Happily Ever After...: Vintage Love

If you've followed me for a few years, you know that I have previously spent many summers (not to mention Fall, Winter, and Spring) creating and designing flowers for brides. I have a little floral business that grew into more than I ever expected it to and I have loved it! I'm currently on a little break from weddings, it's just too much to manage with three little kids underfoot right now and although I do miss it, I love being a Mommy more! However, I did have a fun opportunity this Spring to design a bouquet for my Aunt who was getting married in June and I wanted to share it with you. The wedding was in Iowa, but I was able to create her bouquet because it was a departure from my normal fresh flowers and it was made with permanent materials instead.

She was inspired by the vintage jewelry she found while thrift shopping and asked me to incorporate them into a bouquet that would fit her outdoor/romantic/vintage theme. I almost never get a chance to use permanent flowers, so this was kind of exciting and gave me an outlet for all my pent-up creativity.

I'm glad I said yes!

She sent me home from a visit with some gorgeous things she'd found and then I picked up a few more things to help hold it all together and tie in her theme.

She was looking for something with mostly ivory to set off all of the jewelry, but she also wanted touches of blush, peach and a soft turquoise incorporated to tie in what the bridesmaids were wearing.

I couldn't wait to get started and then my little Ava caught wind of what I was doing and wanted to help too! Sweet girl. She must have known that would be music to her Mama's ears! She has witnessed many of my wedding designs from start to finish and has helped me deliver them a few times too. I would LOVE it if she and I became a mother-daughter design duo someday, who knows? She climbed right up on my bed and told me, "Mom, I'm SO excited to do this! It's my first time to design!"

How could I turn that face down??

We put this feather clip in her hair and she played around with some of the silk flowers, pretending it was her big day. I called Travis in to see her and we both got a lump in our throats imaging how quickly that day will come someday. We both caught a glimpse of her grown up self as she smiled at me through the camera.

Oh, how we love her!

We played around for a couple of hours with everything and then I finished!

This is the front.

A side view

Another side view

And the back.

Just like a fresh flower bouquet I wanted it to be beautiful from all sides, no matter how you hold it or which was it was facing.

I brought my little helper outside and asked her to model it for me so I could photograph it.

I love the way the light hit it and made it sparkle!

This was so fun to do, I truly love how it turned out and that it was so different from what everyone else does.

My Aunt found some really gorgeous pieces to use but I kept thinking, this kind of bouquet would be so fun to make with family pieces too. Wouldn't this be so sentimental with your Grandmother's or Mother's jewelry?? You could take it apart after the big day or keep it forever as is. Either way, what a fun way to use pieces that mean something on your wedding day.

It was also so NICE to make a bouquet that could be done way ahead of time, as opposed to the day before when you use fresh. I loved that part! No stress for the florist :)

It's not for everyone but, if vintage is your thing you might love it too. You could do so many shapes and sizes, depending on what pieces you have to work with.

Regardless, can we just agree that my model is the sweetest girl you have ever seen?? More than the bouquet in her hands, I was amazed at what my camera captured...Our precious, kindhearted, and sweet natured girl. She is looking so grown up to me lately, so much older. It's a beautiful thing...