What Should the Bride Do with Her Wedding Bouquet During the Ceremony?

Don't be left at the altar awkwardly clutching your flowers!

caitlin michael wedding bouquet
Photo: Meg Smith Photography

There are some wedding details that you might never think of beforehand-what to do with your bouquet during the ceremony is one of them. It's a thing that should be figured out ahead of time, even if it seems trivial. When you're holding your groom's hand during the vows or exchanging rings, your flowers will be in the way. Assuming there's no nearby table to lay them down on, what should you do with them? First, check with your officiant, then consider asking one of these people to take care of your flowers until the recessional.

The maid of honor.

This is by far the most popular choice. After all, one of the MOH's main responsibilities is to help the bride before, during, and after the wedding. Hand it to her at the start of the ceremony and let her keep it until after your first kiss. That way you can walk back up the aisle as a married woman with flowers in hand.

Someone in the front row.

If you're not having any attendants, turn to someone sitting in the front row, like your mom, his mom, or a friend, once you reach the altar and have them hold the blooms.

The wedding planner.

If you've hired a wedding planner, she could take your flowers as soon as you reach the groom. But since these pros typically like to stay in the background, it may feel strange to have her up close during the ceremony. See what she thinks of the option, or how she's handled it in the past.

No one.

Another choice if you're not having any attendants is to just hold the flowers in one hand. That'll work for the vow exchange but might get a little tricky when you're trying to put the ring on his finger. Practice at home with a fake bouquet and ring, and it'll go smoothly on the big day.

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