Being engaged is a very exciting season of life, but sometimes planning the wedding ceremony can become daunting. There are so many decisions to make and some traditions don’t even seem to make sense anymore. One such tradition is the act of the bride carrying a bouquet of flowers as she walks down the aisle. When did this begin? Why do we still do it? Here, the wedding experts at Marco Island Weddings walk you through this age-old tradition to help you decide if it’s something you want to include in your own wedding, and if so, how to do it your way. So when did the tradition of bridal bouquets begin?
Back in Ancient Times…
Dating all the way back to ancient times, brides began carrying flowers during their wedding ceremony to enhance the beauty of the scene. The Ancient Grecians and Romans were especially interested in aesthetics when it came to public ceremonies, so carrying something beautiful like flowers made sense. Brides also chose specific flowers and greenery that were known aphrodisiacs, like orchids and wheat, to promote fertility and ensure a large family for the prosperous couple. The tradition of symbolism carried on for centuries, but sometimes for other reasons.
…Moving Into the Middle Ages…
Centuries later, the meaning behind the bridal bouquet eventually morphed into more of a spiritual practice. Superstitions ran high in the Middle Ages and it was not uncommon for brides to carry herbs and other foliage like garlic and dried rosemary to ward off evil spirits and promote health, prosperity, and happiness for the couple. This practice went hand in hand with the belief that bridesmaids should wear the same dress as the bride to confuse evil spirits bent on destroying the happy couple’s wedding day. If they couldn’t figure out which one she was, the spirits couldn’t play tricks on the bride, could they?
The Symbolic Victorian Era
Eventually, young lovers everywhere, especially in Victorian England, began to find more significant meaning in the colors and varieties of flowers sent to each other. A purple iris from an interested gentleman might denote feelings of royalty while a yellow daffodil honored a lady’s friendship. In wedding bouquets, one Victorian couple might choose red or orange blooms to symbolize their passion for one another, while another couple might opt for white or pale pink to denote their innocence and purity. After Queen Victoria chose to include myrtle in her wedding bouquet, all royal brides, include Kate Middleton, opted to include this as a tradition in their bouquets, as well.
Today’s Bridal Bouquets
These days, brides tend to choose their wedding bouquet as an accent piece to the overall theme of their wedding. Color choice and flower variety go hand in hand with the wedding aesthetics, such as daisies or sunflowers for a rustic theme or rich, lush roses and ranunculus for a more classic style. Winter weddings might feature holly berries and boughs of evergreen, while a beach wedding might include ti leaves and orchids.
Whatever you choose for your wedding bouquet, be sure it reflects you and your partner’s personal style and vibe. Include personal items like a favorite handkerchief, rosary, or ribbon with your flowers if they hold significance for you or your family. Or simply pick something that you like! To discuss your options, talk to the wedding professionals at Marco Island Weddings about which flowers make the best bouquets and will look amazing on your special day.