I am a
non-traditional bride and I would opt to wear and hold something
unique on our big day. Ever since I figured out that having a wedding full of
flowers is costly, I have always wanted to have a non-floral wedding. But due
to limited means and props (sorry, I am really not that good in DIY’s), the
only thing that h2b and I were able to pull-off with my fantasy to have a
non-floral wedding is my wedding bouquet and boutonnieres.
Nevertheless, I am
still very happy with the outcome. I really love our wedding paraphernalia's;
most especially my wedding bouquet. I may not have the Hello Kitty Bouquet I have
always wanted, but I am pretty sure that one of these days, I will find a way to have Hello Kitty on my bouquet. ♥ Purrr!
One of my female network friends (thank you sis Cha) gave me a link from Martha Stewart (if you don’t know her, she’s quite famous and almost all bride to be’s know her!) showing the best boutonnieres that offbeat couples can use on their wedding day.Proudly, there’s this one boutonniere that is similar with the boutonnieres slash brooches we are going to use on our most awaited day. :D I know I’ve shared this a couple a times already, but I can’t help but smile knowing that the style of our boutonniere has been presentedas the best boutonnieres. There are several pictures shown on the website, and I must say these unique styles are really amazing. I just can’t imagine that there are many couples out there who are really willing to take the extra mile just to have an unconventional style and signature on their wedding day. How I wish my ideas and plans for our wedding day falls in its right place - Most especially that a lot of our paraphernalias show a great LABOR of LOVE or also known as DIY (Do-It-Yourself)
So here’s a sample picture of the beaded boutonniere I grabbed from their website =)
Handmade bead-and-wire branches and a chrysanthemum leaf adorned with a decorative pink and bound with waxed linen thread.
The moment I have decided to have crystal bouquet on my wedding day made me realize that I am such an offbeat bride. It is going to exude my love for pink and crystals and find it real perfect to do something diverse on my big day. Originally, I wanted all my girls to hold a crystal bouquet on my big day, but since I wanted to have the sparkle and twinkle as I walk along the aisle, I firmly decided that I will be the only one who would carry the crystal bouquet while others would have their own wrister.
I am pretty sure that the bouquet I will hold as I walk down the aisle would give a sheer impact of sparkle that will make me really feel that walking down the aisle as I meet my husband to be on the altar is the best walk I would ever have. ;)
Here's a glimpse of how my bouquet would look like. Disclaimer: This is not yet the finished product. Thank you so much Hazel for your dedication! ♥
Few more months to go, and I have a great feeling that more DIY would come along the way. With that, I’d like to share the crystal boutonnieres that a part of our entourage would wear on our big day! Brown for the boys, and pink for the girls. I know not everyone would appreciate this concept, most especially the guys, but Mark and I opted to have this type of boutonnieres, because as much as possible we don’t want our guests to throw something that would become a part/memory of our wedding. (If we’re going to use flowers for boutonnieres, guests would throw away em’ once the flowers start to wilt.) Who would want to throw away these lovely boutonnieres? :)
For the past few months, I have been blogging about my wedding preparations as well as with my suppliers. Since we’ve already booked the suppliers we need to book for our big day, it would be hard for me to update my blog with all my wedding inspirations. Meaning, I’m lost with ideas already. Haha.
So to help me keep from updating my blog, I think it’s also a great idea to blog about my friends who are continuously helping and supporting me all throughout this stressful process. – With all the kind of stress, I think planning for a wedding is the greatest stressed I am experiencing right now. I’m relatively keyed up to *meet* wedding jitters!
I’ve already introduced my Maid-Of-Honor, and now it’s about time to give the limelight to the girl behind the beads and bouquets – the girl who would create the bridal entourage bouquets, boutonnieres and wedding cord.
Hazel was my previous agent and was apparently transferred to a different team. I actually had a hard time letting her go since she was very diligent and actually one of the best reps I had ever since I got promoted. –except that she has tardiness issues. Lol. However, recently, I just realized that it’s actually a blessing that she got transferred to a different team too, since without this instance, we wouldn’t be super close, as there will always be a border line between the Team lead and the agent.
I can still remember when Hazel sent an e-mail, thanking about the things I have done for her. See below:
“I’m very thankful & proud to have you as my TL. You’ve been very helpful to me (to us) since day 1. You’re very approachable, kind & easy to get along with, which makes me feel very welcome. So even if I’m a shy person (esp. at first), I feel comfortable in approaching you when I have questions, when I need help on some requests, etc. I’ve learn so much from you, & I know I’ll learn more from you. You always encourage us to be the best. You inspire us to believe in ourselves that “WE ARE CAPABLE”… YOU inspire ME. You’re an instrument for our growth as individual CSAs & as a team, Team CHI. You’re a role model. Hard worker. An outstanding leader. You deserve where you are right now & more. J You’re such a blessing to us. When I learned about this Flatter Me Line for the CSA group, you’re the first person that came into my mind. I want you to know that I appreciate YOU. I’m doing this not for anything but because of just one simple reason…. YOU DESERVE IT!!! J I meant every word. And you deserve to know that you are appreciated. Keep it up! Again,…THANK YOU!!!!”
So fast forward, Hazel loves creating beaded wallets and because of my nosiness, I asked her to create our wedding cord as her gift to us. Haha. After agreeing with my request, I also asked her if she can also create boutonnieres, pens, and down to the crystal bouquets. Sorry for requesting too much. Hehe. Before agreeing, she showed me some samples that really made me feel so giddy and was 100% sure that she works like a professional bead-maker? (not sure with the term though)
So Hazel, before you thanked me for being so helpful, and now it's about time, that I say "Thank you for being so accommodating with all my requests. You're such a blessing to Mark and I, and I want you to know that I appreciate all your works. :D Mark and I can no longer wait to see the finished products too! ♥
That's Leah (one of the offerors, who said that she's going to offer Bayabas and Nilagang Saba on my wedding day) and Hazel ;)
To substitute the services we're supposed to get from Ysabela for the entourage flowers (since we’re already having crystal bouquets), I finally decided to have them decorate the church where our wedding vows would take place – Don Bosco. (Haven’t told this to H2B yet) :D
Don Bosco doesn’t need too much adornment since the church really looks beautiful even without flower decorations. How much more if we are going to embellish the place? For sure, it would really look wonderful.
I always wanted pillars and curtains on the entrance to exude a dramatic feel as I glide my way to the altar; if only smoke machine is allowed probably I’d have it too. – lol, too much magical eh? Anyhow, I’d let Ysabela florist take care of the flower arrangements, and I am pretty sure they will be able to carry out every details I want most especially that I do not know much about flowers. I just want the church to be filled with flowers and make me feel as if I am a Princess. =)
Good thing Ysabela’s facebook page is always updated, that’s why I get to see every set up they’ve done from previous weddings. All of the pictures are quite impressive and I just can’t wait to see how they’d decorate Don Bosco. They usually do floral decorations for INC (Iglesia Ni Cristo) couples, and I am pretty confident that they will be able to execute the same beautiful set-up to Don Bosco - I am saying this because the interior (such as high ceilings, walls, choir loft) of INC is really stunning and looks a bit different as compared to catholic churches ;)
After a few days of deliberation, Mark and I decided to have bouquets and corsage made of crystals on our big day. Yes, crystal bouquets nowadays are quite expensive as compared to flower bouquets, but lucky me, I have a friend who’s going to create the entourage bouquets for me at a much discounted rate! As early as now she has started creating samples for the corsage that my principal and secondary sponsors would wear on our big day. Since our motif is brown and pink, brown crystals and beads will be used for gents while pink crystals and beads are for ladies =)
Here’s the sample pink corsage she created for the ladies.
There's the pin! ♥
The wire is covered with organza cloth, and there’s a security pin at the back of the corsage. Goodness, I feel that this is the most unique part of our wedding, and I feel that my personality is really on this concept – most especially that I am into crystals!
One of these days, I'll pay her for the materials that will be used (labor is love) ♥, and I have a great feeling that I will be the only bride who will have her wedding bouquet 8 months before her wedding day. haha! Excited much! ♥
For my flower girls, instead of having them hold a crystal bouquet, I am thinking of having them embrace a stuffed toy on my wedding day. Just like the picture below:
Ysabela Florist would still be our supplier for flowers, but since I have decided to have crystal bouquets, we're going to have them decorate the church instead as a replacement of the wedding entourage flowers we have agreed during our conversation.
As promised by my friend (who will give us the wedding cord as a gift), she already showed me the ‘sample ‘wedding cord she’s making for us. I was really stunned when I saw the actual cord (first part) since it looks very well-designed and it was as if hand-crafted by a pro! Now Hazel, I bet you’d be famous if you start your own business making customized wedding cords. I know you’d be successful in this field!
Along with the wedding cord, she also brought a sample corsage made of beads. So part of my ideas right now is to replace the corsage & entourage flowers I am getting from my florist and replace it with beads and crystals. Oh no, I am thinking too much right now ! For sure this would be a great keepsake too.
Here are the samples she brought just today. Sorry, for the shaky hands! ♥
Boutonnieres for Secondary Sponsors, Principal Sponsors and Parents. Guys: Brown/ Girls: Pink
We are going to wrap the wires with organza ;)
and the finished product!
Disclaimer: This is not yet the finished product. This is just the first cord (my cord) Hazel's still working on Mark's cord. We will accentuate the cord with Cross and our initials. ♥
and here's the finished product! ♥
And since I already feel as if I am wearing a thinking cap right now, might as well share some pictures of the wedding bouquets I have in mind.
