The steady decline in enthusiasm is another cultural signifier that women’s societal worth is no longer tethered to her ability to be partnered. “In the past five years of doing weddings, only one bride has opted to toss her bouquet,” recalls Chelsea Olayos, owner and designer at the Brooklyn-based made-to-order floral studio The Fleurista, “and she bought an additional bouquet to toss.”
The Fleurista’s bouquet bags are handmade and can take anywhere from one to three hours to construct, depending on the type of bag. “There is a lot of passing the bouquet back and forth for someone else to hold on your wedding day,” Olayos says of the bags’ appeal. With a bridal boquet bag, “you can hold your bouquet bag and your glass of champagne.”
As for what kind of flowers seem to be popular, most designers note that the more durable varietals work best. After all, from the moment a florist finishes any kind of bouquet, there’s a limited amount of time before the flowers begin to wilt. “Calla lilies are very much in trend for weddings and they work really well out of water for an extended period of time,” shares Tammy Esfandi, founder and designer of Presch Petals in Dallas, Texas. Unlike other flowers, calla lilies can also easily be manipulated thanks to their flexible stems. Esfandi twists, curls, and knots the stems with beaded stone wrap bracelets, necklaces, and ribbon. “It’s important to have longevity in the structure that you build for your bride,” Esfandi shares.
Photo: Emily Barrett
Bouquet bags for bridesmaids and guests
The rise of the bouquet bag is not only reserved for brides. “Couples and vendors alike are moving in a direction that honors the guest experience, introducing more relevant and inclusive ideas like presenting it to a mom or honoring a couple who has stood the test of time,” says Megan Oddy, floral and event designer and founder of Pen and Flower Design Studio in Jacksonville, Florida. In June, the designer helped orchestrate flower purses for an entire bachelorette party. The purses were sourced from Fancy Boutique, which is owned by the bride, Francesca Hannon, who made the decision to include flower purses for her bridesmaids last-minute before the ceremony.
