The Language Of Wedding Flowers: Understanding Set Design

Flowers are an integral part of a wedding's aesthetic and decorative scheme, but they can also play a significant role in the storytelling of the day. The language of flowers, or floriography, dates back to Victorian times, when flowers were used to express emotions and convey subtle messages.

Today, many couples continue to embrace this romantic practice, choosing their wedding flowers based on their symbolic meanings and personal significance. The colour of flowers can also alter their meaning, with red roses, for instance, symbolising love and romance, while yellow roses represent friendship.

When designing a wedding's floral set, it's essential to consider the meanings and sentiments that different flowers evoke. From expressing love and gratitude to symbolising new beginnings and purity, flowers are a powerful way to infuse personal touches into a wedding celebration.

Flowers and their symbolic meanings

Flowers have been used to express emotions for centuries, with the language of flowers or floriography dating back to Victorian times. Flowers were used to express emotions that could not be spoken aloud, with each flower and colour holding a different meaning.

Roses

A classic choice for weddings, roses come in a variety of colours, each with its own meaning. Red roses symbolise love and desire, while white roses represent purity, innocence, and new beginnings. Pink roses convey grace, happiness, and gentleness, and yellow roses stand for friendship, jealousy, or infidelity. Orange roses express desire and enthusiasm, and Lavender roses signify love at first sight.

Lilies

Lilies are associated with magnificence and beauty. Calla lilies, in particular, are tied to purity and faith, while tiger lilies symbolise wealth and pride.

Peonies

Peonies are said to represent a happy marriage, prosperity, and bashfulness. However, they once symbolised anger in Western culture, while in Japan, they signify bravery, courage, and good fortune.

Carnations

Carnations are another versatile flower with different meanings depending on their colour. White carnations symbolise pure love and adoration, pink carnations convey enduring memories, and yellow carnations express disappointment and rejection.

Tulips

Tulips are a symbol of love and passion, with red tulips being a declaration of love. Yellow tulips bring cheer and are said to mean "there's sunshine in your smile," while white tulips stand for respect. Variegated tulips are given to someone with beautiful eyes.

Orchids

Orchids symbolise refinement and charm and are often worn by brides in their hair.

Baby's Breath

Baby's breath, often used as filler in wedding bouquets and arrangements, symbolises innocence and purity of heart. It can also stand for everlasting love.

Daisies

Daisies represent loyal love, gentleness, and innocence.

Sunflowers

Symbolising dedicated love, sunflowers are a bold and striking choice for weddings. They represent the enduring love between a couple.

In addition to these popular choices, many other flowers hold symbolic meanings that can add special touches to a wedding. It's important to note that flower meanings can vary across different cultures, so it's always a good idea to research the specific significance of your chosen blooms.

The importance of colour in flower meanings

Flowers are an integral part of a wedding day, adding a touch of nature's beauty to the celebrations. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, flowers carry symbolic meanings that can enhance the storytelling of the wedding day. The "language of flowers" dates back to Victorian times, when they were used to express emotions that words and gestures could not.

The colour of a flower plays a significant role in its meaning. For example, a red rose symbolises passion, while a white rose conveys purity. The same flower in different colours can have distinct meanings, as seen with chrysanthemums, where red symbolises love, and yellow represents slighted love.

Red Flowers:

Red flowers, such as roses, poppies, and tulips, represent love, passion, courage, and respect. They are a perfect choice for romantic occasions like weddings and Valentine's Day.

White Flowers:

White flowers, including orchids, daisies, lilies, and roses, symbolise purity, innocence, elegance, and honesty. White is often chosen for bridal bouquets and weddings, symbolising new beginnings.

Yellow Flowers:

Yellow flowers, such as sunflowers, daisies, lilies, and roses, represent friendship, joy, happiness, and warmth. Their bright and cheerful hues are ideal for spreading positivity and increasing the energy in a room.

Pink Flowers:

Pink flowers like roses, lilies, carnations, and peonies, convey admiration, gratitude, femininity, gentleness, and happiness. They are a popular choice for Mother's Day bouquets.

Orange Flowers:

Orange flowers, including marigolds, tulips, and zinnias, symbolise enthusiasm, energy, warmth, and creativity. Orange roses convey excitement and are perfect for expressing interest or celebrating new beginnings.

Blue Flowers:

Blue flowers, such as morning glories, hydrangeas, and cornflowers, embody tranquility, peace, relaxation, and support. They are often gifted to loved ones going through challenging times, helping to spread calm and relieve stress.

Purple Flowers:

Purple flowers, including irises, clematises, and bellflowers, represent royalty, nobility, admiration, dignity, and success. In some cultures, specific purple flowers hold deep significance, like the purple lotus in Buddhism.

Green Flowers:

Green flowers, though less common, signify renewal, growth, health, and good fortune. Green orchids are associated with rare beauty, and green chrysanthemums symbolise good luck and health.

Black Flowers:

Black flowers, such as black roses, tulips, and calla lilies, symbolise mystery, farewell, elegance, power, and strength. They can be a unique choice for funerals, expressing strength and individuality.

The colour of flowers holds a special significance, allowing couples to express their emotions and celebrate important moments in their lives. When designing wedding flower arrangements, considering the colour meanings can add a deeper layer of symbolism and personalisation to the special day.

Popular flowers to use at weddings

Flowers are an iconic part of any wedding, and there are a plethora of options to choose from. The most popular wedding flowers are often those that symbolise love and romance, such as roses, peonies, and tulips. Roses, with their varied colours, sizes and appearances, are a timeless classic and are the first choice for many couples. Hybrid tea, spray and garden roses are the main types used in weddings, but there are hundreds of varieties available, meaning they can be sourced all year round and adapted to suit almost any wedding theme.

Peonies are another popular choice, with their bright and luxurious blooms. They are a magical addition to any wedding, exuding romance with their ruffled petals and sweet scent. However, they are one of the most expensive options and are only in season from April to June, so it is best to reserve them for special moments or large floral budgets.

Tulips are a versatile flower, available in a wide range of colours and varieties, and can be included in bouquets, boutonnieres and table centrepieces. They symbolise happy years and consuming love, making them a popular choice for weddings.

Other popular flowers for weddings include:

• Ranunculus: Bright and beautiful blooms, often used as accent flowers in wedding bouquets. They are available in a variety of colours, making them a good match for most weddings, and are in season from January to May.
• Hydrangeas: Voluminous blooms that are mainly seen in classic blue or white, but also come in other colours such as pink and burgundy. They are a popular choice for summer and early autumn weddings, and their blooming season is from May to September.
• Gardenias: Elegant blooms with a sweet fragrance, often used as table decor or in hair accessories. They are a good choice for summer weddings and are available in several colours, including red, pink, pale yellow and white.
• Orchids: A timeless classic that has seen a resurgence in popularity recently. They are available all year round and come in a variety of colours, making them a good choice for beach or island weddings.
• Calla lilies: These flowers have a distinctive trumpet shape and are a sought-after choice for both weddings and funerals. They represent youth and fertility and are available in a variety of colours, including yellow, ivory, orange, mauve and dark purple.
• Sweet peas: Delicate flowers with a dainty appearance and a sweet scent, often used in simple bridal bouquets. They come in a variety of colours and are in season from March to June, making them a feature of many spring and early summer weddings.
• Anemones: Striking flowers that are usually black and white, making them a good choice for contemporary weddings. They are in season during spring, autumn and winter, and while they are delicate, they work well in both mono-fleur arrangements and mixed bouquets.

There are many other flowers that can be used for weddings, and couples can choose to incorporate their favourite flowers or those that hold special meaning for them.

How to research flower meanings

Flowers have been used to express emotions for centuries, and they can add a unique and meaningful touch to your wedding day. Here are some tips on how to research flower meanings for your wedding flower set design:

Know the History of Flower Meanings

Floriography, or the language of flowers, is the study of communication through flower arrangements. The idea of flower meanings isn't new, and it has been practised across multiple cultures. In Victorian England, for example, people used flower arrangements to send coded messages and express emotions they couldn't say aloud. Many of the flower meanings we associate with today originated from this era.

Consult Reference Books and Guides

To understand the symbolism of different flowers, consult reference books such as "The Language of Flowers" by Kate Greenaway, which is considered a must-read resource by many florists. This book, first printed in 1884, is still relevant and respected in the floral community today. Another recommended resource is a novel by the same name, published in 2011 by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. These books can provide valuable insights into the world of flower meanings.

Understand the Importance of Colour

The colour of a flower can significantly impact its meaning. For example, a red rose typically symbolises passion and love, while a white rose may signify purity and innocence. Some flowers, like roses and carnations, can have different meanings based on their colour. Knowing the nuances of colour symbolism will help you choose flowers that align with your desired message.

Research Popular Wedding Flowers and Their Meanings

Several online guides and articles provide detailed explanations of popular wedding flowers and their meanings. These resources can help you discover the symbolism associated with various flowers, from traditional favourites like roses and lilies to more unique options like orchids and dahlias. Understanding the meanings behind these flowers will enable you to make informed choices for your wedding flower set design.

Incorporate Personal Sentiment

In addition to the commonly accepted meanings, consider incorporating flowers that hold personal significance for you and your partner. Perhaps there is a particular flower that reminds you of a cherished memory or a loved one. Including these flowers in your wedding set design adds a layer of personal sentiment and makes your floral choices even more meaningful.

Be Mindful of Cultural Differences

Remember that flower meanings can vary across different cultures. For example, peonies symbolise anger in one culture but represent good fortune, bravery, and courage in another. When researching flower meanings, pay attention to the cultural context to ensure that your floral choices align with your intended message.

Incorporating personal meaning into flower arrangements

Flowers are an integral part of a wedding, adding colour, drama and life to the ceremony and reception. But they can also be used to express personal meaning and add a unique, heartfelt touch to the celebrations.

The Language of Flowers

The idea of using flowers to express emotions dates back to Victorian times, when flowers were used to convey feelings that could not be spoken aloud. Floriography, or the language of flowers, is the study of communication through flower arrangements.

Personal Sentimental Attachments

Couples can incorporate flowers that hold personal significance into their wedding bouquets, boutonnieres and centrepieces. For example, if a certain flower holds special memories of a grandparent, or was used in a memorable moment during the relationship, it can be woven into the floral arrangements.

Flowers with Symbolic Meanings

The type of flower and its colour can also carry symbolic meaning. For instance, red roses are associated with passion, while white roses stand for purity. Couples can choose flowers that symbolise the emotions and experiences that are meaningful to them, such as:

• Orchids, which symbolise refinement and charm
• Lilies, which represent purity and passion
• Tulips, which signify love and passion
• Sunflowers, which stand for dedicated love
• Peonies, which represent a happy marriage
• Baby's breath, which symbolises innocence and purity of heart
• Carnations, which mean pure love and adoration
• Alstroemeria, which symbolises devotion, wealth and fortune
• Amaranthus, which stands for unfading love
• Eucalyptus, which conveys a sense of protection
• Ivy, which is a symbol of fidelity, wedded love, affection and friendship

Frequently asked questions