Margaret and Katie Laycock; Seashell bouquets.Photo:Courtesy of Katie Laycock
Courtesy of Katie Laycock
A bride was brought to tears after her mother surprised her with handmade seashell bouquets.
Katie Laycock, 30, was at her home in Stuart, Florida, on Feb. 1 celebrating her “Seashells and Wedding Bells” themed bridal shower when she got a surprise she’ll never forget. Her mother, Margaret Laycock, 60, spent 15 hours turning 500 seashells intotwo wedding bouquetsfor her.
Multi-shell bouquet.Stephanotis-inspired bouquet made out of white coquina shells.Multi-shell bouquet.PHOTO:Courtesy of Katie LaycockStephanotis-inspired bouquet made out of white coquina shells.PHOTO:Courtesy of Katie Laycock
Multi-shell bouquet.Stephanotis-inspired bouquet made out of white coquina shells.
Multi-shell bouquet.
Stephanotis-inspired bouquet made out of white coquina shells.
Multi-shell bouquet.PHOTO:Courtesy of Katie LaycockStephanotis-inspired bouquet made out of white coquina shells.PHOTO:Courtesy of Katie Laycock
“I first started collecting shells with my mom when I was 8 years old. We took a family trip to Sanibel Island, Florida, in 2003 and that’s what started it all!” Katie tells PEOPLE. “We’ve become avid shell collectors since then at our local east coast beaches, Marco Island and Sanibel Island in Florida. The summer storms in Florida bring in so many beautiful shells to the shore.”
The mother-daughter duo have collected countless types of shells together. Margaret treated the individual shells as petals, delicately arranging them in patterns that mimic real flowers. This made for a diverse and beautiful bouquet, which was accented with store-bought iridescent shells.
Katie Laycock.Courtesy of Katie Laycock
“There’s so many favorite kinds of shells that we collect: tulip shells, scotch bonnets, nutmegs, lightning whelks, pear whelks, alphabet cones, olive shells, sand dollars, murex, shark’s eye, Florida fighting conchs, gaudy nautica, worm shells, scallop shells, jewel boxes, jingles, cat and lion’s paws, coquinas and cowries,” Katie says.
Margaret also purchased approximately 200 white coquina shells from other shell collectors on Etsy to create a Stephanotis-inspired bouquet, which Katie plans to use at her wedding rehearsal.
“These are also now something I consider to be family heirlooms,” Katie says. “Once I have a bigger NYC apartment, they will be on display as coastal home decor that carry the biggest sentimental value.”
“We’ve gotten a lot of interest in the shell bouquets on social media and are considering making some for sale for other brides,” Katie says.
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Seashell bouquets weren’t the only things Katie’s mother gave her.
Additional gifts from Margaret Laycock.Courtesy of Katie Laycock
“My mom also surprised me with lace from her wedding dress that was embroidered onto satin fabric with my fiancé’s and my name and our wedding date,” she says. “This will be sewn into the inside of my wedding dress as a good luck charm for our wedding day.”
She knew the painting would be a meaningful gift because Rhode Island’s official state flower is a violet, and Katie will tie the knot on April 25 in Newport, Rhode Island.
source: people.com
