I've been to very few weddings, so I'd like to know- are corsages and bouts for the parents traditional? I've seen it done, and I don't want to offend our parents by leaving it out; however, money's tight and I'm making our bridal party's flower arrangements myself the day before the wedding. I'm trying to weigh the cost and time of making additional sets for parents, step-parents, surrogate parents, grandparents...
Did you do flowers for your parents? Would it be alright to just do a parents' dance and hand out roses? I'd love to hear your ideas.
I did corsages for what seemed like everyone!! But when money is tight this can easily be abbreviated. The only problem with gives roses at the parents dance is that they won't get them until after the ceremony is over and done with. Have you thought about making them yourself w/ some pretty silk flowers or flower alternatives. I believe it was Miss Green Tea that did a great post on making the boutineers herself.
I think the reason corsages are given to the elders, at least in the Chinese tradition, is so they are acknowledged as"so-n-so's" mother, father, grandparents, etc. If you are having a western ceremony, this may also be how your venue knows who should be in the first row...or at least that was the case for me.
I had flowers made for my parents, his parents, and his grandparents. I did not have any made for aunts/uncles as I felt this would make it out of control...all of a sudden, everyone is family! =)
If money is tight, I think making them out of silk would be a viable option....or instead of corsages for the ladies, you could always do boutineres...nobody's really going to notice come the big day anyways! =)
I don't know the history, but tts a nice, thoughtful thing to do and a way to recognize parents and grandparents. We had bouquets for the moms, and bouts for the dads. Grandmas got corsages- no grandpas unfortunately :( If you can find time/money to even do something small, I can guarantee the gesture will be appreciated and make special people feel special!
We had corsages for the moms, sisters, and DH's daughter; bouts for the dads, brothers, BILs, and DH's son. It's definately traditional. I can't think of a wedding I have attended where the immediate families didn't have corsages/bouts. You generally include grandparents as well, but none of ours are still with us.
I second that, if the main issue is time, you could use silk flowers and make them days before. Silk flowers are going to look better throughout the evening anyway - real ones tend to get a little limp and squashed looking with all the hugs. Our corsages/bouts (which were done by a florist) were by far the smallest expense of the day - we had cream roses and pink waxflower, and the bouts ran us $5 each; the corsages $15. You generally get a break on the small stuff when you order multiple pieces.
I've been to very few weddings, so I'd like to know- are corsages and bouts for the parents traditional? I've seen it done, and I don't want to offend our parents by leaving it out; however, money's tight and I'm making our bridal party's flower arrangements myself the day before the wedding. I'm trying to weigh the cost and time of making additional sets for parents, step-parents, surrogate parents, grandparents...
Did you do flowers for your parents? Would it be alright to just do a parents' dance and hand out roses? I'd love to hear your ideas.
Thanks!
posted by lily1223 59 posts 3 months agoI did corsages for what seemed like everyone!! But when money is tight this can easily be abbreviated. The only problem with gives roses at the parents dance is that they won't get them until after the ceremony is over and done with. Have you thought about making them yourself w/ some pretty silk flowers or flower alternatives. I believe it was Miss Green Tea that did a great post on making the boutineers herself.
posted by MrsDavis 66 posts 3 months agoI think the reason corsages are given to the elders, at least in the Chinese tradition, is so they are acknowledged as"so-n-so's" mother, father, grandparents, etc. If you are having a western ceremony, this may also be how your venue knows who should be in the first row...or at least that was the case for me.
I had flowers made for my parents, his parents, and his grandparents. I did not have any made for aunts/uncles as I felt this would make it out of control...all of a sudden, everyone is family! =)
If money is tight, I think making them out of silk would be a viable option....or instead of corsages for the ladies, you could always do boutineres...nobody's really going to notice come the big day anyways! =)
posted by MissBlueBear 271 posts 3 months agoI don't know the history, but tts a nice, thoughtful thing to do and a way to recognize parents and grandparents. We had bouquets for the moms, and bouts for the dads. Grandmas got corsages- no grandpas unfortunately :( If you can find time/money to even do something small, I can guarantee the gesture will be appreciated and make special people feel special!
posted by Janna19 343 posts 3 months agoWe had corsages for the moms, sisters, and DH's daughter; bouts for the dads, brothers, BILs, and DH's son. It's definately traditional. I can't think of a wedding I have attended where the immediate families didn't have corsages/bouts. You generally include grandparents as well, but none of ours are still with us.
I second that, if the main issue is time, you could use silk flowers and make them days before. Silk flowers are going to look better throughout the evening anyway - real ones tend to get a little limp and squashed looking with all the hugs. Our corsages/bouts (which were done by a florist) were by far the smallest expense of the day - we had cream roses and pink waxflower, and the bouts ran us $5 each; the corsages $15. You generally get a break on the small stuff when you order multiple pieces.
posted by suzanno 1,976 posts 3 months agoI had no idea they were that cheap to get from a florist! Thanks to everyone for your input so far. :]
posted by lily1223 59 posts 3 months ago