Creating Herb Wedding Bouquets: A Step-By-Step Guide

Herb wedding bouquets are a modern take on traditional wedding flowers, offering a fresh, fragrant, and affordable option for brides. The use of herbs in bridal bouquets dates back to Ancient Greece and Rome, where brides carried aromatic bundles of garlic, herbs, and spices to symbolise fidelity and good luck. Today, herb bouquets offer a unique and budget-friendly alternative to traditional flower arrangements, providing a natural, organic vibe that stimulates the senses. From lavender and rosemary to sage and thyme, herbs can be combined with flowers or used on their own to create stunning and meaningful wedding bouquets.

Choosing your herbs: from rosemary to eucalyptus, the options and their meanings

Herbs have been used in wedding bouquets since ancient times, with each herb carrying a different meaning. In Ancient Greece, brides would carry rosemary, symbolising remembrance and fidelity, while in Rome, brides would carry thyme and basil to encourage luck and fertility.

Today, you can choose from a variety of herbs to create a meaningful and fragrant bouquet. Here are some popular options and their traditional meanings:

Rosemary

Rosemary is a popular choice for bridal bouquets, symbolising remembrance and fidelity. It has a subtle aroma and adds a fun, spiky dimension to the bouquet.

Lavender

Lavender stands for luck, devotion and protection. Its sweet fragrance makes it an ideal choice for a bridal bouquet, and it dries beautifully, too.

Sage

Sage symbolises a long life, good virtue, wisdom and harmony. It is often used in bridal bouquets to add a subtle aroma and a touch of greenery.

Thyme

Thyme represents courage, strength, energy and charm. In ancient times, it was carried by brides to ward off evil spirits.

Basil

Basil is associated with lasting love and fertility. It is a popular choice for weddings, symbolising the couple's hopes for a long and loving marriage.

Mint

Mint is a refreshing and calming herb, known for evoking warm feelings and sensuality. It is often used as a base for wild, homemade bouquets.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is a versatile herb that can be used to create a bohemian, woodland look or a lush, statement bouquet. Its fragrant leaves can add texture and interest to any arrangement.

DIY tips: how to make a herbal bouquet yourself

Herbal bouquets are a modern way to add colour, scent and beauty to your wedding without breaking the bank. They hark back to ancient rites, with brides in Ancient Greece and Rome carrying aromatic bundles of garlic, herbs and spices for superstitious and symbolic reasons.

Herbs are a perfect way to stimulate your senses and the senses of your guests. They can be used in a variety of ways, from a simple plate garnish to a small potted herb as a giveaway.

Choosing Your Herbs

Herbs come in many shapes and sizes, and their use can be expanded in a variety of ways. For a powerful scent and delicate foliage, try calendula, lamb's ear, lemon verbena, marjoram, bee balm, or wormwood. If you want to bring flowering herbs, lavender is a popular choice, and you can also add borage, dill, and oregano flowers.

Putting Your Bouquet Together

A simple posy made with baby roses, sage, bay's breath, and rosemary is a sweet herbal bridal bouquet that is easy to DIY. For a more complex arrangement, you could try a combination of eucalyptus, peonies, fern, and lavender.

Herbs can be used to set off flowers and are perfect for the groom's boutonnière. You can also make the wedding party's arrangements with the same notes to tie the whole look together.

Using herbs elsewhere: buttonholes, table arrangements, cake decorations, and more

Herbs can be used in many other places besides the bridal bouquet. Here are some ideas for incorporating herbs elsewhere in your wedding:

Buttonholes/boutonnieres: Herbs are perfect for the groom's buttonhole or boutonniere and will set off any flowers used. You could use rosemary, which symbolises remembrance and fidelity, or sage for wisdom. Thyme will add a fun, spiky dimension.

Table arrangements: Herbs can be used to create beautiful and aromatic table centrepieces. Try a mix of olive branches, peonies, anemones, poppies and amaranthus, or eucalyptus with peonies, or a simple posy of baby roses, sage, bay's breath and rosemary. For a summer wedding, a petite bouquet of lavender and rosemary is perfect.

Cake decorations: Fresh herbs like rosemary and thyme, or flowering herbs like lavender, can be used to decorate a wedding cake, appealingly dressing it up.

Other ideas: Herbs can be used almost anywhere flowers can be used. Try them as a plate garnish, a potted herb giveaway, in a bridal altar or trellis, as a drink garnish, or pressed into invitations. They can also be used to make celebratory garlands and confetti—in season, add borage, bee balm, dill and oregano flowers.

Buying herbs: where to source your herbs from

If you're looking to make your own herb bouquet, you can buy fresh herbs from your local farmer's market. Alternatively, you can buy them online from websites like Etsy, which has a wide range of fresh and dried herbs and bouquets.

For example, LuxuryLavender on Etsy sells fresh English lavender and eucalyptus bundles, while shops like DeLaTerreNaturals offer huge bundles of fresh baby eucalyptus. You can also find dried lavender bouquets from sellers like NustadFamilyRanch.

If you're looking for something more convenient, you could opt for artificial herbs. Etsy sellers such as WeaveInWonderShop offer faux herb bouquets that include mint, rosemary, and thyme.

Finally, if you're feeling creative, you could even grow your own herbs from seed. You can find a variety of herb seeds on Etsy, such as dill, basil, and Thai basil.

Drying herbs: how to dry your bouquet to keep it as a memento

You've crafted a beautiful herb bouquet, full of fragrant and symbolic herbs. Now, you want to preserve it as a memento of your special day. Drying your bouquet is a simple process and will ensure you can treasure it for years to come. Here is a step-by-step guide to drying your herb wedding bouquet:

Harvesting

The first step is to choose the right time to harvest your herbs. The optimal time is in the morning, after the dew has dried, but before the sun has affected the herbs. This ensures the volatile oils in the leaves are at their most potent, preserving the flavour and fragrance of your bouquet.

Washing and Drying

Once you've cut your herbs, give them a quick rinse to remove any dirt. Then, lay them out on a clean towel to dry. Flip the herbs occasionally to ensure they dry off completely.

Bundling

When the herbs are dry, gather 3-4 stems and tie them together with string, leaving enough string to hang the bundles. It's important not to make the bundles too large, as this can cause the herbs to mould before they dry.

Hanging

Hang your herb bundles upside down in a dark place, generally void of direct sunlight. Good options include open shelves, attics, garages, or closets. You can also cover the bundles with brown paper bags to ensure a dark environment and protect the herbs from dust.

Drying Time

Leave the herbs to dry for one to two weeks, or until they are dry enough to crumble.

Packaging and Storing

Once the herbs are fully dried, carefully take down the bundles and place them on a piece of parchment paper. Untie the bundles, pull the leaves off the stems, and transfer the leaves into airtight containers. Store your dried herbs in a cool, dark place, such as a cupboard or drawer, away from light and heat.

Your herb wedding bouquet is now preserved as a memento, and you can enjoy the fragrance and memories it evokes for months or even years to come.

Frequently asked questions