BOUQUETS

How To Hold Your Bouquet

How to Hold Your Bouquet Properly On Your Wedding Day (and why you should care!)

We know that on the day of your wedding, “carrying my bouquet correctly” isn’t at the top of your list of concerns. Most brides are more preoccupied by fears of not tripping down the aisle, or making sure that their arms look as cut as possible in their photos, or even stopping a brawl between their in-laws and parents. 

We’re here to add another worry to that long wedding day list - remembering to hold your bouquet correctly. Don’t stress - it’s a lot easier than it seems. While you definitely haven’t thought about the proper hold of your bouquet - you should. Just like you, bouquets have a good side and a not as great side. As you’ve just spent a lot of money on that bundle of flowers - make sure that it’s working it’s hardest for you. 

Holding Your Bouquet Properly Benefit #1: Thin arms for photos. 

If you’re nervous and holding on to your bouquet too tight, you are most likely holding the bouquet as close as possible to your body. The closer you bring those arms in, the more likely those toned arms you have been working on for months will be squashed against you and not giving you that long lanky ballerina arm you’ve been perfecting. 

Easy fix! Hold your bouquet slightly away from your body, keeping your arms slightly bent, loose, and comfortable. A good rule of thumb is to create an isosceles triangle with your arms, with your hands resting slightly above your womanly power. 

When you hold your bouquet too tight, you also smash the stems together, which allows for less movement in the blooms as you strut down the aisle. Those bouncy blooms will help you appear as if you are a graceful princess walking down the aisle.

Holding your bouquet properly benefit #2: Getting your money’s worth 

If you ignore the “isosceles triangle” advice from above, you’re most likely holding your bouquet too tight, and giving it a straight up and down shape. No one wants to see the stems, ribbons, or your hands as you walk down the aisle. Unless you’re trying to show off your ginormous diamond as your walk down the aisle, we don’t recommend this. Save the bling flashing for cocktail hour. 

You just spent anywhere from $250-$475 for that bridal bouquet - so make sure you show off the most beautiful angles of it. The top of the bouquet is the money shot. If you want to enjoy it down the aisle and not look at anyone or where you are going, feel free to hold it straight up and down. If not, slightly tilt the bouquet forward. You shouldn’t be able to see your hands as you walk down the aisle.

Another fun tip, get creative withholding your bouquet in pics. You don’t just have to stand there. Sling that beauty over your shoulder, cradle it, or shake it in front of you. It’s there for you to use as a prop. If you spent hours on Pinterest or on blogs, you probably have seen many styled shoots or editorials, and those brides are always repositioning the bouquet. They don’t just hold it straight up and down.

Do a little practice with your bridesmaids once your florist delivers your bouquet as you’re getting ready. A minute or so is all you’ll need to feel comfortable, and then you can strike that from your worry list, and focus on making sure that Uncle Larry doesn’t get too crunk. Cheers!

Photography Lydia Photography

Flowers by Ash + Oak