What the heck is a "tussie mussie" ???
"Wait. Are these actually... are you saying real words?!" - every bride, right before she absolutely falls in love with the idea...
"Nosegays," or "tussie mussies" are diminutive bouquets. Only slightly bigger than the palm of your hand, they are typically bestowed upon flower girls, the mothers of the bride and groom, and to grandmothers of the happy couple in lieu of corsages or larger bouquets. Plus, many Churches and ceremonial spaces will no longer allow the flower girls to throw petals (slip + fall liability), so these are a precious alternative! They're classic, and are increasingly popular among our brides. - Everything old is new again!
The diminutive bouquets pictured contain: (1) spray roses, thistle, seeded eucalyptus (2) spray roses, seeded eucalyptus, Queen Anne's lace, and boxwood. Photocred: (1) Hope Watson (2) Cameron Payne
Pro tip: What many do not realize is that they are also PERFECT for young ballerinas in the earlier years of their dance recitals. For our ballet recitals, our sweet (and very creative) momma made wildflower tussie mussies with rain lilies, roses, hydrangeas, spearmint, spiderwort, violets, gardenia, and ivy or muscadine - - pretty much whatever was blooming in the garden. She used petite doilies to collar the flowers and tied the whole thing up with beautiful ribbon from her ribbon stash.
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When I think of tussie mussies, I think of ballet recitals. But I also think of our grandmother. Below is a picture of her at age 5 or 6, as a flower girl (with a tussie, of course!)
Her nickname was "Dookie" (like "Cookie") and she LOVED flowers. She was a little bit bohemian, which surprises many people who knew this Sacred Heart graduate, as she never left the house without dressing - and I mean DRESSING. She was fabulous. Jewelry, silk scarves, and matching purses for each outfit. When she didn't smell of delicious food (ever the extraordinary cook), her scent was Lily of the Valley. This month would have been her 85th birthday!
She believed in using the real stuff - Always - before "organic" and Whole Foods were a thing; Real butter, real whole milk and cream. She loved natural home remedies and appreciated nature more than most others I know - Constantly gardening, and rooting things in glass jars on her kitchen windowsill. Cleaning out her home, we recently found a few thousand articles clipped from the Times-Picayune about everything from gardening tips, to medical advances, to world and local politics. Always reading, always learning, always sharing information. She was so knowledgeable! I hope I'm just as well-read at that age.
She was married to our grandfather for 66 years, until her passing last April. They were high school sweethearts <3
Their wedding was planned for June of 1951. Unfortunately, my grandfather was drafted and sent to Korea. So, the wedding was moved up to December of 1950. A beautiful bride, even if she did have to forgo her wedding gown for a navy blue suit...
Our grandfather passed in December, and was buried on what would have been their 67th wedding anniversary
*right in the feels*
So they're absolutely together again, dancing to their song, Ramblin' Rose.
Long story short, we decided to honor her by confusing people even more. We don't call them "tussie mussies" or "nosegays." At DELPHINE, we call them "Dookies," and our brides LOVE them!
^Love this photo. "Dookie," circa 1939 running around the garden, feeling the grass under her feet...
<<<Talented artist, Sally St. Germain Clark, was kind enough to paint that photo for us as a keepsake, using water color. Check out her insta here!
Last one; beneath that enormous bow, her twisted pout says, "Ok you've got your picture...can I go back and play now?"
Oh! And she loved the song, "My Foolish Heart" by Billy Eckstine...If this doesn't sound like the quintessential old world love song, I don't know what does...