A no-flower wedding?

Question

My future sister-in-law has asked me to help her with her snow-flake themed winter wedding.

The catch is - she doesn't like flowers. She feels they belong in their natural state and not cut and brought inside.

Any creative ways to add very simple and elegant touches without flowers. What about bouquets and boutonnières, center pieces, church decorations, etc.

Links to pictures will be especially helpful!!

--- Please don't get me wrong - I do wish to honor her wishes and don't judge them.

I'm just blank on ideas to help her (w/o going the obvious silk route - which I personally am not a fan of, but she may be okay with).

Answer 1

I do like the idea that several other people have mentioned about carrying muffs instead of a bouquet. Or you could alternate with girls carrying muffs and lanterns.
Another idea would be to find large snowflakes in glass or silver, and have it hanging from a small ribbon and they carry them similar to the way a bridesmaid carries the "Posey Bouquets".

A great site for a cake topper would be:
http://www.glasscaketops.com/christmas/winter8.htm
http://www.glasscaketops.com/christmas/winter9.htm

Also, since Christmas is just over, you should be able to shop sales and find crystal/glass shaped snowflakes that are ornaments. These can be used many ways, on tress with white lights as decorations, on the tables as part of a centerpiece, on the back of chairs as part of their covers, you could also attach one of them with ribbon to the muffs that the bridesmaids would carry, to incorporate the theme further. If you want to have trees decorated but don't want the green trees, go for the white Christmas trees, she should be able to get them at great prices right now!

An alternative to flower girls throwing flowers, they could throw fake snow with silver glitter mixed in to give it sparkle down the aisle.

For centerpieces, you will want lots of glass and mirrors to give the shimmering effect similar to ice and snow. Also, I would suggest lots of white candles and white lights throughout.

A link for placecard holders:
http://www.myweddingfavors.com/handtied-snowflake.html

Another type of placecard holder that would work well, to alternate possibly, as to not "over-do" the theme:
http://www.myweddingfavors.com/classic-round-place-card-holder.html

A centerpiece idea, but instead of the flowers, use clear glass rocks mixed with silver rocks, to give the look of ice:
http://weddings.theknot.com/odb/themes/realweddings/detailview.aspx?id=6943&type=3&wedding_details=Reception+Decor&pageIndex=11

Another centerpiece idea, but cover the sand with the glass rocks, again for the look of ice:
http://weddings.theknot.com/odb/themes/realweddings/detailview.aspx?id=6465&type=3&wedding_details=Reception+Decor&pageIndex=13



A friend of mine had a winter wedding and she had a wrapped cookie in the shape of a snowflake at each seat for their favors. The cookies were a very light blue with sugar crystals sprinkled on top and silver bb shaped candies, it was pretty!

A link to a guest book set with snowflakes:
http://www.myweddingfavors.com/snow-guestbook.html

Cocktail napkins:
http://www.myweddingreceptionideas.com/winter_wedding_cocktail_napkins.asp

Trees to be used for decorations:
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/bevfabriccrafts_1927_27681452

http://www.christmasdepot.com/detail/4016226S

Decorating ideas:
http://www.save-on-crafts.com/icedbranches.html

These are the glass stones I was referring to, if not these, you can find similar ones at any craft store:
http://www.save-on-crafts.com/glicenuir25p.html


Whatever she does, please remind her not to overstate the obvious. Don't have every inch of the event covered with snowflakes. Use the theme of winter to decorate and add in snowflakes as an accent for oyur theme. By this I mean, try to use the white, silver, mirrors and glass to portray the winter theme and add in snowflakes for the final touch. On a centerpiece you don't want to over do the theme, one snowflake item is plenty, everything doesn't need to be over the top.

Answer 2

wow that is the first person I have heard of that does not like flowers. good luck!!! bride and groom snowmen, miniature ice sculptures, large snowglobes, While candles are used by many brides with many different themes, they can add a special warm glow to a winter wedding. Add fake snow around any centerpiece for an additional winter touch.Carry a muff or a single white candle with gold and silver ribbon tied around the middle.
instead of a bouquet and/or have your bridesmaids carry candles,Floating candles in cut glass bowls, with shiny glass beads in the bottom. For added effect, place your centerpieces on a mirror.

- Use shimmering fabric over the white table clothes and scatter a little artificial frost

Answer 3

I notice you have had a lot of people tell you this already but silk flowers are a good way to go. you could also you tissue paper to make bouquets. You could also use wodden flowers though they are a bit pricey. They look very natural and smell natural too(becuase they put oils on them). Also if you get online and go to orientaltrading.com they have rose candels. They are longstem roses (white or red) that are actually candles. the wick comes out of the center of the candle very cute! I hope you find what you are looking for. Good Luck

Answer 4

Some options are silk or acrylic flowers, ribbons, decorative pillow, candles, etc. You could make large snowflakes and use for bouquets, small snowflake pins for boutonnieres. Check with the church on decorations...my church does not allow decorations beyond what is already there...if they do, then maybe donate plants or tabletop evergreens. As for centerpieces...what about a beautiful clear blue bowl filled with snowflake decorated glass balls or ornaments (without the hooks).

Answer 5

A snow flake wedding................hmmmmmm

Insted of the girls carrying flowers they could get fur muffs and have ther hands in them as they wak down the chuch.

Candles work great for center pieces in a case like this.

You could make snowflake place cards

Walmart and craft stores sell clear glass stones that reflect light and shine when around candles.

Right now you could pick up some sheer snow flake fabric on sale and have squares made to tie the table linens into the wedding theme

good luck

I make wedding cakes..... Look at wilton.com for some ideas.

Answer 6

For decorations, she should trade the flowers for icicles! That would be so beautiful! Also, used lots and lots of white Christmas lights! For the entire wedding party, use silk flowers instead of real ones. Nobody will notice the difference it they're new! Have an ice sculpture made into their initials for a reception centerpiece.
You can log onto www.theknot.com to browse other theme weddings.

Answer 7

I understand her point about not wanting to take the flowers from nature so why doesnt she try artificial flowers instead? Artificial flowers, if you buy the right ones, look very real when you arrange them in bouquets. Also, with artificial flowers you can save your bouquets forever after the wedding so you'll always have the memory. I was a bridesmaid in my aunt's wedding in 2005 and my bouquet of artificial flowers is proudly hung on my wall since that day....Good luck, hope I helped....!

Answer 8

one option to mention is silk flowers of course.

I also have a friend who just doesn't like flowers much - her bridesmaids carried lanterns with candles inside and the church was decorated with tulle and candles. The reception area was decorated with candles, and had tulle, lights and paper snowflakes on the ceiling.

For the guys - choose a suit style instead of a tux style, with a triangle hankerchief in the side pocket instead of flowers .

For centerpeices, go with candles instead of flowers.

Answer 9

Sometimed people make bead flower bouts and bouquets out of beads and wire. You might also be able to use quilled paper to make some flowery bouts.

The bride can carry something other than a bouquet, like a bible or rosary or prayer book.

Centerpieces can be replaced by anything-- framed poetry, bowls of fruit, candles, vases of candy...

Answer 10

What about pot plants, does she have objections to them. You could find a minature white rose in a pot and use them as centrepieces for the tables.

As for bouquets, why not carry candles? (You'd have to work out how to do this without wax dripping and so it didn't look like a weird procession - maybe carry tealights and place them around the alter before the bride comes down the aisle. (What she carries instead of flowers, no ideas...)
Good luck and congrats to her and her other half too!

Answer 11

Actually after flowers fully bloom it is better for the rest of the buds to cut them off. (As the fully bloomed flower dies it uses a lot of the nutrients of the plant). If you have to cut them off any way, why not enjoy their beauty?

But if she insists on no flowers...I have heard that tree twigs covered in sparkles & glitter are also nice. But I guess that might be the same concept as flowers.

Sorry I couldnt be more help...thats the best I got