
Who doesn’t adore the romantic look of a cascading bouquet? Holding an oversized bouquet of lush blooms and ivy is probably one of our top wedding fantasies. Quick pop culture lesson: This flower arrangement was widely popular in the 1980s, thanks to the ever elegant Princess Diana. But now, the waterfall style is back in a fresh way! Pops of color, seasonal berries and succulents are just a few modern options to consider. Here are 27 diverse, Pinterest-worthy bouquets for the ethereal bride-to-be.
1. Dusty Rose: This elegant bunch of flowers looks like it was just plucked from an English garden. We’re loving the serious Pride and Prejudice vibes. (via Jose Villa / Pottery Barn)
2. Boho Blooms: Look at those beauties! Any cascade with white peonies and pink sweet peas is certainly a friend of ours. (via Veronica Varos)
3. Jewel Tones: Mix berries and bold roses for an earthy bouquet with a more subtle cascade. Vary the sizes of the flowers for a natural look. (via Kate Ann Photography)
4. Bold Buds: You don’t need a slew of flowers to make a statement! This cascade uses a clutch of large blooms, some jasmine vines and other pieces of greenery to create a memorable focal point. (via Bridal Musings)
5. Wild Child: Ah, this is what bohemian dreams are made of! The warm colors and hanging pieces of greenery channel those eclectic 1960s vibes. Would this work as a flower crown? No? Blast. (via The Melideos / Ruffled)
6. One-Plant Wonder: Give us all the succulents! We love decorating our homes with these trendy little guys, so of course we adore the idea of a succulent bouquet. (via Anne Robert Photography / Botanical Brouhaha)
7. Herbal Accents: Ivy, lavender, mignonette, larkspur and rosemary are just some of the ingredients used to create this floral masterpiece. The herbs will also give off a lovely aroma while you glide down the aisle. (via Herbal Weddings)
8. Classic With a Twist: This pearl and blue color combo is giving us all the feels! Delicate roses and a trendy cascade are the perfect mix. (via Diana McGregor Photography / Fleurie)
9. Romantic and Lush: We’ve got everything from succulents to roses in this bad boy. To create your own, use this handy bouquet recipe! (via AMW Studios / Chic Vintage Brides)
10. Simple Elegance: Pink jasmine creates a feathery cascade, ideal for showcasing your statement flowers. This undone look would be perfect for any boho bride. (via Sarah Gawler / Sweet Violet Bride)
11. Pretty Palette: Color, color everywhere. Hydrangeas and purple roses give this bouquet just the right amount of drama. (via Limelight Photography / Trendy Bride)
12. Tons of Texture: Hanging red amaranthus really makes this non-traditional bouquet pop. Those plum and green hues would certainly be Insta-worthy at your autumn wedding. (via First Comes Love / Sweet Pea Floral Design)
13. Woodland Queen: The greenery on this complex bouquet is shockingly gorgeous, especially when mixed with a minimalistic bridal gown. We love the blooms flowing all the way to the ground. (via Lara Hotz / Burnett’s Boards)
14. Tropical Vibes: Hosting a destination wedding on an island in the sun? This vibrant bouquet made of palm leaves will set the tone. Now pass us a piña colada, please. (via Lukas & Suzy VanDyke / Green Wedding Shoes)
15. White Wedding: Classic bouquets don’t have to be dull. Add a pop of green and a flowing cascade for that picture-perfect look. (via Marc Edwards Photographs / Marry Me Tampa Bay)
16. Bursts of Color: Every flower-lovin’ bride should have blooms to her toes! Garden roses, peonies, dahlias, ranunculus, eucalyptus and more were used to create this work of art. (via Evangeline Lane Photography / Ruffled)
17. Shades of Purple: This elegant bouquet almost looks black and white! But those gorgeous dark buds are actually purple calla lilies mixed with dendrobium orchids. (via Tony Gameiro / The English Wedding Blog)
18. The Ultimate Cascade: Is this real life? We didn’t even know a bride could hold that many flowers. How incredibly lush! (via JoPhoto / Belle the Magazine)
19. Feather Fun: Try something different — add a feather or two to the cascade of your vintage-inspired bouquet. Peacock feathers would be another fun option. (via Paula O’Hara / Wedding Sparrow)
20. Exotic Flowers: Step aside, peonies. The focal point of this fascinating bouquet is a pair of mighty king proteas. Bow down! (via Taryn Kent / Project Wedding)
21. A Pinch of Whimsy: This colorful bouquet was created for a Peter Rabbit-themed bridal shoot. Check out the tempting berries peeking out from among the greenery. (via Al Gawlik Photography / Pink Parasol Designs)
22. Trio of Roses: Juliet garden roses, spray roses and just your good ol’ average rose are all pieces of this blush bouquet. Sage provides greenery and a light herbal scent. (via Michelle Lyerly / Wedding Chicks)
23. Princess Bride: Host a fairytale wedding with an insanely gorgeous flower arrangement like this one. The fern fronds add a verdant lacy edge to the waterfall of greenery. (via Anushé Low / Style Me Pretty)
24. Hanging Ribbons: To add a special touch to your cascade, try tying a long ribbon to the stems of your flowers. This trendy look can also be applied to the bridesmaids’ bouquets, if you want to go matchy-matchy. (via Jose Villa / Style Me Pretty)
25. Keep It Subtle: This monochromatic bouquet is absolutely timeless. White flowers work for any season, but we love this look for a wintertime wedding. (via Top Wedding Sites)
26. Peachy Keen: What a perfect palette for a spring or summer wedding. These delicate roses and ebullient dahlias add a touch of romance that can carry across from your bouquet to the boutonnieres and centerpieces. (via The de Jaureguis / Brides)
27. Show-stopper: Um, yes please. Subtle berries, handfuls of roses and hanging greenery — everything we’d want in a cascading bouquet! (via Natalie Franke)
Which bouquet would you love to feature in your wedding? Follow us on Pinterest for more inspo!
Welcome to Selfmade Finance School, our new money series with Block Advisors to help small business owners with their tax, bookkeeping, and payroll needs year-round. This week, we explore the tax implications of bringing family members into your business.
The question for today is this: Does hiring your family members make sense for your business? Let me be clear. This is not a piece about whether hiring your family members makes sense for your relationships with those family members. As someone who is part of a family business, I could fill up a lot more than 600 words on my opinions about that. For today's purposes, we focus on whether it makes sense from an overall "good business and tax implication" perspective. As it turns out, there is a decent amount of tax nuance when it comes to employing your family. Let's break it down based on relationship to the employee:
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Spouses Who Are In Business Together
Personally, if I had to be in business with my husband, it would not go well. However, many couples build viable, strong businesses together and I say, good for them! Depending on how you have your business entity structured, it will make a big difference on the tax treatment of you and your spouse working as partners. Because a business jointly owned and operated by a married couple is generally treated as a partnership for Federal tax purposes, the spouses must comply with filing and record keeping requirements imposed on partnerships and their partners. The election to file two Schedule C (Form 1040) forms, (one for each spouse) permits certain married co-owners to avoid filing partnership returns, provided that each spouse separately reports a share of all the businesses' items of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit. Under the election, both spouses will be subject to self-employment tax and on net earnings from self-employment and receive credit for Social Security earnings.
One Spouse Employs Another
If you have a dynamic where your spouse is an employee of your business, then your spouse's wages are subject to income tax withholding, Social Security and Medicare taxes. If you are self-employed (not a corporation or a partnership), your spouse's pay does not have to be included in your federal unemployment tax account (FUTA) contributions and payments. However, if your business is a corporation or a partnership you must include that spouse's pay in your unemployment tax contribution calculation.
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You Employ Your Child
First, let's be clear. I work in my family business, but I am an adult, so I am treated just like a normal employee. However, if you, for example, run a family restaurant and want to hire your children under 18 to work for you, there are some tax benefits. But first, you should check with your state for rules on how many hours minors can work (in non-agricultural jobs) and reference the Fair Labor Standards Act for information on limitations on the kinds of work children can perform.
"This is an often overlooked or under-utilized strategy. Paying your children for true services they provide in your business can be a powerful tax-saving tool," says Cathi Reed, Block Advisors Regional Director. "If you are a sole-proprietorship or single member LLC, and the child is less than 18 years of age, the business is not required to withhold FICA or payroll taxes. The child can use his or her standard deduction against income you pay."
You Hire Your Parent
Oh dear. If you are brave enough to do this, know that you will need to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes on your parent's wages and make the appropriate withholdings, but you don't have to pay unemployment taxes. Now all you have to do is convince your parent that you are the boss. Have fun with that!
Is Hiring Family Members Worth It For The Tax Benefits?
"There are some positive tax advantages to hiring family members. It's important to treat a family member like any other employee. Hiring your children can result in substantial savings for businesses. Make sure your child has real, age-appropriate work to do and a reasonable pay rate, comparable to other employees. Consult with a Block Advisors small business certified tax pro to ensure that you are complying with all requirements," advises Reed. "Block Advisors, a team within H&R Block, is dedicated to meeting the tax, bookkeeping and payroll needs of small business owners year-round. To start working with the tax experts at Block Advisors, visit blockadvisors.com."
In my opinion, you should not hire a family member solely because of the tax benefits. You should always hire based on whether that person is right for the job and keep in mind how this hire could materially impact your relationship with that person and others in your family. Finally, as I mentioned, make sure you have a tax professional on your team when making these determinations. As you can see, things can get a little tricky!
*All details were sourced from IRS.gov and blockadvisors.com
The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services, LLC or Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney, or tax advisor with regards to your individual situation. Comments concerning the past performance are not intended to be forward looking and should not be viewed as an indication of future results. Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. O'Keeffe Financial Partners and any other entity listed herein is not affiliated with Kestra IS or Kestra AS Investor Disclosures: https://bit.ly/KF-Disclosures