Are Flowers a Requirement?

Nope not a requirement. The only true 'requirements' to get married are an officiant and a marriage license

Like others have said, nothing is a requirement. Not a white dress, not an engagement ring, not flowers. Those of us who partake of these traditions do so because we want to.


Would I notice if a bride didn't have a bouquet? Probably. Unless it was something specifically sentimental I'd probably assume she didn't want to pay for the expense of the flowers. But that's me, many likely wouldn't notice.

View Quoted Comment Hi Michelle, thanks for the input.

Definitely not a requirement! My bridesmaids are carrying lanterns down the aisle - I am very excited about it.


I am doing this for a few reasons - cost of flowers, they are overdone, no use for them afterwards, and we are getting married in winter outside so likely not many flowers would be happy in the cold and would end up wilting.
As others have said you do you!

View Quoted Comment Okay Sexypoodle, thank you for giving your input

View Quoted Comment Hi Michelle,
Thanks for your input to the discussion

View Quoted Comment Thanks Hanna,
Fun fact I recently learned: Colorado, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. doesn't require an officiant.

View Quoted Comment Hi Tiger Bride,
Thanks for your honesty

View Quoted Comment Hi Angel,
Thank you for your input on the thread.

View Quoted Comment

This, exactly. It's entirely up to your preference. I like flowers and had a simple bouquet (our only floral besides my husband's boutonniere) but it doesn't serve any actual purpose. All decor and accessories are skippable.

It doesn't look odd at all to not carry something. Most of the ceremony you don't hold the flowers anyway!

View Quoted Comment Hi Maggie. Thank you for your input

View Quoted Comment Hi Lady,
Thank you for your input.

View Quoted Comment Yeah I love pinterest! So many great ideas!

I'm going to be honest in the past weddings I've attended I can't remember what the bouquet looked like or if they even have one. I was so focused on the bride walking with her parent(s). If you don't want flowers why not save some money?

View Quoted Comment Right!!!!!! Thank You for your input.

I'm just going to throw out there that I've been to a wedding in which the wedding party was all holding lightsabers (blue for bridesmaids and green for groomsmen) and it was pretty epic. We're also only doing bouquets because a friend is making them as our wedding gift and we're putting them in motorcycle grips to keep with the them. Otherwise we probably wouldn't hold anything at all.

View Quoted Comment Hi Melody, thanks for sharing.

If you feel you should carry something but not flowers you can do a really cute DIY lantern! Or even a candle/jar of sand for a unity ceremony if you plan on having one. Maybe a special Bible or book for the family if you are religious. But if you really just don't want to hold anything at all, don't feel pressured to do anything because it is "standard". This is your wedding! And don't waste money on trying to fit in to standards I think everyone will appreciate you being authentic. If anything, it's one less thing to worry about on your plate.

I hate flowers as well, so spent hours googling alternatives to bouquets. Nothing really grabbed my fancy until I saw a boutonniere made of an origami flower in sheet music. As a musician, I absolutely fell in love with it. It's expensive, since we have learned we are not talented enough to make them ourselves, but we're also supporting a small business, so that's good.