some thing instead of bouquets?

I had a friend that her bridesmaids hold candles. It was inexpensive and beautiful. Also, to save $$ you could have your BM's hold a single rose vs. a bouquet.

I have seen alot of people use candles in glass cylinders as well as i saw a super cute wedding where they all had these cute small purses and then had ribbons flowing out of them!

Just have them carry a single stem rose, or a single stem of some other flower that goes with your other flowers.

you could have them ware a corsage

i wouldn't do candles-do they hold them the whole time what about the dripping wax

~Greenery bouquet of ivy/fern fronds/or other fresh or silk leaves.

~Single real or silk flower (perhaps one that matches the bridal bouquet’s main flower) tied w/ribbon or raffia

~Inexpensive lantern filled w/greenery or a candle (it could stay lit that way!)

~Plain or fancy fan

~Little wind chime (think of the sweet music as they come down the aisle!)

These could double as a nice gift/memoir for your bridesmaids, as well! And most could be crafted inexpensively by you and/or family and friends..

When i said candles i meant the larger pillar candles not the candle sticks! Also you place them on a small dish or saucer and put a glass cylinder around them then there is not worry about wax!

One of my suppliers are now carrying umbrellas! I guess it is the newest fade in europe. Check out the site and let me know your thoughts www.princess-gowns.com. It would be practical since the bridal party would be able to use them for other occasions. Also, keep in mind that simple can be beautiful as well. So maybe just taking 2-3 of the flower types in your bouquet and putting a ribbon around them for your bridesmaid to carry could save you money an look elegant. Also, submit your name for my free silk bouquet drawing. That will save you money on a throwing bouquet. I hope everything works out, hopefully some of my ideas will work for you.

Best Wishes,

Just make sure that it's something you can hold in one hand. My cousin just got married and we had to hold purses with orchids pouring out of them. So I was like great I'll hold it like a baby and then kinda scoop my dress up (to avoid tripping) with the other hand. Then I walk forward and a groomsman walks toward me and I was like shoot. I can't take his arm AND grab my dress AND hold the purse thing!! There was a frightening shuffle step whn I thought I would fall before I awkwardly reached my arm (that was through the groomsman's) and hiked the skirt up.

Instead of a bouquet use flowers that can easily be placed into a vase afterwards. then the bridesmaids can take them home! this won't supplement the bridesmaids gifts, but it can help offset the need to spend a lot on their gift.

i'm thinking about leis. some are pricey, but some are less so...and if I do this, my bridesmaids won't have anything in their hands. but i definitely will have them walk in and out with the groomsmen so they look less "naked" if you will....

I just designed a beautiful wedding where the bridesmaids carried Japanese hand painted fans, I added a small orchid style accent to each, and I can say that not one bridesmaid let that stay behind!

If you would like to see this design go to my website and look at the Bouquet gallery. Feel free to e-mail me for info on where to find the fans, These are NOT the cheap novelty store variety! LOL

But can add a WOW factor that looks great in photos.

have fun

www.suzannemsmithdesigns.com

A seller on Etsy.com, WhichGoose makes butterfly bouquets. They are so pretty! Look her up:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5649119§ion_id=5941753