7 Lucky Blooms to Include in Your Bridal Bouquet

Flowers are beautiful and fragrant, and it seems natural they are what a bride carries down the aisle. Besides being a strikingly colorful contrast against the white gown, most bridal bouquets tie together the theme and look of the entire wedding decor. But flowers are so much more than just pretty and fragrant. In many cultures, certain flowers are lucky and often included in bridal bouquets to bring luck and good fortune to the soon-to-be-married couple. The floral experts at Marco Island – Weddings & Special Events love sharing our knowledge about the history, symbolism, and meaning of flowers. Below, we list seven wedding flower traditions for bringing good luck, love, wealth, and long-lasting happiness.

The rose has long been a symbol of love and romance, carrying this meaning throughout history and across most cultures. In fact, ancient Greek and Roman brides carried roses in their bouquets, used them in their weddings,  and tossed them onto the floor to release the heady, aromatic scent of their petals as they walked about. In mythology, the rose is linked to the goddess of love, Aphrodite. A hardy bloom available all year-long and in nearly every color imaginable, the rose is a beloved, amazing flower that will always be associated with love.

Ivy is another good-luck charm ancient Greek and Roman brides used in their weddings. This popular greenery is a symbol of fidelity, wedded love, friendship, and affection, and it was also good at keeping evil spirits away and suppressing drunkenness. The Greek God of wine, Dionysus, is represented by ivy and represents joy and vitality. Today, ivy is commonly used in bridal bouquets and floral crowns, symbolizing youth, loyalty, and never-ending love.

To spread the word of a new union of love, bells would ring about the land so all could enjoy the good news. This melodic tradition is traced back to the Celts, who rang bells to celebrate love and to ward off any evil spirits that may dampen this happy day. It was also believed that ringing bells would help the newlyweds be happy and have their wishes granted. Today, bells are frequently given as a wedding gift as a symbol of a harmonious life and everlasting love between two people.

Peonies are one of the most popular wedding blooms in the U.S., but this lush blossom has been used in weddings in China and Korea for a very long time. Representing wealth and prosperity, peonies were embroidered on the bride’s gown and prominently featured in wedding florals of Chinese weddings. In Korea, peonies are the flower of choice in centerpieces and represent marital bliss and happiness.

Before flowers became popular in bridal bouquets in the Victorian era, brides carried a bunch of weeds, herbs, and spices. Besides offering a spicy aroma to cover up not-so-pleasant odors (since showers didn’t exist back then), early bridal bouquets of herbs and spices were used to ward off evil spirits and ne’er do wells to make sure nothing went awry during the wedding. In addition to ensuring a lovely wedding and marriage, many of the herbs in bridal bouquets symbolized fertility and faithfulness.

Lilies are popular in Polynesian weddings, and their stems are used to bind the couple’s wrists together. The lily is considered a sacred flower and is believed to attract positive spirits while protecting the couple from negative ones. As the officiant “ties the knot” with the symbolic lily, the newlyweds are linked together, and the lily will bring them good luck as they grow their life together.

During the Medieval period, the bride herself was considered lucky, and if someone got a “piece” of her, most likely from her dress, it was considered good luck. To avoid being stripped bare or having her beautiful dress torn apart, the bride began tossing her bouquet instead. This tradition originated in England years ago and not only protected the bride but became a fun way to “throw” some luck into the crowd. Today, the bouquet toss is still done as the bouquet is considered lucky for the first single woman to touch it, as she will be the next one lucky in love and will soon get married.

To add a bit of luck to your wedding, make sure you incorporate one – or all! – of the lucky blooms and traditions mentioned above. And when it’s time to select your wedding flowers, choose the best wedding florist with quality blooms and exceptional service by contacting  Marco Island – Weddings & Special Events – specialists in making your floral dreams come true.