From To Have and To Hold by David Stark and Avi Adler

With the current state of the economy, many couples are trying to scale back on their weddings. In fact, spending on weddings for 2009 has decreased 6.5% compared to 2008 according to The Wedding Report, a wedding industry market research and statistics firm. So what’s a girl to do in this economy? How should a couple scale down their floral décor in the monetary department without the wedding looking altogether too cheap?

Outfitting the bridal party with flowers can really add up with each bouquet and boutonniere costing in the double, and most of the time, triple digits. Short of eloping or cutting the bridal party down to the bride and the groom, I would like to suggest a simple and elegant alternative to the hand-held bouquet. Holding a single stem of a gorgeous flower tied with satin ribbon is bold, elegant, and stunning. Think about how in many areas of design, less is more. How in ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging, minimalism is stressed and the emphasis placed on the shape, line, and form of the flower inclusive of the stem and leaves – not just the bloom of the flower.

Showy peonies are perfect for the single blossom bouquet

In the single blossom bouquet, choosing what type of flower to showcase is key. I would lean towards something dramatic in terms of size, color, or shape. Here, the bloom of the flower takes center stage, while the stem and leaves serve as the just as important supporting cast. Great flowers to use for the single blossom bouquet include the peony, calla lily, dahlia (large-headed dinner plate dahlia), Oriental lily such as the ‘Casa Blanca’, giant sunflower, French tulip, and amaryllis.

Single blossom bouquets work great for casual as well as formal weddings. For a formal wedding, you can dress up the stem with a bit of satin ribbon and rhinestones or pearls. To set apart the bride from the bridesmaids, the addition of a couple more stems still maintains the minimalist design and cost, but also says “this is the bride”. So in this scenario, the bride might carry 3 stems while the bridesmaids each carry a single stem. Gorgeous, bold, elegant, and the best part – cheap!