A little girl at a wedding asked her mom “why did the bride change her mind.” “What do you mean?” responded her mother. “Well, she went down the aisle with one man, and came back with another.”

In weddings, as in most of life, our moms are beside us, helping us make sense of everything (and often picking up the bill). It seems only appropriate that we honor them on our wedding day with flowers, and thankfully there are lots of options.

What would your mom like for flowers? Traditionally mothers have worn wrists or chest corsages. More recent trends include small empire bouquets, flower adornments for purses or clutches or even floral hair ornaments.

Wrist Corsages

Wrist corsages have been the staple for most of the last century. Chances are that when your mom got married your grandma wore one, and because of that history your mom may want to wear a wrist corsage on your wedding day. Generally, our wrist corsages are held in place with silver elastic bands for a comfortable fit that wont slide around. Wrist corsages, like other wedding flowers, can utilize all varieties of blooms and colors, but it’s best to avoid delicate flowers like tulips or ranunculus or large flowers like peonies.

Chest Corsages

Chest corsages are the most common alternative to the standard wrist corsage. Many mothers simply can’t see themselves with flowers on their arm. Others don’t like the idea of navigating a wedding reception (with all the toasts and dances and hugs and kisses) while trying to protect their precious flowers. If that sounds like your mom, a chest corsage might be in order. As with wrist corsages, chest corsages can be made in a range of colors and styles and they can even be attached by magnetic backings to avoid pin snags or tiny holes in the dress.

Small Bouquets

Small bouquets, such as empire bouquets or tussie mussies, are great for moms who feel too young to wear a corsage. They are equally attractive to moms who know they will be nervous and could use a little something to hold onto and play with during the ceremony. Think of it as an extravagant stress ball. Best of all, a bouquet solves the old problem of “What do I do with my hands during the wedding pictures.” I can’t tell you how many wedding photos I’ve seen in which an awkward mother of the bride is standing with stiff hands at her side. Having something to hold can solve this problem. Of course, a good photographer also helps, but that’s a subject for another post.

Other Options

If a bouquet isn’t quite your mother’s thing but she likes the idea of holding something in her hands, you might consider a purse or clutch decorated with a few blooms. This gives her something to carry down the aisle and hold during pictures; and it doubles as a place to keep her lipstick and tissue (which she’ll be needing a lot of). For the reception mothers often sit their purse on the table in front of their seat, which makes an attractive display. For similar effect if your mom chooses an empire bouquet or a single stem flower, we can provide a small vase to sit at the table for your mom to keep her flowers fresh so that she can enjoy them for a few more days.

Things to consider when choosing mother’s flowers

• Is it going to be hot? Will a wrist corsage become annoying in the heat?
• Will my mom be wearing a jacket, which she will take off immediately after the ceremony and leave her chest corsage behind?
• Are there any family traditions that should be considered?
• What type of flowers did my mom carry on her wedding day? Would she like to wear a corsage made of the same flowers?
• How many mothers or stepmothers will be at the wedding and would they be disappointed if they all wore the same thing?
• What about Grandma? She might like some flowers too?

The single most important factor

What does your mom want? She’s probably done a lot to help with your wedding, so it’s always good to find out what’s important to her before making decisions. As the saying goes, “If momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” So, keep mom in mind, and the flowers will work themselves out.