It is believed that the art of beaded decorations was practiced across Europe and England as early as the 1500′s. The French and Italian peasants in order to support themselves used to collect defective or discarded beads. The beads were then strung into the wire to be shaped into floral designs. The finished flowers were used in bouquets, altar displays and memorial wreaths.
A beaded wedding bouquet can be a stunningly unique choice for brides uninterested in traditional floral bouquets. The beaded accents can be used to add sparkle to conventional wedding bouquets. Beads can be a delicate accent to silk bouquets.
Brides may choose beaded bouquet for a number of reasons. The glittering beads add elegance and a stunning uniqueness to the bouquets. While the beaded bouquet may cost equal to or more than traditional flowers, the beaded bouquet always have a better value than fresh flowers because they can be kept as mementos without wilting or additional preservation. Non-floral bouquets are a great option for brides who may be allergic to real flowers, and with many different designs available, beaded bouquets can easily match any wedding décor or even the exquisite detail on the wedding dress itself.
Beaded Wedding Bouquet Types
Beaded bouquets come in a range of styles and options, including:
Bead Sprays: These contemporary creations are the easiest to make and offer simple elegance. Beads are strung into a sturdy wire to create a plume of sparkles, either with beads solely at the top of wires or strung along the entire length. The ends are typically wrapped in ribbon to coordinate with the wedding colors.
Rose Beaded Flowers: A more intricate look is to create entire flowers from carefully strung beads. These bouquets may require hundreds of hours of work and thousands of beads to complete, but the effect is stunning and timeless. Beaded flowers can be made to resemble any type of real bloom in any color and different blooms can be combined to create the look of a traditional bouquet if desired.
Integrated Bead Accents: Some real flower bouquets use coordinated bead accents to add glitter and sophistication to a traditional arrangement. Simple bead sprays could be woven into the bouquet, or individual beads could be attached strategically to flowers, such as accenting the core of a large bloom or adding glitter to stately petals.
Beaded Bouquet Accessories: Choosing beaded accessories such as dangling ribbons or a beaded wrap to bind real flowers into a bouquet is a quick and easy way to add the glitter of beads to a standard bouquet.
Finding Beaded Bouquets
There are several bead artisans that offer beaded wedding bouquets for sale. These craftsmen are willing to create a unique bouquet that matches the wedding colors and themes. Beads come in a variety of options, including crystal, glass, plastic, faceted, smooth, and pearl finishes, so it is easy to create a custom look to match any bride’s preferences. Retailers offering bouquets for sale include:
Bridal People
Expressions from the Heart
Glorious Beads eBay Store
Creations Alternative Bouquets
Beaded Bouquets
Making Your Own
Brides can make their own beaded bouquets after learning basic bead stringing techniques.
Additional bead bouquet craft tips include:
Choose beads that will match the wedding décor and colors. Additional beads can be used to create coordinating accents on the wedding veil, the dress, gloves, or other bridal accessories, including bridal jewelry.
Choose different sizes and shapes of beads to provide variation and textural interest to the finished project, but avoid using too many different beads that could make the bouquet look jumbled and uncoordinated.
Wrap the ends of the wires and the base of the bouquet carefully to prevent any sharp protruding edges that could snag a wedding gown or cause cuts to unprotected hands.