Jessica’s Wedding Bouquet

Back in November of 2017, my daughter Jessica got married. At the time, we talked about me making her a paper bouquet. But, as I had just started a new job, that was very demanding of my time and energy; it was settled that, I would make fresh flowers instead. It seemed like a sound decision. I would not be able to push out a deadline. The wedding was going to happen on the date, as planned. If I fell behind in making the flowers, I just couldn’t swing a last minute adjustment. So, instead, I made boutonnieres, corsages, and brides maid bouquets from silk flowers. Then a couple of days before the wedding, we drove to the flower market, and bought the fresh flowers for her bouquet and all of the table settings. I spent the day before the wedding making them. They were beautiful. I had selected different blooms for her bouquet, that unfortunately, wilted quite fast. It was so disappointing. That wouldn’t have happened, if I had made them in paper!

Of course, there are many things that I know now that I didn’t then. I have supplies and skills, that I really didn’t back then. I look at the flowers I was making from tissue paper and coffee filters, and despite the fresh flower wilting - am glad that we did her bouquet from fresh flowers, and not what my skillset was capable of then.

Last year, however, I decided it was time to fix the issue from the wedding and re-created her bouquet. I had also included peonies. Which were not in her bouquet, because of lack of availability, but, were in the final paper arrangement. It looks so beautiful, and I do wish that it could have been what she was holding on her wedding day. But, again, I had a lot to learn.

There was one other bouquet that I did before attempting the one for my daughter. It was probably the impetus that gave me the courage to do it. It was really beautiful too. I made the bouquet as a gift for my niece Hailey. She was scheduled to get married the first week of April last year. Of course, Covid forced her to change plans. The venue was changed to her mom and dad’s backyard, and the wedding ceremony was reduced to household members only, hers and his. Well, and the officiant - played by my husband, and me, the florist and photographer. We wore masks as appropriate and entered the backyard only, through a side gate, not through the house. It was short and sweet and I feel so lucky to have been a part of it.

Fresh Flower Bouquet

November 3, 2017

Jess’s Bouquet in paper - with Peonies

August 2020

Hailey’s Bouquet

April 4, 2020

It’s a really wonderful feeling to create something that will be part of such a memorable moment. I look forward to making more for either the special day - or a re-creation as a first anniversary gift, which is…PAPER.