If you want your attendants to carry something more unique then a traditional bouquet of flowers as they walk down the aisle before you—but the thought of the popular pink parasols of the nineteen-seventies make you cringe—consider these other distinctive alternatives:
Wheat
In Medieval times children participating in weddings carried wheat as a symbol of fruitfulness and good harvest. Translated into today’s world, a “flower” girl carrying wheat would represent bringing good luck into the marriage. Attendants carrying bunches of wheat handtied with a ribbon or rope would look particularly stunning if you were having an outdoor, country, wedding.
Wreaths
Wreaths are another unique bearing for your attendant’s to carry down the aisle. If you are having a winter wedding, your girls can carry evergreen wreaths adorned with a ribbon, pearls, babies breathe, or nothing at all. The round shape of the wreath—much like your wedding bands—symbolizes the unending love of marriage. If you are having a spring or summer wedding your girls can carry heart shaped wreaths made from twisted grapevines or willow branches and decorated with ribbons and dried flowers.
Candles
If you are having an evening wedding ceremony, consider having your attendants carry candles down the aisle. Each attendant can place her candle in a candelabra on the altar when she is done walking down the aisle to represent her undying love for you.
Ivy
The Greeks in wedding ceremonies to represent never-ending love first used Ivy. Your attendants can carry bunches of trailing ivy tied with a ribbon.
Fruit baskets
Scour antique and/or thrift stores to find unique baskets (with handles) for your bridesmaid’s to carry. Fill the baskets with fruit—which represents fertility and fruitfulness in the marriage. This look is particularly striking for a fall wedding and can be used to compliment virtually any color scheme.
Tussy Mussies
Tussy mussies, despite their funny names, are quite beautiful and elegant. They are flower holders that were invented in France during the eighteenth century and were used primarily during the Victorian Era. They recently made a comeback after Oprah Winfrey named them one of her “favorite things” in a 1999 show. Tussy mussies can be made from pewter, cobalt glass, silver, porcelain, and even plastic. Of course the finer the tussy mussies make is, the more expensive it will be. I have seen tussy mussies range in price on the Internet from $25 (plastic) to hundreds of dollars (gold). Tussy mussies are filled with small clusters of flowers that are tied. Lace and ribbons can also be incorporated into the tussy mussy. In Victorian times tussy mussies were considered art forms and each one was unique. You can get each bridesmaid a different tussy mussy with the same arrangement of flowers or the same tussy mussy with different flowers. With tussy mussies, virtually any combination goes. The nice thing about tussy mussies is that your attendants will have it forever and, if you buy ones with handles, can hang it from a doorknob in their house as a constant reminder of the day.
Dried flowers
If you are like my sister and have saved every single flower your significant other has given you during the course of your relationship, consider having your bridesmaids carry clusters of them tied with ribbons or in a tussy mussy. The significance of the flowers themselves will add even more specialness to your day.
Crystal balls
This is something I saw on a newer episode of TLC’s “A Wedding Story.” The couple featured was very “earthy” and each attendant carried a crystal ball down the aisle. It was definitely unique and fit very well with their personalities and wedding ceremony.
If you do decide to have your attendant’s carry something unique down the aisle, it is also a nice idea to write a little blurb in your wedding program about the significance of whatever they are bearing. It may help old Aunt Glenda understand why cousin Kate is carrying wheat instead of wisteria or dead roses instead of live.
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