Broocbhouquet

Clever bride moulds something old into something new

CUSTOM FLORAL arrangements may be de rigueur for the bride-to-be on the biggest day of her life. But when a low-key DIY wedding needs a little shot of glamour, what could be better than a big dose of sparkle?

In a novel (and sharp) twist on an age-old tradition, Janet McLellan created her own bridal bouquet made entirely of vintage brooches.

It’s a novel idea that turned out beautifully. But with all those sharp pins and edges, this is one DIY project that begs the question: Did it ever draw blood?

Absolutely, says this modern bride and mother of two. And it was worth every drop.

McLellan, 44, a recently retired massage therapist, and her new husband Mark Spielmacher, who teaches at the University of Waterloo, were married on Feb. 2. Forgoing the debt and stress that go hand-in-hand with traditional weddings, the couple wanted a totally laidback vibe. It started with a retro dress and extended to a retro invitation and the venue of choice — their own living room — as well as a guest list of just 16.

Carrying a traditional bouquet of flowers was never really in the cards for McLellan. Flowers fade and die — and probably very few are actually pressed as a keepsake. But McLellan’s bouquet is something that will last forever. And of course it also nicely reflects the idea of permanence in the marriage itself. “I always thought flowers just wilt and fade and they’re gone,” McLellan says. “This I can keep forever. Parts of (the bouquet) were my mom’s things and that means a lot to me. “The whole wedding was not traditional. It really was a perfect day — no stress. We didn’t want any fuss or anything. We were getting married in our living room. It was not going to be spectacular, but when I saw the (brooch bouquet) idea, I thought ‘You know what, that is really cool.’ ” she says.

“My bouquet was really the fanciest part of the whole wedding.”

The idea came to McLellan quite accidentally after a dress-shopping trip to Delirium in uptown Waterloo, where she bought a vintage-style dress (complete with squirrel motif) that helped set the tone of the day.

McLellan had been looking for a few DYI ideas online and stumbled upon the >>