The history of the bridal bouquet.
Brides centuries ago carried bundles of herbs like lavender, rosemary, and spices to protect themselves from evil spirits, bring good luck, and ward off unpleasant smells due to hygiene deficiencies during the Middle Ages in Europe.
The language of flowers, and the practice of giving them specific meanings, began in the Victorian era. Queen Victoria carried a small, round cluster of flowers and herbs (specifically myrtle, a symbol of love) at her wedding, set in a filigree holder.
Flower meanings are heavily dependent on context and geography. For example, while the Almanac Flower guide highlights Western traditions like the Victorian “Tussimussie” bouquets, Eastern cultures look at flowers differently. For instance, in Japan, the Sakura or Cherry Tree branch represents the beautiful but fleeting nature of life.
The meaning of flowers – Colors-Messages in the Victorian era.
In Victorian etiquette, flowers delivered silent messages that could not be spoken aloud. They even answered direct questions based on how they were physically gifted.
The Hand Protocol
- Right Hand: Signified a “yes” answer.
- Left Hand: Signified a “no” answer.
The Purpose - Silent Dialogue: Allowed secret communication in public.
- Strict Etiquette: Maintained polite boundaries while expressing true feelings.
Popular wedding flowers and their meaning
The Purpose
• Silent Dialogue: Allowed secret communication in public.
• Strict Etiquette: Maintained polite boundaries while expressing true feelings.
Popular wedding flowers and their meaning
- Rose: Broadly represents love, but meanings change dramatically by color.Red: Passionate love and desire.White: Purity, innocence, and new beginnings.Pink: Grace, happiness, and gentleness.Yellow: Friendship and joy (historically, it meant jealousy).
- Lily: Purity, virtue, and devotion. Specifically, Lily of the Valley signals a “sweet return to happiness”.
- Sunflower: Adoration, loyalty, and lasting positivity.Daisy: Innocence, loyal love, and pure new beginnings.
- Tulip: Perfect love and elegance. Red tulips double as an open declaration of love.
- Peony: Prosperity, good fortune, and a happy marriage.
- Orchid: Exotic beauty, refined strength, and rare luxury.
- Chrysanthemum: Friendship, truth, and optimism in Western cultures.
- Carnation: Fascination and love. Pink carnations specifically say, “I’ll never forget you.”
The Groom’s Boutonniere
A tradition dating back to medieval times was and is that the groom wears a flower from the bride’s bouquet in his buttonhole, declaring his love
If you want to know all about the meaning of flowers, visit the Almanac site for more information
The Modern Bride: Choosing Size, Style and Flowers for Your Bridal Bouquet
When a bride walks down the aisle, the first thing you notice is that little extra sparkle in her face and, of course, her wedding gown.
A bridal bouquet should always enhance the overall look but never overpower the bride. Selecting the right size bridal bouquet for your stature and taste is an important part.
Size matters!
If you are a petite bride, you generally should choose a smaller bouquet of up to 9 inches in diameter. Standard-size bridal bouquets are approximately up to 13 inches. Deluxe and Grand bouquets are often large, asymmetric, loose hand-tied bouquets and cascading bouquets that can reach over 17 inches.
Trends
Today’s brides have a large selection of flowers available to choose from when it comes to the bridal bouquet and wedding flowers. For a while, everything Boho was trendy with lots of dried flowers and grasses and an organic look. As with fashion, wedding trends come, go, and repeat. A classic bridal bouquet with a modern twist will always be timeless.
Adding seasonal flowers to your bridal bouquet will not only be sustainable and save some money, but it will also reflect the time of year your wedding takes place. Adding seasonal flowers to your bridal bouquet will not only be sustainable and save some money, but it will also reflect the time of year your wedding takes place.
Seasonal Blooms
In spring, embrace pastels and fresh greens with tulips, hyacinths, and ranunculus for that soft, renewing vibe. Summer weddings allow for bold, vibrant colors and full-bodied blooms like dahlias and sunflowers, thriving under sunny skies. Fall calls for warm terracottas, deep crimsons, and burnt oranges—you can’t go wrong with chrysanthemums or marigolds that reflect autumn’s richness. Winter weddings shine with elegant evergreens, amaryllis, and anemones, often accented with velvet textures and deep jewel tones. With almost all flowers available at any time of the year, brides don’t necessarily have to follow that rule.
Climate and Considerations
If you are getting married in Florida, with less obvious seasonal changes, it is not unusual that brides choose a tropical theme for a beach wedding in December.
Pro tip: Florida is hot and humid most of the time. At outdoor weddings, flowers must tolerate high temperatures and the glaring sun—selecting blooms that can withstand higher temperatures is crucial to prevent wilting. While for the bride’s bouquet almost all flowers are suitable, we recommend that for outdoor displays like arches and aisle decor, you use flower varieties that can withstand the Florida heat. Some examples are Orchids, Proteas, Roses and Garden Roses, Calla Lilies, Carnations, Sunflowers, Anthuriums, Lisianthus, Daisies, and hardier filler flowers or dried grasses and blooms.
Florida is the State of Destination Beach Weddings
Many all-inclusive packages include fresh bridal bouquets, but substitute faux silk flowers for arches and aisles.
For authentic, vibrant styling that reflects your unique personality, real blooms are simply unmatched. Less is sometimes more, especially if you already have a beautiful background like the ocean or a lush garden. Why Choose Fresh Florals?
- Unmatched Elegance: Real flowers provide a natural texture, movement, and fragrance that synthetic alternatives cannot replicate.
- Elevated Photos: Close-up shots of your ceremony arch and aisle décor look distinctly more luxurious and radiant with living botanicals.
- Authentic Feel: Living flowers add a genuine, personalized touch to your “I dos.”
If you are planning an event in Central, West, or East Florida and want a stress-free, all-inclusive package that guarantees 100% fresh floral décor, explore the custom offerings at Lifestyle Weddings by Events and More
Exclusive Bridal Bouquet Designs in Central Florida
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