Unique Ideas for a Wedding with No Flowers

When most people think of weddings, they envision lovely, lavish flower arrangements. But, believe it or not, some brides simply don’t like or want flowers. They may be allergic to certain kinds of flowers. They may want a nontraditional wedding without the huge traditional flower centerpieces and arrangements. Or they want to maintain a minimalistic, fresh and modern look for their wedding ceremony.

For these brides, here are some ideas for non-flower/ flowerless centerpieces and bouquets:

Goldfish & Gerbera Centerpiece

Goldfish & Gerbera Centerpiece

Table Centerpieces: A Fish Focus

For a fin-tastic centerpiece, use Goldfish or Siamese fighting fish (also known as bettas) or any fish that suits your color scheme. Fish are available in a wide selection of bright and exotic colors. But do understand that this choice is not as simple as putting fish in a bowl. For example, with some fish, such as the Siamese fighting fish, you can’t mix more than one in the same container. (Male bettas are beautiful but aggressive. They can mix with other fish but not with each other.)

You can purchase fish from your local pet store or breeder, and then give them to guests as gifts after the wedding. Or you may even be able to “rent” the fish from the retailer and then return them after the wedding.

Floral décor, is completely optional, you can mix your fishbowls with coordinating glassware of floating gerberas or other flowers.

Preparing and Caring for your Fish:

You will need:

  1. A bucket, dechlorinating drops, fish food, oxygen tablets and a small fish net.
  2. Mix dechlorinating drops with fresh water (follow instructions on the packaging) to remove chlorine from the water, which can kill the fish.
  3. Fill each container half full of water from the bag containing each fish and half with the dechlorinated water.
  4. Add oxygen tablets to each bowl.
  5. Use the net to catch the fish and place them into the fishbowls. (Don’t use your hand to catch the fish or you can damage their fins.)
  6. Feed the fish a small amount of food just before the wedding and then again after the wedding.
Fish Collage - Betta, Red Siamese Fighting Fish, Blue Malawi

Betta | Blue Malawi | Red Siamese Fighting Fish

Crystals and Candles

candelabra with candles and beads

Candelabra with Candles and Beads

If your guest tables will be lavishly furnished with embossed table cloths, runners and gifts, focus on crystals, candles and candelabras rather than elaborate flower arrangements for your table decor. Consider simple dessert dishes as an elegant finishing touch as we did at a recent wedding. You can use any flower of your choice: gerberas, orchids or lilies, for example. Add some ivy, which is a symbol of fidelity, friendship and affection. Or add in some baby’s breath, a sign of sincerity and innocence. By combining flowers with some texture, you create table centerpieces that are not simply beautiful but also meaningful.

TIP: When using lilies such as Casablancas, St. Josephs or Stargazers, remove the stamens from each bloom. Doing so will prolong the life of each flower, can prevent allergies and will eliminate staining of the flower or tablecloth.

Fruity Florals

Fruit Centerpieces - Gerberas & Lemons

Fruit Centerpieces | Gerberas & Lemons

The bright colors of fruit beautifully complement wedding color themes today. And they can work well with flowers, if you want an extra dash of color. For example, we placed shiny, juicy-green apples in a cylinder vase with three or four bright-colored gerberas tied with ribbon.

See this article for more Gerbera Centrepiece Ideas

Or use lemons or limes for a citrus-centered theme. (With a pinch of salt and tequila, your guests can use them to get the party started, too!) ;-)

 

 

 

 

 

Main Table Arrangements: Mirrored & Modern

Mirrored Modern Bridal Table Arrangement

Mirrored Modern Bridal Table Arrangement

Instead of turning to the long, flat, traditional “coffin-spray” types of floral arrangements for the bridal party’s table, jazz up the décor with a modern feel using mirrored boxes and silver boat dishes. For smaller main tables we combined white roses and baby’s breath with funky orange gerberas in the shiny, sophisticated boxes. For a larger bridal party, with a longer table, we had lacey runners beneath each arrangement rounded off with votives, candles and individual lily blooms.

Modern Bridal Table Arrangement

Modern Bridal Table Arrangement

A Buttoned-Up Bridal Bouquet

Bridal Bouquet - Buttons

Bridal Bouquet with Buttons

Bridal Bouquet - Buttons

Bridal Bouquet with Buttons

A bridal bouquet with no flowers? At one wedding, our bride refused to have flowers in her bouquet. We tried to convince her to add just a few, but she didn’t bite. We did, however, persuade her to include some roses in the bridesmaid’s bouquet. The result turned out to be something quite special and unique that used a mix of fantastical buttons and crystals. This could be a project you can start long before your wedding day, collecting buttons, beads and other trinkets far in advance. Then, like our bride, you will easily be incorporating the “something old” tradition into your wedding; for this bride, that came in the form of using some buttons which came from her granny. No matter what unusual items you include, you’ll definitely create a bouquet you can keep forever.

Bridal Bouquet - Buttons & Roses

Buttons & Roses Bridal Bouquet

In considering the suggestions here, always keep in mind that your wedding day is your day. No matter whether you want flowers or not or whether your ideas might be a little off the wall, all you need is a wedding florist with vision that will help make your dreams or ideas a reality.

Please share your thoughts and ideas with us in the comments below. And stay tuned for our next article…

Written by

Lizé Williams

 

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Related posts:

  1. The Ultimate Wedding Flower Guide
  2. Wedding Flowers: Gerbera Daisy – The New Rose
  3. Artificial Flowers: The Year-Round Wedding Option
  4. Make Gorgeous Flower Choices for Your Wedding
  5. How to Duplicate a Royal Bridal Bouquet

10 Comments to “Unique Ideas for a Wedding with No Flowers”

  • This is such a brilliant article and amazing ideas! I would never have thought of doing table decorations that are so elegant looking. Well done Lize, I see that you have definitely found your calling.

    • Hi Nicci,

      Thanks for the comment! I love writing and sharing ideas that’s modern and different. I have to thank the brides for the inspiration though ;-)

      Lize

  • Lize:

    What fabulously creative solutions! It’s hard for me to imagine a bride NOT wanting flowers at her wedding, but I love how you were able to convince her to include them anyway. And for the bride who is really one-of-a-kind (and who doesn’t want to think SHE is that bride?), mixing in the beautiful fish and fruit is genius in allowing her to show her personality! (And, of course, the crystals and silver-plated boxes create a completely glam event!) I’d be hardpressed to choose which concept is my favorite! Bravo! g.

    • Hi Gina,

      Thank you so much for taking the time to read my article and comment, really appreciate it! I must say I find it quite difficult to choose myself and as much as the bride with the fish had something different it was actually the groom’s idea…men can sometimes have good ideas too hehe…;-)

  • Lize,

    How creative! I’m sure her guess not only enjoyed the fish and flower displays, but it have them talking for years later about how the bride’s wedding was so different and matched her personality.

    • Hi Rose!

      Thanks for the positive comment! I think weddings that has something unique will always be remembered and we’re grateful as florists that we can turn the brides ideas into something unforgettable and special!

  • I love the modern flare! Thanks for sharing and posting!

    • Thanks Leslie! It’s only a pleasure!

  • Hi Lize,
    I just love your flowerless ideas, especially the buttons and roses bouquet idea ;)

    • Hi Michelle,

      Thanks for the comment, glad you enjoyed the ideas! Yes, the button idea is definitely something special! ;-)

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