How Long Does a Silk and Pearl Bridal Bouquet Last, and How Do You Care for It?
It is one of the first questions brides ask, and the answer is the reason a couture bouquet exists at all. A Marie Livet bouquet is made from silk, pearls, crystal, metal and gemstones rather than fresh flowers, and it is designed to be kept and displayed for a lifetime. Fresh flowers are chosen for a single day. A couture bouquet is made for the day and for every year after it.
Why a couture bouquet lasts
It is made from lasting materials. We work in hand-cut silk and silk velvet, gold and silver leaf, sterling silver, pearls and precious stones, with rare materials chosen for the pieces that call for them. Nothing in the bouquet is living, so nothing in it wilts, browns or drops.
Every petal is shaped by hand. In the studio, each silk petal and leaf is cut and pressed by hand with Victorian-era tools exclusive to the studio, guided by techniques Marie has refined over many years. The metal leaves are created using the antique Victorian-era molds. You can read more about the tools and the process on The Making.
It is built as an heirloom. Each piece is made by hand in our Washington State studio to be kept, worn and handed down.
How to care for your bouquet
The care is simple, and it is the same for every piece that leaves the studio.
- Keep it out of direct sunlight.
- Keep it away from moisture.
- Display and store it upright, ideally in a vase with a glass cloche or other protection from dust. This preserves the shape of the bouquet for years to come.
Follow these three steps and your bouquet can be kept and displayed for a lifetime, as part of your home rather than a memory put away.
Where to display a couture bouquet
A bouquet made to last deserves a place where it can be seen. A vase on a bookshelf, a dressing table or a mantel away from a sunny window suits most pieces. Smaller designs, like Bijou at about 7 inches across, sit beautifully on a side table. Larger, cascading pieces such as Elizabeth, with its pearl flowers over cottage roses and hydrangea, become the centerpiece of a room.
Some pieces carry a keepsake within. Elizabeth hides a 14k white gold bee charm that can be worn later as a necklace, so part of the bouquet can be carried every day long after the wedding.
A bouquet for the day and the years after
A fresh bouquet is a beautiful choice for one day. A couture bouquet is a different kind of object: a piece of floral art that holds the memory of the day and stays. Each piece has its own nature, so something similar can be made, but never the exact same piece twice.
If you would like a bouquet of your own, browse the Couture Floral collection for pieces available now, or begin a commission by private enquiry on our Commissions page. For more answers, visit our FAQ.
