Heirloom Bouquet or Fresh Flowers? How to Choose Your Wedding Bouquet
When brides search for a bouquet that will last, they usually find three very different things under one word. Some "heirloom" bouquets are fresh flowers that are dried or pressed after the wedding. Some are silk flowers bought ready-made. And some are couture bouquets, designed for one bride and made entirely by hand to be kept. Knowing the difference makes the choice much easier.
Fresh flowers: chosen for one day
Fresh flowers are living, so they are at their best for the day itself and begin to fade soon after. Keeping them means preserving them after the wedding, which changes their color and texture. If you love the idea of carrying a garden on the day and are happy to let it go afterwards, fresh flowers are a lovely choice.
A couture heirloom bouquet: made for the day and every year after
A couture bouquet is not a substitute for flowers; it is a work of floral art in its own right. At Marie Livet, every petal and leaf is shaped by hand in our Washington State studio with Victorian-era tools exclusive to the studio, and the metal leaves are created using the antique Victorian-era molds. 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.
Because nothing in it is living, the bouquet arrives as it was made and is designed to be kept and displayed for a lifetime. It is carried on the day, then lives in the home, and can be handed down.
How they compare
| Fresh flowers | Couture heirloom bouquet | |
|---|---|---|
| Lifespan | The wedding day, then fades | Designed to be kept for a lifetime |
| Made | Arranged in the days before | Every petal cut and shaped by hand over weeks |
| After the wedding | Must be preserved, which alters it | Kept out of direct sunlight and away from moisture, displayed upright, ideally in a vase with a glass cloche |
| Color | Limited by season and availability | Color-matched to your gown and palette |
| Travel | Needs a local florist | Ships worldwide, wherever you marry |
| Uniqueness | Shaped by the season | Each piece has its own nature; never the exact same piece twice |
Questions to ask yourself
Do you want to keep your bouquet? If the answer is yes, a couture bouquet is made for exactly that.
Is your wedding far from home? Fresh flowers depend on the florist near your venue. A couture bouquet is made in the studio and carefully packed and shipped to you, wherever you are in the world.
Do you have a color or a gown to match? Color and material matching is part of every commission, and inspiration images are always welcome.
How much time do you have? Commissions take on average 8 to 12 weeks, depending on the style, and more complicated designs need additional time. We recommend booking at least twelve weeks before your wedding. If your date is sooner, pieces available now in the Couture Floral collection list their own lead times.
Seeing what is possible
The best way to understand a couture bouquet is to look closely at one. Browse our Heirloom Bouquets for pieces available now, and our Past Commissions, where every piece now lives in a private collection and may inspire a similar commission of your own. To complete the look, the studio also makes boutonnieres and headpieces in the same couture materials.
When you are ready, commissions are by private enquiry through our Commissions page. Marie reads every enquiry herself and replies personally.
