Flower-Free Wedding?

Now see, I have even MORE of a problem with fruit centerpieces. If no one is eating them after then it's such a waste of food. There are so many hungry people in this country alone.

I like candles, it gives you a certain romantic vibe if that is what you are looking for. I don't really want to spend a tone of money on flowers but I want that springy feel since we are marrying in May. I'm thinking of something like this:

^ton

Those are really pretty, dai! And daises are pretty inexpensive, right?

I think if you do not want to have flowers, then do not have them. There are so many alternatives these days as many of the ladies have posted. Do what feels right for you and your FH and your special day!!

It doesn't matter WHY flowers are expensive--they are. Summer: I'd love to hear what you decide to use!

I've had brides with the same concerns... they opted to carry "something old" such as a small family Bible, a jeweled evening bag of their mothers, one bride carried her deceased grandfather's pocketwatch in a bouquet of wildflowers from her grandmother's garden. Just think outside the box and be creative. It's your wedding, do what YOU want.

If you still want flowers, but with less of a negative impact, ther could be florists in your area, or even growers who don't use all the pesticides and are quite enviromentally friendly, They (site searching) say even if you just use a local grower & flowers availbe in your wedding season, you are cutting the carbon foot print down considerabley (sp?) I would check to see if any local growers are chemical free, out of curiosity of price and method, if you're against flowers completely, I sugget button boquets or pinwheels, or candles.

Ashley, the teacup idea is adorable! I bet I could come up with something really cute that way. I also have a little obsession with mason jars, and I was thinking of doing something with that. I would totally dig rigging lights in such a way that they looked like fireflies in a jar. I'm not sure I'll do food centerpieces, but if I did, I could arrange with the local food bank or FNB to distribute the leftovers later. If I used candles, we could take them home and use them on the family altar, and that would be really special. I won't have a bouquet, but a Rosary I will make for the occasion (the groom gets a matching set of komboloi, or Greek worry beads). I'm not sure about the maids yet, but some similar bit of beadwork seems n order. I can also make pins or bracelets instead of corsages, which can double as gifts for the moms.

I'm using local garden flowers that are organic and have not been treated with any sort of pesticides. After the ceremony and reception these flowers will either be composted or fed to the animals of several neighbors (the cows love them and the kids love feeding the cows).

Check out byapryl.etsy.com and byapryl.com. She mostly does wire trees with beads/stones, but also does "sprays." She shows them for cakes, but I bet she could do bouquet & centerpiece sprays too.

Hi Summer, Im a florist and I love flowers and it is my business. they are sprayed with pesticide but than again, so is everything "live" that comes in to the USA! However,if you don't want to use real flowers, I can see where you are coming from. How about a bouquet of a combination of that pocelain roses posted above and feathers? Ostrich feathers are classy, come in all different colors and can easily bend to make a bouquet and than use them as centerpieces. Peacock feathers are also cute. I even know of one bride that carried her cat down the aisle, hey everything is possible!

...I have three cats, and am having a hard time picturing carrying ANY of them down the aisle unrestrained. :p

Cats? Wow, that would be an idea! (imagining my sweeties ripping my dress and arms to shreds--yeah, no.) As I imagine the walk down the aisle, I'm thinking of a beautiful red and white Swarovski Rosary in my hand and draped over my wrist. The Groom and I will have tall white candles anyway because it's a Greek Orthodox ceremony. The maids can have komboloi in the same beads (this is what komboloi look like, BTW: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Komboloi-silhouette1.svg ) I think it'll look great.

For centerpieces, Carmen posted a link to a crystal tree idea that I think is awesome. I also really love candles. I will keep you all posted. Cheers!