Category Archives: Flowers

Nontraditional bridal bouquets: gothic elegance by The Little Bouquet Shop

When I say the word alternative, what do you think of?

Did you think Gothic, or Boho?

What would you say if I told you that Alice In Weddingland was an alternative wedding blog.  Would you think it was jam packed with gothic and boho goodies.  Well, you’re kind of right but it’s sooooo much more.

Alternative in the dictionary sense is purely the non-traditional and that’s exactly what the Alice In Weddingland wedding blog is all about: breaking tradition and doing things differently.

And that’s exactly what Alice In Weddingland is: an alternative wedding blog giving you unique wedding ideas.  A wedding blog that breaks the norm, that breaks tradition and gets away from candy-floss, pink fluffy weddings.  I’m not saying I don’t like candy-floss or fluffy pink weddings, it’s just that there are already plenty of blogs out there giving you some great resources in that respect.

What I want to give you is a a little slice of internet heaven that is populated with all sorts of alternate, non-traditional, unique wedding ideas and today’s stunning wedding bouquets from Mary from the Little Bouquet Shop are just that! Although the bouquets you’re about to see are from Mary’s ‘gothic’ range, they are simply stunning and a divine example of just how elegant and feminine non-traditional flowers can look.

Alternative bridal bouquets and unique wedding flowers

Alternative bridal bouquets

I’m starting the week with a bunch of flowers, a strawberry and a cabbage: some absolutely stunning, frabjously beautiful alternative bridal bouquets and wedding table decor that might just knock your tights off (or your socks)!

Let me ask you this first… when you imagine your wedding bouquet do you ever imagine it with strawberries?  Or perhaps figs?

Or when you imagine your table decor have you ever imagined a matt of real grass?

This is precisely the quirky and unique floristry that Amy from Wookie Floristry comes up with when she works along side you as you design your alternative wedding flowers.  They’re alternative in the true Oxford meaning: nontraditional or unconventional.  They’re incredibly unique and I am so excited to be showing them off to you!

I was stunned when I saw strawberries in her bouquet.  My first thoughts were ‘how original and quirky is that – I LOVE it’.  It works so beautifully.  It’s so organic!  And it’s so sophisticated!  What do you think…

And then I discovered the grass mat over the table…

And that’s not all!  Amy also loves using moss and other unexpected flora.

I love Amy’s designs: they’re intelligent, contemporary, unique and quirky and they incorporate more than just flowers which I adore!  She’s designed and created stunning alternative wedding bouquets and buttonholes and her creativity with table decor is immensely inspiring.  I now have ideas crazily busying my head for our 10th Anniversary shindig!!!

Wookie Floristry creates unique wedding flowers; works of art designed to capture your attention, yet they’re beautifully complimentary and do not over power their environment, be it the table they’re laying on or the Bride and the dress behind them.

So tell us about Wookie Amy…

W O O K I E is a freelance floristry company with a bit of a difference. We absolutely love brides who are after something a bit unusual or challenging- we think wedding floristry is stuck in its ways and we’re hoping to shake it up a bit! We also want brides to see flowers as a really important part of their day, rather than another thing to tick off their list. Now, maybe we’re a tinybit biased, but we swear most wedding venues look the same: the favours, the chair backs, even the size of the tables. So, we reckon that flowers should be highly personalised and very creative so that your wedding actually reflects you. After all, not everyone is a pink vintage rose.

We take inspiration from absolutely everything, everywhere: fashion, gardens, architecture, other floral designers (check out Preston Bailey if you want to see something insane) and even, once, a plastic T-Rex. But mostly, our inspiration comes from the dream that brides have in their minds when they envisage their wedding day, and that’s the image we know we can create with flowers… no matter how bizarre!

So what are some of the flora Amy uses: brassica (ornamental cabbage), strawberries, blackberries, amaranths, turf, snowberries, heather and herbs.

Amy’s florist includes bouquets, hair accessories, buttonholes, grass signs and initials, and so many different types of table decor and accessories all specifically designed to your budget.  Check out the Wookie Hall of Fame on Amy’s website to see more of her incredible talent and see just what she could produce for you.

Alternative wedding bouquets and table decor: unique floral art

So did you guess what the sneak peek was yesterday?  Was your guess paper flowers?  Well, if it was then you’re kind-of right, but there’s so much more to it…

Now have a close look at this photo…

Wedding bouquets: A photographic story of flowers, a girl and a wedding.

I‘m back and I’m throwing myself head first into beautiful wedding bouquets {if only it was literal}.

I can’t believe this little ol’ wedding blog has become the big wedding planning site that it now is, in just five little ol’ months.  It still feels like I’m back in August 2011, just setting out and having a ton of fun researching the crazy and spectacular things to do with weddings. And now I’m back for 2012, busily tapping away in a crazy woman kind of way with my shaggy hair and my fourth cuppa tea, motivated by the thrill of getting Alice In Weddingland back on track after my fabulous Christmas, Birthday and New Year.

For months my little art deco Paperblanks notebook has had a note scribbled in there with the words “wedding bouquets – photography” coupled with my cutesy attempt at a little drawing of a flower with a smiley face on it. {I even coloured in the petals }.  This little note has been reminding me, haunting me, disheveling me into action in search of stunning photographs of wedding bouquets for some weeks because I want to show you just how gorgeous your wedding bouquet can look in your wedding photographs and I wanted to find some inspirational photographs showcasing the creativity of wedding bouquets.

And today that little note has stopped haunting me because I get to cross it out.  Today is the day I finally get to show you some stunning wedding bouquet photos – I found some!  And they are all photographed by the lovely Gillian Cross Photography.

Gillian has a talent in capturing the vibrancy and the romance that is truly, a bunch of flowers and tells a story instead.

Bouquet Candy: Not just a bunch of flowers!

Where do you begin with wedding bouquets!? There are so many options available, the most popular being a real flower bouquet, of which there are all different shapes and sizes, round, cascade, presentation, spray, nosegay, hearts, hand-tied then you have the more unusual options being, fake flowers, jewelled flowers, felt flowers, button flowers, sweetie flowers, there are bouquets made out of things I would never have imagined – brooches!! The list goes on and on, so, for this post, I thought I would share a selection of the unique bouquets, so if you are looking for something a little quirky then these are right up your street.

Clockwise from top left: Satin, Net & Feathers – Hapitat, Fabric – Autumn Art, Brooches – Noaki, Paper – DanAmazing – All found on Etsy

Clockwise from top left: DIY – I Do Take U, Felt & Buttons - Princess Lasertron, Beaded – Copperglass – Etsy, Shells & Sea Urchins – Star of the East – Etsy

 Shaped floral bouquets are another fab option, they look very striking and fantastic in photos.

Clockwise from top left:  Jane Packer, Judi Checkett (flowers by Thanks a Bunch, Farringdon), Judi Checkett (flowers as before), Interflora

I think my favorite has to be the fabric bouquet by Autumn Art, the use of bows, pearls and flowers and the softness of the material against the wedding dress looks so elegant. The creativity and skill used to make these bouquets is truly inspiring and I have been amazed at just how many alternative options are available to a bride. What I love about the unique bouquets, is that you are taking home a piece of art that you can keep forever.

Kate x

Chosing Wedding Flowers: Centrepieces

Flowers play a huge part in setting the tone and theme for your wedding day, it can be quite scary when choosing them because of the variety of styles and colours available.  For my wedding I did a scrap book, I trawled through magazine upon magazine to find what style and colours I liked, then I started to see a pattern emerging in the flowers I was drawn to.  My dress was pale pink so I had to find a colour to tone with that, my final choice was a pink/green vintage looking rose, which I can’t for the life of me remember the name of, plus pink Avalanche roses that were simple beautiful.  Very classic, simple and elegant.  I still have them hanging in the loft!

Once you have chosen your flowers, you then have to decide what style of reception flowers & bouquet would suit your wedding theme. Again, there is such a vast amount of styles to chose from, so, look through mags and the Internet to see what is about.

I think tall centrepieces look elegant and are a beautiful way to transform a reception venue with a high ceiling or if you are having a  marquee.

A classic low centrepiece is normally an arrangement of flowers that co-ordinate with the bride’s bouquet but for a more modern look you could take a collection of different sized vases and use them as the basis for a centerpiece.

With any centrepiece, the last thing you want is to have people moving them out of the way because they are in the way, you want your friends and family to be able to talk and listen to the speeches without the arrangements getting in the way, so make sure you get the height just right!

As you can see from the pictures above, there are so many ways to display your flowers, some include bark vases, jam jars, wood planks, plant pots, coloured vases, tea pots, birdcages, watering cans… the list is endless, so let your imagination run wild and try things out. If you have an idea that is quirky or out of the box there is always a way to make it work!

One last thing, if you have booked your venue then pop along to and see if the style and colour themes you are thinking will blend with wedding venue decor.  The venue may give you inspiration for something you hadn’t thought of before.

All the images I have used are from Martha Stewart Weddings.

Kate x