What to do if a bridesmaid is allergic to flowers?

Question

I am getting married in June and one of my close friends (who I am considering asking to be in my bridal party) is allergic to many flowers. She does not like to take allergy medication. Because I was hoping to have an English wildflower theme for the wedding, I do not want to use fake flowers.

I am having an afternoon wedding with the ceremony indoors and the reception outside.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do? Here are my ideas:

1. Ask my friend to be guestbook girl instead of bridesmaid
2. Have all the bridesmaids carry something besides flowers -- suggestions welcome!
3. Have each bridesmaid carry a different bouquet of a single type of wildflower -- try to find one for my friend that she is not allergic to
4. Your great idea goes here:_________________

Thanks so much for your input!

Please don't just suggest that I use silk flowers. I understand that some look very real, but for a multiplicity of reasons (budget, friend who is a florist, desire for authenticity as relates to wedding theme), I would prefer not to use silk flowers. I am looking for alternative suggestions. Thanks!

The only reason I am considering asking her to be something else (other than a bridesmaid) is that she isn't quite as close to me as the other girls I have already asked (my sisters and my college roommate for 4 1/2 years). I would still like to include her, though!

For those advocates of silk flowers -- if she carried silk flowers and the other maids carried real flowers, would hers stand out as being different? Or would it be possible to match the fake flower bouquet exactly to the real flower bouquets?

Answer 1

I'm allergic to flowers but it's pretty much due to the pollen, so if you cut the stamens out it should be better. Lily's don't affect me at all when the stamens have been removed.

Hope it helps
=)

Answer 2

I'd really suggest reconsidering silk flowers. If you think about it, what's the point in spending all that money on real flowers for one day when they're all just going to die. With silk flowers, not only will they be beautiful with the right florist, but they will make wonderful keepsake items. They really are much more practical and, contrary to popular belief, they DO NOT look cheap. Most of the time, no one can tell.

However, if you're hellbent on not using silk flowers, I once read somewhere that a bride had her bridesmaids carry purses that matched their dresses and thought that was quite interesting.

Good luck!

EDIT: As for not being able to tell the difference between real flowers and silk flowers, that really just depends on the florist and the flowers you choose. All in all, if the florist does a good job, I don't think anyone would be able to tell.

Also, this has been bothering me, if your friend is so allergic to flowers, wouldn't the other bridesmaids' bouquets bother her? I swear, I'm not trying to be a smart-alek, this is an honest question. The bridemaids normally stand rather close to each other, and I would think if her allergies would make it so that she couldn't carry a bouquet herself, she certainly wouldn't be able to handle the bridesmaids' bouquets on either side of her.

Another thing I could suggest would be to have her take some non-drowsy allergy medicine beforehand (Claritin works wonders on me). Surely the ceremony won't be so long that she'll become Sneezy the Dwarf, will it?

Answer 3

First I would speak to your florist and see if she has any ideas, there may be something they can do (like the above poster suggested removing the stamens or if there is a type of flower out there that is more hypoallergenic) or maybe just for her you could use a silk bouquet, but I know you dont want to do that, however do know that its an option and silks are kind of amazing these days, they look quite real.

The only other suggestion I can give if you want her to be a bridesmaid is maybe you guys can carry crystal bouquets. They look like these http://www.austrian-crystal.net/, but much fuller than this one. That might be a good option and would look pretty with the wild flower theme you want.

Or if you are having an evening wedding the girls could carry candles or lanterns instead, thats another idea.

Otherwise, truly, just attending your wedding as a guest should be an honor enough and asking her to do a reading or participate in another way would be double the honor and I am sure she would be happy to be included in any way you want her to be.

Best of luck to you!

Answer 4

Maybe there's some pretty ribbon corsage or something she can use instead of flowers? Or maybe she can carry like the Unity candles or sand (if you're doing that) or something else that you need and then have a ribbon corsage for her to wear-she'll have the candle so she can't hold a bouquet too. Might work. Or just have her bouquet be fake because there are some that look very real and most people wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Plus, she only needs it for during the ceremony and pics.

Answer 5

I know you said you don't want to use fake flowers but I have been in and at several weddings where fake flowers were used and they looked much better than any real ones would have. You just need to be willing to spend the money to buy the nicer ones. As a bridesmaid I liked them because I then had a nice keepsake from the wedding. I wouldn't reccomend asking her not to be a bridesmaid if she is really a close friend her participation should mean more than real flowers.

Answer 6

I have two ideas:

1. I saw in one wedding, instead of flowers the bridesmaid had a bouquet of these small beautiful balloons.

2. Find some really nice fake flowers and use those.

Good luck and Best wishes!!!

Answer 7

Since she's allergic to many flowers, have a bouquet made for her that is mainly greenery. The problem being she is going to be around so many flowers anyway that what she carries is not the issue. If her allergies are that bad just being around the wedding party and decorations are going to give her problems. If she wants to be there, she's going to have no choice but to take medication. If she talks to her doctor there are many possibilities that are non-drowsy. I personally take Zyrtec and have never had a problem with drowsiness or drinking.

Answer 8

I like the idea of having each girl carry a single flower, very elegant and simple, and that seems to solve the problem.

I know you don't want silks, but I'm not sure why you are stating budget as your reason. (Why isn't your florist friend answering this question for you?)
Silks can be very reasonable, check this site, they are so real you wouldn't know the difference:

http://jeaniesfloral.com/

Good luck!

Answer 9

I would assume that you could spray something over her flowers... something to make a coat over the real flowers. Maybe even something like hairspray... clear nail polish... this may sound silly but it could work.

Also... just don't let her touch the flowers until she is ready to walk down the isle. If she is allergic to the pollen maybe you could cut the pollen stems out too....

I think that you should have her in you're bridal party and not exclude her because of her allergie. There has to be a way.

Answer 10

I used silk flowers in my wedding to save money. I still have my bouquet and it still looks as good as the say I got married...

Just because your friend is allergic, doesn't mean she can't be a part of the bridal party. It won't kill you to make a single silk bouquet. Friendship means more.

Answer 11

Tell her that you'd like her to be a bridesmaid, but she will have to carry real flowers during the wedding and for pictures. She will just have to take Benadryl, Claritin, Allegra, etc. If she says no to real flowers and the medication, then ask her to be your guestbook girl if you'd like.