Cari and AnShih Wedding - Peony Garden Rose Quicksand Spray Rose Bridal Bouquet - Lotte New York Palace NYC - by Kelly Kollar Photography

Planning & Inspiration

How To Personalize Your Bridal Bouquet: Ideas For Adding Sentimental Beauty To Big Day Blooms

Cari and AnShih Wedding - Peony Garden Rose Quicksand Spray Rose Bridal Bouquet - Lotte New York Palace NYC - by Kelly Kollar Photography

Cari and AnShih Wedding – Peony Garden Rose Quicksand Spray Rose Bridal Bouquet – Lotte New York Palace NYC – by Kelly Kollar Photography

 

The bridal bouquet can be traced back to ancient Rome when women carried or wore flower garlands, believing that the blooms represented new beginnings, fidelity, and fertility. Things have changed a bit since then. For the modern bride, the bouquet is her ultimate accessory. Flowers are chosen not only for their symbolic nature, but also for their color, texture, and shape, complementing personal style, taste, and the overall wedding day look. Once they find their perfect floral aesthetic, many of our brides have added deeper sentiment by incorporating a special element into the arrangement. From keepsake jewelry to photos of loved ones, here are inspiring ideas from the Real BB Weddings archives for adding a heartfelt and personal touch to your bridal bouquet.
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Kristen & Joe Wedding - Bride - Trumpets at the Gate - by Kim Mancuso

Weddings

Featured Bride Kristen On Her Gorgeous Martina Liana Dress

Kristen & Joe Wedding - Bride - Trumpets at the Gate - by Kim Mancuso

Kristen & Joe Wedding – Bride – Trumpets at the Gate – by Kim Mancuso

 

The process of finding a wedding dress isn’t always linear. You start with a clear picture of what you want to wear in mind and then make an appointment. After explaining your style to the bridal salon, you are presented a rack of choices they think you will like. But every time you step out of the fitting room and look in the mirror, the excitement you should be feeling just isn’t there. “I had tried on so many dresses I really thought that ‘the one’ was a myth,” Kristen remembers. Not to worry. Her “say yes to the dress” story does have a happy ending. Here, Kristen talks about how her wedding day look came together.
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Jean & Bryan Wedding - Bride & Bridesmaids - Bronx Post Office - by Karen Wise

Weddings

Featured Bride Jean On Her Breathtaking Monique Lhuillier Dress & Wedding Personals

Jean & Bryan Wedding - Bride & Bridesmaids - Bronx Post Office - by Karen Wise

Jean & Bryan Wedding – Bride & Bridesmaids – Bronx Post Office – by Karen Wise

 

Some brides-to-be know exactly what style of wedding dress they want. While others start their search with no idea at all. Then there are those, like our featured bride Jean, who go in with a set look in mind and completely surprise themselves with what they end up wearing down the aisle.

Part 2: Saying Yes To The Dress & Personals

Once the venue and date were confirmed, Jean had only four months to look for a dress. Because of her busy schedule and short timeline, she sometimes attended bridal salon appointments alone and her sisters and mother joined whenever possible. One afternoon, she and her oldest sister, Joanne, made another visit to Monique Lhuillier on the Upper East Side. The esteemed fashion designer is known for her frothy tulle skirts, dramatic silhouettes, and decorative flourishes. Jean, on the other hand, envisioned herself wearing something classic and simple, but with a modern sensibility. So when her sister pointed out the Fleur gown, she didn’t think much of it at first. “I would never have chosen the dress for myself. It was completely the opposite of what I ever pictured myself in!” says Jean. The blush colored design featured a voluminous, multi-tiered ball gown skirt and strapless lace top. “After trying the dress on for my mother and other sisters, it was clear this was the one.” Jean accessorized her stunning gown with a cathedral length veil, also by Monique Lhuillier, and Ferragamo patent leather sandals.
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Kate & Chase Wedding - Bridal Bouquet 3 - Mansion at Natirar - by Sally Pinera

Weddings

Featured Bride Kate on Her Gorgeous Liz Martinez Dress and Personal Touches

Kate & Chase Wedding - Bridal Bouquet 3 - Mansion at Natirar - by Sally Pinera

Kate & Chase Wedding – Bridal Bouquet 3 – Mansion at Natirar – by Sally Pinera

 

After the ring is slipped on, one of the first things a bride-to-be thinks about is what she’s going to wear down the aisle. And when you have a specific vision of how it will look, finding the perfect dress can take some time and effort. Just ask Kate, our featured bride for May. “I was looking for a design with floral appliqué and lace. An open back was important as well. I had tried on so many dresses and none of them were what I hoped for. That is until I went to Spina Bride. It was like stepping into a wedding gown boutique set within a fairytale,” she remembers.
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Lavender White Sweet Pea Bouquet - via pinterest.com

Planning & Inspiration

Beautiful Decor Ideas with Sweet Pea Wedding Flowers

No flower expresses spring’s fun and cheerful side like the sweet pea. With their butterfly-like shape, sweet peas have a delicate, yet playful beauty that looks wonderful in wedding floral decor. Blossoming in bold and pastel shades of pink, purple, red, yellow, and white, they are the perfect flower choice when you want to add a pop of color to a celebration.

 

Pink Sweet Peas - via thegardenlove.com

Pink Sweet Peas – via thegardenlove.com

 

The sweet pea’s origin is traced back to the 17th century when a Sicilian monk is said to have sent seeds to England. Soon after, Henry Eckford, a Scottish nurseryman, breeded the flower to how we know it today. The bloom became popular in the 1800s when it was considered the floral emblem of Edwardian England and was used to decorate weddings and parties. In the language of flowers, the sweet pea symbolizes delicate pleasure, bliss, good-bye, and thank you for a lovely time.
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Christina & Derek Wedding - Bride and Groom First Kiss - The Foundry LIC - Kevin Markland Photography

Weddings

Christina + Derek: Urban Bliss at The Foundry

Christina and Derek were married on a lovely day in July at The Foundry in Long Island City.

 

Christina & Derek Wedding - Bride and Groom First Kiss - The Foundry LIC - Kevin Markland Photography

Christina & Derek Wedding – Bride and Groom First Kiss – The Foundry LIC – Kevin Markland Photography

 

You just never know when your soulmate is going to walk into your life. For Christina and Derek, all it took was a chance meeting through a mutual friend. Not long after, the couple realized that they had found what many spend years looking for – true love. Looking back at that moment ten years ago, Christina said, “We hit it off right away and have been together ever since.”
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