ribbon, or even feathers (pic. middle right). For an added touch of whimsy, a butterfly, dragonfly, or bumble bee figural can be added (pic. bottom left ). It doesn’t necessarily have to consist of just flower brooches. It can include pins and figurals that reflect the bride and groom’s personalities, hobbies, or interests (pic. bottom center of a Victorian portrait brooch). Assembling the bouquet so that it looks beautiful and aesthetic requires some talent, and although the florist may not make a lot off the bouquet except for the labor; a florist certainly has the talent to put it altogether.

The number of brooches will determine the price of the bouquet, but expect to pay a minimum of $15 per flower brooch. A fully adorned brooch bouquet will probably be equal to, maybe a little greater than, a floral bouquet, but certainly a better value for its ability to weather the test of time. Since the bouquet is a gift to the bride from the groom, a wise bride will check to see what the groom’s budget will allow.

If it is the bride’s intention to share the brooches with future generations, it would also be wise to select brooches in the best condition possible as they will increase in value. Proper storage would also be essential. Store in a dust-free container, preferably a paper-wrapped hat box, not a cardboard box as cardboard has acidity. Wrap the bouquet in cloth (terrycloth towel) not plastic! Moisture trapped in plastic would hasten the brooches’ demise. And above all, do not store with desiccant packs! Those are the little packets in shoe boxes that remove the moisture from shoes. Some older vintage materials like celluloid, will actually deteriorate when exposed to the desiccant.

The only problem I can foresee with this alternative to a traditional flower bouquet, is when it comes time to fling it at the reception. It could put somebody’s eye out! The florist will be more than happy to accommodate with a ‘ceremonial’ bouquet for the bouquet toss.