I won a free bouquet from a wedding event I attended. I'm not exactly sure *how* I got entered to win said bouquet, but I was happily surprised to hear my name called for free shit regardless. I mean, who wouldn't, right? But there's a BUT. Many months ago I had resigned myself to the fact that we will NOT have any live flower bouquets. At all. I was going to make 7 bouquets by hand with various new and recycled materials. I was going to personalize all the bouquets with items that go along with each of our personalities. I don't want to give too much away, because these "bouquets" are going to be a lil bit different... think beautiful from afar, but hilarious up close. I got so excited about this idea, that I was totally and utterly waaay cool with not having live floral bouquets.
And then I won a bouquet. More specifically, a rose-dominated bouquet. Which is awesome don't get me wrong, but how am I going to personalize it like I had originally planned? I have my
WristieLove Brooch that I wanted to adorn the handle with. And I even bought little Bowie pins to put in my homemade
bouquet ball of pretty.* I was pretty balls-excited about my potential homemade ball of pretty. But now I don't know what to do. Do I cash in my free live flower bouquet? Or do I get the bouquet, but use it for a centerpiece instead? Or should I go for the ultimate compromise and incorporate some of my own pieces in the flower bouquet (hoping that the company will cooperate)?
Am I a flower bouquet bride? Here's a pic of me holding one:
Yay? Nay? Don't give a shit?
I'm torn.
And seriously... Feel free to tell me these are an asshole's problems and that I shouldn't have any qualms about free shit, and to just be thankful I don't have to
pay for my ball of pretty. Go ahead. Let me have it. I can take it.
*A bouquet is something you carry in your hands or on your person that serves as an accessory. It can be made out of whatever. It's a ball 'o pretty. That's it.
20 comments:
defo keep your awesome persoanalised ones...(omg im so excited about your wedding and im not even going or do i even know you!) maybe use this one to ironically throw it at the nearest single person at the end of the night?
I like the idea of finding a way to use both. I think a few portraits with the traditional flowers might be nice to have down the line, but I loooooove the idea of the hilarious homemade one so if you're only going to do one, don't scrap that!
If a big ball of roses doesn't suit your tastes, it doesn't suit your tastes. I mean, you look gorgeous holding that bouquet in the picture, but if that isn't the vision you have for yourself at your wedding, don't do it just because you won something free. Free is nice, but not if it forces you to compromises. And the idea about new and recycled material bouquets sounds rocking awesome.
I think that your Ball of Pretty idea is rather cool, and I think it would kind of suck to not be able use it at all. And you shouldn't have to compromise on something you want (at least, when not-compromising isn't going to break the bank).
My vote would be for getting the bouquet and using it as a centerpiece.
I think you look great holding a bouquet but in the end it's what YOU feel comfortable with. It wouldn't hurt to ask the company if you could mix in some of your own ideas. If they say no simply take the cash (if available) or like you said, work in some other way. In the end you have to do what you feel right doing and I know you'll have no problem doing that!
Bail on the free bouquet -- unless it actually is for-real FREE. I won a free one at a bridal thingy and the fine print revealed that it was only free if you had an order of X amount with the company -- just a way to rustle up business. If you've already got your centerpieces/bouquets figured out, which it seems you do, I just wouldn't bother with this -- it's one more thing to track down the week of the wedding. Stick to your no-flower guns!
OK do the bouquet but for something fun, like Arbor Day or your birthday or hell, for your fiance, so you still get the freebie but you should DEF do your badass bouquet idea for your wedding, no doubt.
oo ooo ooo! Maybe get it to give to others? Mothers? The next awesome couple to get married? Or the oldest married couple?
But if super hassle..don't bother.
If it is free, accept it. I think using it as a centerpiece is a great idea. Flowers will always be enjoyed somewhere. But keep your ideal bouquets! They sound otherworldly! My other thought: if you are a do-it-yourself-er, which if sounds like you are, I suggest cannibalizing the non-rosy bits, depending on how many of them exist, and perhaps using the more whimsically-flavored guys in your bouquets if you decide they may add some charm. Anything starry or ziggy-spriggy could work possibly, depending on your ideas. I wouldn't necessarily discount the possibility, but only if it works with your concept. I didn't have any pre-arranged bouquets for my wedding, and we had amazing things in the end. We had floral bouquets, but nothing formal. We also had ferns for centerpieces and coffee beans holding candles. It was an outside, foresty, hippie kinda thing, so I threw formal ANYTHING out the window. But we incorporated some sticks and things. Just keep your mind open, like it is!
It's hard to give up free stuff. I'd personally try to dress up the bouquet my own way (my supermarket rose bouquet has my dresses' lace). But totally up to you or you could gift it to another bride too.
I have some thoughts:
1. You look awesome
2. Please explain why you have pictures where you are dressed up as a bride looking awesome already
3. Make them cooperate with you and incorporate your stuff in it, that's what I would do.
4. I was jealous of you for a minute, then I remembered that I won free photography and I told myself to shut up.
If it's truly free, take and use it. Would incorporating some of your ideas into the flower bouquet after receiving it be too much hassle, or does the flower company have to do it? Definitely take it and use it somehow. And you do look gorgeous in the above pic.
Popps
I'm having a hard time deciding since you look so dang PRETTY in that photo! But that bouquet is certainly different than a rose-dominated one. Could they split the bouquet in two and maybe the mom's would want to hold them?
I say stick with your original idea Brit. It sounds freaking awesome. Ask them if you can get an arrangement instead for your gift table or where ever you want.
give it to HIS momma! that's what i'd do! send it to her some random thursday.
Stick it in a jar with water. Place on welcome table. Viola. Problem solved.
Go with what YOU want, which is, I think, your original idea. I'd have a harder time saying that if it weren't roses, but it's roses. Which don't mix/intersperse as well with rockstar vintage awesomeness. But... you could have the mom's carry it or use it as a centerpiece. Or, talk to the company you won it from? Could they accommodate your personal needs with different flowers and interspersed items? Could the gift be transferable as a giveaway here (Free PR!) Or, I like the spit-into-two for the Moms idea too.
I'd give it to a mom or use it as the toss bouquet (if you are tossing one). Or hand it off to a grandmother? They love that stuff!
Side note: You are a freaking GORGEOUS flower bouquet bride...that photo is so purrty!
give it away to a reader?
Well that photo is rather cute.
Just use both, rock the gifted rose bouquet in a few photos just to show your appreciation, I'm sure they'd like that; then use it in a bouquet throwing scrimmage!
That way you can save your own handmade ball-of-pretty for the ceremony and for keepsies.
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