Choose your flowers wisely.
My non-negotiable flower was Antirrhinum. My late Granda grew them in his garden for me when I was little, pretending they were rabbits by pinching the back, so I needed them included. Scottish thistle for my Dad’s parents and my new Scottish name, sprinkled with seasonal wildflowers to bring the bouquet to life.
Tiny objects
A few months prior to the wedding, my now Mother-in-Law gave us two buttons that belonged to her parents and asked if we’d put them in our pockets. For Matt, the florist sewed his into his boutonniere for pride of place, and mine was sewn onto a handmade garter.
Do it yourself
Another element to honour my Granda was to use his old shirt. I cut it up and tied it into a bow to be sewn into the bouquet stems. It’s not perfect, but the touch meant a lot and felt like I was bringing him with me. With the help of my friend Leah, we made a banner with my Granda’s famous quote to display by the cake my 89-year-old Grandma made.
There are lots of little ways to add touches to honour loved ones that don’t need to be morbid or intrusive; they can be subtle reflections of your life, family, and friends.
Have a think about ways to approach your something borrowed, blue, old, and new into the day, or how your flowers could represent a friend or charitable cause close to your heart. It doesn’t need to be obvious or expensive, just personal to you and your spouse.
-Lauren Dunbar
Programme and Engagement Manager, The Common Room
