I hope this helps someone.
Many brides (most?) nowadays don't really know how to hold their bouquet. Watch any wedding show and you can see what I mean. It's no wonder, because how often do we hold bouquets in our lifetime? Unless you have a million friends and have been a bridesmaid for each, it won't be very many. (un)Lucky for me, I have an insane mother who I believe to be the reincarnation of some strict Victorian schoolmarm, and she taught me from a young age how to, and how not to, hold my bouquet for my wedding some day.
Now I'm going to bestow this information onto you, without all the Victorian sass of my mother.
1) point the best side of your bouquet forward. Even if your bouquet is perfectly round, and has no "front" or "back" find the best looking angle, and point it in front of you. Tilt it slightly forward to hide your hands a bit.
2) If your arms are at 90 degrees or less, you're holding it too high. Clasp your bouquet gently, with one hand above the other (no interlocking fingers, or crazy fists) and place your thumbs together behind the stems.
3) Holding your bouquet at the top of the stems, your thumbs should sit at or just below your bellybutton.
4) Lastly, bellydancing taught me to keep from tucking my elbows into my waist. Point them out from your waist slightly, and that will frame the inward curve and make you look slimmer! (see first picture for perfect extample).
Sound insane? It's not. The reason for holding your bouquet just below your waist is to show off your gown and waist. You won't see the curve of your waist if its hiding behind your bouquet. And you won't see the bodice, if you're clutching it at your chest. Sometimes nerves can force you to clutch your bouquet to your chest or right at your waist. Relax your arms, relax your bouquet and you will relax too.
Good:
Good:
Maybe a bit low, but still good:
FAIL:
FAIL:
FAIL:
FAIL:
Some of us brides have spent a good fortune on our dresses. Don't hide it behind some flowers.