You'll Never Guess What These Flowers Are Made From

We took a quick poll of our dear Facebook and Twitter followers the other day asking: Are fake flowers a do or a don't? 60% of you said they are a do!

But we have a feeling the naysayers didn't have these in mind... One of our Facebook fans recommended Keepsake Blossoms (thanks Becca!), and now we're totally obsessed. These gorgeous flowers below are made entirely out of clay.

keepsake blossoms

 

 

Isn't the attention to detail here just incredible? As you can imagine, it's a time-consuming process—making just one flower can take seven days. So if you're planning on ordering bouquets, centerpieces, or even all of your wedding flower needs, it's recommended that you place your order at least a month and preferably up to six months in advance.

The best part: The cost for a bridal bouquet isn't much more than you'd pay for a floral bouquet—prices start at $300 and depend on the kinds of flowers, colors, size of the arrangement, and complexity. But it's well worth the cost, since it also gives you a beautiful keepsake after the big day. Also available: Hair flowers for around $25 and hairpieces for $50.

What do you think: Would you consider using clay flowers?

—Kristen O'Gorman Klein

How to Book a Fairy Tale Honeymoon

kate frederickAs founder of the fabulous trip-of-a-lifetime exclusive Ever After Honeymoons travel agency, Katie Frederick has planned more than 150 unique romantic getaways. She recently started working with Mindy Weiss, celebrity wedding planner to the stars. Katie gave us her tips on how to use a travel agency and spilled the secrets on her favorite destinations.

Bridal Guide:  Why should a couple use a travel agency, such as Ever After Honeymoons?
Katie Frederick: With so much information available online, it can be really overwhelming to decide where to go and where to stay. I make that process much more simple by providing custom options to fit a couple’s needs and desires. I streamline the decision-making and provide them with the best pricing options. I also create individualized itineraries. So, for example, if a couple says they want to be completely secluded and just relax, or if they want to be super active and adventurous, I will suggest the best destinations that fit what they want. Ever After Honeymoons is known for helping clients select the right destination, the right hotels, and is always available to help couples anytime before, during or after their honeymoon.   

What Will Kim Kardashian, Jessica Simpson, and Kate Hudson Wear?

Avant-garde bridal couture designer Rani Totman of St. Pucchi knows a thing or two about designing high-profile gowns—she designed Phoebe's gorgeous wedding gown on Friends, after all! So when she sent us her predictions for what Kim Kardashian, Jessica Simpson, and Kate Hudson will wear on their wedding days, we immediately took notice. Check out her amazing sketches!

Kim Kardashian

"One reason we all love Kim is that she is never afraid to show off her curves," said Totman. "It’s no question Kim will opt for a mermaid gown to accentuate her curvaceous figure." She also expects to see Kim to channel Old Hollywood by donning a long train and lots of embellishments on the bodice.

kim kardashian wedding gown

 

Kate Hudson

"Kate Hudson loves to show skin, but always leans toward a boho chic style," said Totman. She expects a plunging neckline or open back dress in a slimming design, plus plenty of intricate detailing.

kate hudson wedding gown

 

Jessica Simpson

Jessica is a fun-loving girl, and we're sure her dress will reflect that. But her dress will also be elegant and somewhat traditional. Rani predicts she'll highlight her curves in a mermaid style strapless gown. "The boning and corset style structure of the dress would provide a slimming effect to her 5'3" frame," said Totman.

Creative Way to Preserve Your Wedding Flowers

When you're spending hundreds (even thousands) of dollars on flowers, it can be hard to justify tossing them in the trash at the end of the night.

Here's a unique idea to give your flowers new life after the wedding—have them turned into a custom painting by sending them to Flowers Into Paintings!

How it works: Ship your flowers to the company as soon as possible after the wedding (within 10 days), following their tips on how to ship and keep your flowers fresh. They'll then dry and press the flowers, preserving them so that they can be incorporated into a beautiful painting.

Check out some of the gorgeous paintings that have been made:

flowers into paintings

 

 

 

However, a custom painting doesn't come cheap: The smallest size (12x16) costs $300. But for a personalized piece of art with such a significant meaning behind it, many couples think it's worth the cost.

Disagree? Here some other ideas to give your flowers second life that are easier on the wallet:

Donate Them: Use your flowers to brighten someone else's day by donating to a nursing home or hospital. While some hospitals may not accept them due to allergy concerns, others are even willing to  pick them up from your reception venue, so call around to see if any locations near your venue would be willing to take them.

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