Brides are ditching flowers for cotton-candy bouquets and other unconventional edible arrangements

• Cotton-candy bouquets have joined an ever-growing list of edible alternatives to traditional floral arrangements, Delish reported in January.
• INSIDER spoke to four wedding planners and experts about the edible bouquet trend.
• While cotton-candy bouquets are "niche," all four experts agreed, edible bouquets have been around for a while as more couples embrace personalizing their weddings.
• Edible bouquets can also be a sustainable alternative to floral arrangements.
• Experts recommend picking seasonal elements for your edible bouquet that will hold up throughout your wedding day.

When Faheema Chaudhury was planning her wedding in 2015, she knew she wanted to stay true to herself. 

For the bride, that meant opting for something a bit out of the ordinary: a cotton-candy bouquet. To make sure the bouquet would keep its shape all throughout her ceremony and reception, Chaudhury ended up crafting it with poly-fil — the same material used to stuff toys, the bride told INSIDER — spray paint, and glitter.

"Cotton candy has always had a special place in my heart," said Chaudhury, who owns an accessories brand called Unicorn Crafts. "It's my treat of choice at any theme park."

Four years later, Chaudhury is in good company. As Delish reported in January, cotton-candy bouquets have joined an ever-growing list of edible alternatives to traditional floral arrangements — a list that includes pizza bouquets, donut bouquets, beef jerky bouquets, and more. 

Most recently, Kentucky Bride featured cotton-candy bouquets in a photo shoot for Volume 10, Issue 1 of its magazine.

"Cotton candy is the new cupcake," Alison Andersen, the owner of Lollipuff Gourmet cotton-candy, told Good Morning America in early February. According to Andersen, her company, which has been catering weddings since 2015, has seen a "very big increase" in business over the last few years.

Couples are using edible bouquets to personalize their weddings

In recent years, more couples have "embraced personalizing every detail of their weddings," Alyssa Lungobucco, The Knot's style and planning editor, told INSIDER. Ditching floral bouquets for edible arrangements is just one example of that larger trend, Lungobucco said.

Cotton-candy bouquets are "niche," Lungobucco added, but the sweet treat can resonate with couples who, for example, met at a carnival and want to pay homage to their love story.

Similarly, Jeffra Trumpower, the creative director of WeddingWire, told INSIDER that "while cotton-candy bouquets are certainly fun and colorful," it's unlikely you'll see them in many weddings this year.

"We feel this is more of a fleeting moment and a fun way for couples to further personalize their weddings than a trend," Trumpower said.

In general, wedding decor offers couples endless opportunities to add "a little creative spin or nod to their personalities" during their big day, Lungobucco said.

"You can definitely to expect to see more of these types of playful, personality-packed moments in 2019 and beyond," the editor continued.

Edible bouquets can also be a sustainable alternative to floral arrangements

Speaking to INSIDER, Terrian Freeman, an event manager at Dream Plan-It Events, said that the wedding industry has been seeing an increased focus on sustainability for some time.

For couples who want their weddings to be an "extension" of their green lifestyle, Freeman continued, opting for an edible bouquet over a lush floral arrangement can help reduce waste.

According to WeddingWire editor Kim Forrest, couples can also limit waste by sending digital RSVPs, choosing smaller bouquets, repurposing floral arrangements throughout their wedding day, and more.

Experts recommend picking seasonal elements for your edible bouquet

Cotton-candy and pizza bouquets aside, both Trumpower and Lungobucco said they've seen many couples incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables like artichokes and lemons into their bouquets.

If you go down this route, however, make sure you pay close attention to what's in season and talk to your vendors to ensure your bouquet will be fresh on your wedding day, Trumpower suggested.

"Just like flowers, fruits and vegetable are affected by temperature," Freeman said. "You don't want your edible bouquet to smell or wilt due to weather conditions."

Elizabeth Tulipana, the founder of Anticipation Events, also recommended choosing "hearty pieces that will stand up well in all conditions" on your wedding day. "And make sure you eat before the ceremony starts so you don't have to devour your bouquet," Tulipana added.

If you have your heart set on an edible arrangement, it's also important that you take measures to protect your wedding attire in case your bouquet "melts, goes limp, or gets dropped," Lungobucco said.

The last thing you want is "some sort of sticky, messy food substance rubbing off" on your dress or suit, the editor told INSIDER.

"If you want to make life easier on yourself, ask your florist to play around with using edible elements within your more traditional bouquet or arrangement," Lungobucco recommended.

She continued: "Things like kale, berries, kumquats, fig, and even mini-pineapples can all make for gorgeous additions without the hassle of a full-blown food feast."

• Read more:
• Beef jerky bouquets are a thing and they're perfect for your meat-loving valentine
• 27 awe-inspiring photos of unconventional weddings from around the world
• 33 alternative styles if you don't want a traditional engagement ring
• 65 magical photos that show what getting married at Disney parks is really like

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