5 Awesome Alternative Bridal Bouquets to Liven up Your Wedding

We are warming for wedding season with all the spring and summer brides hot and heavy in planning modes. Wedding planning has never been as diverse as at it is now, with new ideas and trends popping up over social media. The merging of old traditions with new flair is especially enticing. I, for one, am really enchanted with folks are reimaging the traditional bridal bouquets.

If you have ever wondered why brides carry bridal bouquets down the aisle, I did a little digging into history.

According to Reader's Digest "The origin of this floral tradition stems back to ancient Rome. Flowers were a common decoration at Roman weddings because they were known as symbols of new beginnings, fidelity, and fertility.

Herbs were more prominent in Middle Age bouquets than flowers, especially dill and garlic, which supposedly kept evil spirits and bad luck away. The dill reappeared at the wedding feast to get the newlyweds ready to consummate their love that night. Yes, even our ancestors knew about the wonders of aphrodisiac foods. By the Victorian era, exchanging flowers became an increasingly popular way to express love. Keeping with the romantic theme, they eventually became linked to weddings. Cut to present day, and flowers continue to play a prominent role in wedding bouquets and around the venue—something wedding planners know all too well."

Flowers will never go out of style in the world of wedding planning, however some of these bridal bouquets are so cool they are sure to stick around for a long time. Traditions have to start somewhere!

Sola wood flowers (or shola) are an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to cut flowers. Made from the renewable wood of a marshy plant (not tapioca or cassava as commonly misunderstood), sola wood flowers look like real flowers and last a lifetime. Available in many different flower styles and colors, this is a customizable option that brides are gravitating toward especially with the ease designing and ordering from artist vendor sites like etsy.com.

Some couples are forgoing flowers for puppies, for a good cause.  Using puppies from local rescues that need good homes, the wedding party carries these cuties down the aisle in the hope that they find good homes amongst the guests.

For those mermaids out there, the Seashell Bouquet is a wonderful option. There are many seashell artist out there that can make your vision a reality or if you are feeling inspired, there are numerous Do It Yourself tutorials online. I love this option for all the beach weddings that are being planned this summer.

For a truly reusable bouquet and a great way to get all your veggies in, check out this vegetable bouquet and its great DIY tutorial.

For when you really want to assert your relationship dominance but say it with flowers this is a hilariously cute option.    Edgy, trendy and sweet all in one.