Photo-Illustration: The Cut; Photos: Retailers
Flowers? Not that groundbreaking come Valentine’s Day. Instead of waiting until the very last minute to grab a bouquet from Whole Foods or the bodega near your apartment, consider a few alternatives. Every year, that very beautiful bouquet of roses you gift ends up in next week’s trash, so why not gift something just as good but semi-permanent?
We’ve rounded up faux bouquets that are just as pretty but far more sustainable. From bouquets you can build on your own to roses that will last the year, read on to find symbols of your undying love that actually won’t die (at least not for a while).
If it’s good enough for A$AP Rocky to gift Rihanna, we’re sure your beau will appreciate this building kit just as much. It’s an activity, a kind gesture, and a piece of décor — we’d call that a win.
If you’d really like to commit to LEGO décor, there are several flower- and plant-building kits like this one of an orchid. These have hundreds of pieces — perfect if their love language is quality time.
No watering, no sunlight, and probably no throwing these out ever. Dried-flower bouquets deserve a space next to that box of chocolates and jewelry you’re gifting. This bouquet from Urban Stems may not be your standard red and pink, but if you’re planning on keeping these year round, they’re perfect for the rest of your décor. With the code CUTLOVE20, you can get an extra 20 percent off — consider that our gift to you.
The Bouqs Co. offers a handful of dried-flower arrangements, but we’re partial to this pretty pink bouquet. Their vases cost an extra $10, but we think you should go all out and grab your own hot-pink vase elsewhere. Maybe a fun vintage one from Etsy? Some thoughts!
For more vibrant shades and a little something extra, turn to Lovepot. As the name suggests, these smokable bouquets come with CBD (THC-free) you can smoke if you want this to be more than just décor.
Sometimes you need that Prime two-day shipping. Luckily, like everything else, Amazon also has dried bouquets and lots of reviews to read through.
Along with beginner-friendly plants, the Sill offers a handful of dried bouquets and bunches to gift and decorate with. With splashes of pink and pampas grass, this mauve arrangement is a little understated, but we think it’s perfect for the minimalist.
Similar to dry flowers, these are going to last forever, as long as you keep them away from open flames. These handcrafted roses are made from thin crêpe paper, so they’ll have a more realistic look and texture.
From afar, these crêpe-paper peonies look like the real thing without all the maintenance. A bouquet will set you back $80, but, again, it will last forever.
We usually get about a week out of a V-Day bouquet before they’re wilted, so these eternity flowers are a more permanent alternative. Coming in several colors, from the standard red and pink to gold or blue, these last about a year. Typically, they come in a box, but options like this porcelain vase are far more fitting for a permanent desk or coffee-table spot.
If you want to switch up the color palette a bit, Magnificent Roses offers its preserved flowers in a few color combos. These last about a year and come in this little hatbox you can store on your table.
For something a little more holiday appropriate, you can grab the Rose Box NYC’s preserved roses in a heart-shaped box. Go with the standard red or customize it with their favorite colors.
Flowers are often one small part of a very romantic V-Day gift, if you’re also planning on gifting another other small token of your affection, consider these preserved roses encased in this acrylic drawer.
