The warm weather of late has put me in mind of two of my favorite underused accessories: fans and parasols.
Many of us don’t even think about these lovely, graceful goodies to keep us cool when it comes to weddings. When we think of what the bride and bridesmaids will carry, we assume it will be flowers. Obviously there’s nothing whatsoever wrong with flowers. Flowers are great. They’re attractive and appropriate to every season.
On the other hand, there’s nothing wrong with not using flowers for your hand-held accessories. Many a bride and bridesmaid down the ages has carried a fan, a parasol, a prayer book, or nothing at all in her hands. There are dozens of reasons for it, too. Someone in the wedding party may have severe allergies that make handing her a bouquet (let alone surrounding her with them) a dangerous idea. If the wedding is out of doors and someone in the party burns easily, there’s nothing like a parasol to protect delicate skin while looking awesome. Me? I like a good prop. It makes a nice picture and gives nervous hands something to keep them in one spot.
Not convinced of the cool of alternatives to bouquets? Take a look at a few examples of how great they can look:
Even the simplest of paper fans can look fun and festive.
Add a few flowers or some long ribbons to dime store sandalwood fans for a charming and thrifty bridal party look.
If you go with a dramatic look like peacock feathers
or a bejeweled look, the fans can double as fabulous bridesmaids gifts.
And of course there are some historical themes where fans are the most appropriate possible thing.
If fans aren’t your thing and you’re getting married out of doors, you might consider pretty parasols. Once again, they make a great keepsake as well as a dramatic prop. After all, what could be better than this on a beach?
Just be sure you don’t go for overkill. You can add a few flowers successfully to a fan, but it can get a tidge awkward to try to carry a parasol and a bouquet at the same time…even if it does make for a cool picture.
I really, really like the bride’s dress in the peacock fan photo. And the bridemaid’s combo, too.
I am a little jealous of the peacock thing going on up there.
My husband’s aunt brought a parasol to our wedding this summer. We had no bridal party, but she totally rocked it and it still led to some fantastic photos.
On the other hand, the beach parasol picture is a bit awkward to me. I guess I am all about flower alternatives IF you can work it and look funky, rather then cheesy.
I did the fan thing actually…custom made feather fans in the bridesmaids colors – blue and brown with peacock feathers and then a all white one for me with peacock feather (which became my wedding themes) – the feathers were tastefully in everything…and they doubled as my gift to them and i have mine hanging ont he wedding wall…people loved them and they werent the same thing – te moms however did carry mini bouquets of pink roses, calls and feathers
Hey for my wedding I’m carrying a fan with a cherry blossom pattern on it and my bridesmaids are carrying pale pink parasols, because it in keeping with my theme and they are so much cheaper then flowers.
@Ananas: I think it’s pretty, too.
@jstar: Aren’t the peacocks gorgeous? As for the parasols, potato, patahto. I liked the look, but you don’t have to. Also? I bet your aunt rocked that parasol!
@Kimberley: That sounds lovely. I bet it all looked superfantastic in the photos, too.
@ Blossom: That sounds both attractive and thrifty. I bet it’s going to look gorgeous.