Comments on: LOVE/HATE: The Stand-In Edition

By: Annie G.

Annie G. — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:42:07 +0000

I had a ribbon bouquet, but not a hat– and indeed, I have never heard about the hat tradition!

My understanding was the bride uses the ribbon bouquet to practice when and how to pass off the real bouquet to her MOH (or other person) during the service. So it’s (almost) practical!

By: La BellaDonna

La BellaDonna — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:33:05 +0000

I think the one shown is pretty, and might be a fun memento. As I am a (daily) hat-wearer and known milliner, I got drafted for a friend’s shower; I wound up making and dressing a very pretty hat in the bride’s wedding colours, something she could attach the package ribbons to that would actually look attractive, and be a wearable memento with or without the shower ribbons. The bride was also a hat-wearer, and appreciated the hat (and hatbox).

Something to think about: if you don’t want to wear a paper plate on your head, at least bring to your shower your own pretty, cheap straw hat that the ribbons can be attached to; straw hats can be found at craft stores cheaply enough, if you’re not a regular hat-wearer, and may make you much happier with your shower pictures.

By: Mary

Mary — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:19:59 +0000

My sister made a ribbon bouquet for me to hold at the rehearsal. She looked it up on Martha Stewart (completely out of character for my sister) and worked hard on it. She was furious when her husband deleted the only photo of me holding it from his camera. My in-laws didn’t take any pictures of me at the rehearsal, and no one else on my side had a camera. I appreciate her effort, but it didn’t make much of a difference to me. And the owner of the venue was telling everyone where to stand, which was fine with me, so I didn’t have a list to hold.

By: 7nina

7nina — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:04:57 +0000

I’ve seen this done a lot. In fact, I’ve never seen the hat!

By: KTB

KTB — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:09:53 +0000

I did this–it was really the only “traditional” bridal shower game I played. My sister dutifully whipped up a “bouquet” from the ribbons and a paper plate, and someone actually reminded me to bring it to the rehearsal. I thought it was fun, and I have a few silly pictures of me holding it.

I’m actually more surprised by the notes than the bouquet–I thought I was pretty thorough, but maybe not!

By: daisyj

daisyj — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:36:05 +0000

So, what’s the over-under on how long it will take a vendor to come up with a $500 custom version (in your wedding colors, natch) for those brides who wouldn’t dream of being seen with a tacky, home-made ribbon bouquet? Because, after all, it’s the day before the happiest day of your life; shouldn’t everything be perfect?

I give it a week and a half.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:40:36 +0000

I’m surprised that this isn’t a universal thing. This has been one of those little funky/fun traditions at every wedding I’ve been a part of. I’m in Phoenix – and we don’t have many “local” traditions here since everybody is from somewhere else.

I imagine I’ll do it just because it’s a harmless little tradition. My wedding is pretty non-traditional but it would seem weird or forced if i tried to do without this one.

By: Kai Jones

Kai Jones — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:18:25 +0000

I hate it, along with the “first words you say as you open each gift are what you’ll say on your wedding night” and “how many ribbons you break is how many children you’ll have.” I’m not superstitious and you can be happy and have lots of fun without being undignified. All these things have always seemed to have an undertone of meanness when I’ve observed them happening.

By: libbyblue

libbyblue — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:03:17 +0000

my fiance’s ex-wife carried one out in the midwest. i currently have no idea what kind of shower, if any, i’m having, so i don’t know what my sister’s going to do. when i was moh at a friend’s wedding, i just did the hat.

By: MET

MET — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:55:59 +0000

We did this at my friend’s shower, and there was enough ribbon to do bouquets for all 8 bridemaids too. It was fun and worked well because there were a lot of presents and most of them were wrapped with lots of ribbon. At another shower, people mostly brought gifts in bags, making it hard to produce a bouquet.
As a bridesmaid, I liked having them at the rehearsal because it made us aware of having a bouquet and what we would need to do with them at various points in the ceremony.