Unique Wedding Bouquets Without a Flower in Sight

By Emily Platt
August 17, 2011
Wilde Scout

Dare to be different with one of these alternative arrangement options. After all, there's no rule that says you need to carry fresh flowers on your wedding day.

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Cari Courtright Photography
Get More Beautiful Wedding Bouquet Ideas

While we'll always be big fans of fresh flowers, we also think it's entirely okay to carry a wedding bouquet without a single bloom, whether it's because a non-floral design fits better into your budget or you simply want to surprise guests with something unique. In fact, flowerless arrangements can be absolutely gorgeous, not to mention they can make quite a statement down. If you're wondering what to have in your bouquet instead of petals, we've got plenty of unexpected ideas that are undeniably beautiful.

As with any bridal or bridesmaid bouquet, you've got options when it comes to how you arrange your clutch. Some modern couples opt for completely non-floral sprays, while others favor arrangements that feature a few blooms but focus on something else, like greenery, fruit, or even seashells! Still other brides and bridesmaids carry bouquets that look like they're composed of flowers, but the plants are actually fake and made from materials like fabric, paper, or in one case ahead, porcelain.

No matter what you need your bouquet (or bouquets) to be—from whimsical and romantic to formal and elegant—there's a non-floral clutch idea for you in this slideshow. We've even go so far as to round up creative and colorful arrangements for all sorts of wedding themes. First on our list is this tropical assortment, which Tumbleweed Floral Truck artfully crafted using white and green anthurium, speckled aspidistra, and large monstera leaves among other forms of foliage. This intriguing arrangement is just one of many—wait until you see what's ahead!

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Geometric Wedding Bouquet

Brad and Jen Photography
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How cool is this mostly-blue bouquet? The artistic bride created it herself using a mix of paper shapes, faux flowers, and wire.

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Pampas Grass Wedding Bouquet

Emma Wand Photography

The trendy plant can certainly make its way into your bridal bouquet. Pampas grass is especially statement-making when paired with magnolia leaves and other unique foliage, as shown in this arrangement by The Wild Side.

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Olive Branch Wedding Bouquet

Jen Huang

Olive branches symbolize peace—not a bad emblem as you're merging families. This bride's clutch (by Stella + Moscha) was beautifully simple.

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Puppy Wedding Bouquet

Lauren Dobish Photography
See More Adorable Dogs Who Starred in Weddings

Here's a fun way to include your pet in your big day: Carry him or her down the aisle! Of course, you'll need to ensure your best friend is comfortable taking on the role. Event service For the Love of Paws kept this little dog happy during the event.

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Wild Wedding Bouquet

Emily Delamater Photography

Go for a natural look. Watershed Floral crafted this foraged arrangement, which was filled with organic greenery.

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Leafy Wedding Bouquet

Layers
Get More Creative Ideas for Decorating Your Wedding with Leaves

Mix and match the wedding world's favorite non-floral elements. This Expressions Flowers bouquet contained ferns and eucalyptus leaves, among other popular additions.

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Seashell Wedding Bouquet

Love Is a Bird
See More of the Best Beach Wedding Bouquets

Clayton Austin crafted this incredible beach-themed clutch, which held candlesticks and a ring of mussel shells.

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Tropical Wedding Bouquet

Maui Maka Photography
Get More Fun Tropical Wedding Ideas

Anthurium leaves were the standout elements in this tropical bouquet that Flowers by Emma created.

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Whimsical Wedding Bouquet

Clark+Walker Studio

This bride's Crocus Hale Flowers bouquet was perfectly quirky thanks to its swirly fiddlehead ferns.

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Vegetable Wedding Bouquet

Tammy Horton Photography

Celebrate your love of produce with a fresh bouquet of veggies. This TFS Studio clutch contained carrots, radishes, and asparagus among other edible goodies.

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Painted Wedding Bouquet

Wilde Scout
Find Out Why Painted Wedding Flowers Are Trending

Rhea Florals gave this bride a modern accessory to carry: a large leaf that was painted white.

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Frond Wedding Bouquet

Sposto Photography

Go big or go home! Tropical fronds sprawled out of this Lavenders Flowers bouquet.

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Fruit Wedding Bouquet

Taryn Kent
Get More Genius Citrus Wedding Ideas

Here's another produce idea: branches of fresh fruit. This bride held a Siren Floral Co. arrangement of kumquats and their accompanying greenery.

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Air Plant Wedding Bouquet

Chelsea Diane
See More Stylish Wedding Bouquets That'll Beat the Heat

Looking for a bouquet that'll beat the heat? Try a massive air plant, like this one from Renee Landry Events.

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Feather Wedding Bouquet

Katie Branch of Branch & Cole

Plants aren't the only natural elements you can use. Mother Plucker Feather Company combined plumes and branches to craft this rustic arrangement.

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Bush Wedding Bouquet

Maureen M. Evans

For an out-of-this-world bouquet, add unusual pops of color. This Hart Floral Design bridal bouquet contained dried (and blue painted) tropical leaves, plus soft and dreamy smoke bush branches.

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Cotton Wedding Bouquet

Anja Schneemann Photography

Cotton gives off the fullness of flowers, but the fluffy fiber can look much more unique, as this Magnolias on Silk bouquet went to show.

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Fern Wedding Bouquet

Rachel Thurston Photography

Long, cascading ferns replaced typical blooms in this wild, blossom-less bouquet by Teresa Sena Designs.

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Porcelain Wedding Bouquet

Daniel Kiyoi

Opt for weather-proof, wilt-proof, and allergy-proof petals, like the ones shown here that were made of porcelain and fabric. 

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Candle Wedding Bouquet

Kate Headley

As a nod to her heritage (Indian brides often carry lamps), this bride held a votive on a plant-filled tray (which was designed by Sidra Forman).

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