Deborah Chan
The bridal bouquet is an iconic part of the wedding ceremony, with brides carrying flowers down the aisle for hundreds of years. The bouquet is now a decorative accessory, chosen to complement the bridal gown, venue, and overall feel of the wedding. However, the bouquet's origins and purpose have evolved over time, with ancient brides carrying fragrant herbs and spices to ward off bad luck and evil spirits, and to mask body odor. Today, the sentiment behind the bouquet often lies in the symbolic meaning of the flowers chosen, with some brides opting for flowers that represent their character or their love and romantic sentiments with their partner.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To mask body odour, ward off evil spirits and bad luck, symbolise fertility, new beginnings, and happiness in a marriage |
| Flowers | Roses signify love, and peonies represent happiness and ambition |
| Bouquet Style | Posy bouquets, boho bouquets, garden style, classic bouquets, flower-heavy, free-flowing, chic and understated |
| Bouquet Toss | A historic tradition that continues to be embraced by many brides |
| Preservation | Brides can preserve wedding flowers using techniques like drying, freezing or pressing, and transform them into paperweights or frame them |
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What You'll Learn
The bouquet's use as a good luck charm to ward off evil spirits and bad luck
The bridal bouquet is an iconic part of the wedding ceremony, with its use dating back hundreds of years. While the bouquet is now used as a decorative accessory, its original purpose was rooted in its practical applications and symbolic meaning.
In the Middle Ages, strong-smelling herbs and spices were used in bouquets to mask body odour and cover the surrounding smell of death during the plague. Pungent additions like garlic were also added to ward off evil spirits and keep bad luck away from the newlyweds. This belief in the bouquet's power to ward off evil spirits dates back to ancient times, with Ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians carrying fragrant herbs and spices during weddings to bring good luck. The flowers and herbs were believed to symbolise new beginnings, fertility, and happiness in marriage.
The language of flowers gained popularity in the 18th and 19th centuries, with specific meanings attributed to different flower species and colours. This allowed individuals to convey feelings to someone else without speaking. For example, a combination of white roses, peonies, and red tulips in a bridal bouquet would signify "I'm worthy of you", "happy life", and "declaration of love", respectively.
Today, while the decorative aspect of the bouquet is a key consideration for brides, the symbolic meaning of flowers still plays a role in guiding some brides' floral choices. Brides may choose flowers that symbolise their love and romantic sentiments or select flowers that fit their aesthetic preferences, style, and season.
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Symbolism and meaning of flowers in the bouquet
Flowers are an integral part of a wedding's decor and can also play a significant role in storytelling and symbolism. The idea of flower meanings isn't new, and many flowers have certain symbolic meanings ascribed to them.
When choosing flowers for a wedding bouquet, some couples may opt for flowers with specific meanings or sentiments, such as love and commitment, or ones that hold personal sentimental value. For example, red roses are a classic symbol of love, while white roses represent innocence and charm. Tulips, especially red ones, also signify perfect love, and purple tulips have connotations of royalty.
Other flowers and their meanings include:
- Sunflowers, which symbolise hope and new beginnings.
- Lilies of the valley, which represent the return of happiness.
- Lavender, which symbolises loyalty, love, and devotion.
- White lilacs, which stand for youthful innocence and purity, while purple lilacs represent the first emotion of love.
- Orchids, which have been a symbol of luxury, beauty, and love since the Victorian era, especially pink shades, which represent pure affection.
- Carnations, where the meaning changes with the colour. White symbolises adoration and pure love, pink whispers "I'll never forget you", and yellow represents rejection and disappointment and is thus avoided at weddings.
- Gardenias symbolise sweet love and purity.
- Ivy symbolises wedded love, fidelity, friendship, and affection.
- Stock, a bouquet staple, fills out bouquets and adds a sweet scent.
- Succulents symbolise everlasting and eternal love, representing the importance of holding what matters most close to one's heart.
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The bouquet as a fashion accessory
The bridal bouquet has evolved from a bundle of strong-smelling herbs and spices used to ward off evil spirits and bad luck in the Middle Ages to a fashionable accessory that complements the bride's gown and wedding décor.
Today, the bouquet is an essential styling detail and a significant part of the bride's appearance, with many brides considering it as important as their wedding dress. It is chosen to reflect their personality and style, whether that's a showstopping, free-flowing arrangement or a chic, understated design.
The flowers in the bouquet are often carefully selected for their symbolic meaning and significance to the couple. For example, roses signify love, and peonies represent happiness and ambition. The colour of the flowers is also important, with white symbolising purity, and orange and purple signifying happiness and fertility.
Some brides opt for eco-friendly, seasonal, and locally grown flowers, while others choose non-floral bouquets, such as a trendy seashell bouquet. The shape and style of the bouquet are also important considerations, with options ranging from posy to boho, garden style, and classic bouquets.
After the wedding, some brides preserve their bouquets using techniques like drying, freezing, or pressing, creating a lasting memento of their special day.
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Bouquet-tossing tradition
The bouquet-tossing tradition has existed for hundreds of years and has evolved over time. In this tradition, brides toss their bouquet over their shoulders and into a group of single women. The lady who catches the bouquet is supposedly "'next' to walk down the aisle". This tradition is said to have started in England in the 1800s, but its origins are much older.
In ancient times, touching the bride or her wedding dress on her wedding day was considered good luck, and people believed that a bit of the bride's wedding-day good fortune would rub off on them. As a result, single women would crowd the bride, touching her dress and even trying to rip off pieces of it to take home as keepsakes. The bouquet toss tradition was created to bestow luck on guests without them having to go to such extreme measures. Brides would toss their bouquets to distract the crowd and then escape with their husbands to the bridal chamber.
Today, the bouquet toss is a fun way for a bride to share the spotlight with her single friends and add some friendly competition to the wedding. It usually happens towards the end of the night during the reception, after the toasts, dinner, and dances. The bride turns away from the participants and tosses the bouquet over her shoulder. While some see it as a fun tradition, others may find it outdated or alienating to those who do not fit the traditional cisgender female box.
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Bouquet styles and shapes
When choosing a bouquet style and shape, it is important to consider how it will complement the bridal gown, the venue, and the overall feel for the day. The bouquet's shape and style should also suit the wedding dress silhouette. For example, a V-shaped bouquet goes well with a V-neck dress, and medium bouquet shapes and styles usually complement A-line dresses.
Biedermeier Bouquet
Flowers of the same variety or different varieties but the same colour are clustered together in rings, forming a striped effect. This bouquet style is less common but is a standout option.
Cascade Bouquet
Also known as shower, overflowing, or waterfall bouquets, these bouquets are ideal if you want a statement piece. The blooms flow over and down the holder's hands, giving the bouquet a cascading effect. This style works well with mermaid and trumpet gowns as they accentuate the distinctive flow of these dress silhouettes.
Crescent Bouquet
This bouquet style toes the line between traditional and boho. It mimics the shape of a horizontal crescent moon, with a tight and manicured arrangement at the top and a slight cascade on both sides.
Pageant or Presentation Bouquet
Pageant bouquets, also known as presentation bouquets, are inspired by the large arrangements given to pageant winners. They are typically very full arrangements, designed with stalk-like flowers, such as roses, calla lilies, and foxgloves. This bouquet is defined by how it's held—cradled in the crook of one arm, which means it is usually longer and skinnier in shape.
Posy Bouquet
Posy bouquets are small and can be easily held in one hand. They are similar in size to a nosegay but have a less rounded shape and more greenery. This bouquet style is perfect for bridesmaids and flower girls, as well as bridal bouquets for those who want to show off their wedding dress.
Round Bouquet
Round bouquets are traditional and classic. They are medium-sized and perfectly symmetrical, with all flowers at an even height and little to no greenery. The stems are tightly wrapped with satin or another ribbon, which can be embellished with brooches or charms.
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Frequently asked questions
Today, the wedding bouquet is used as an accessory to complement the bride's dress and amplify the wedding décor. However, historically, the bouquet served a more practical purpose. In ancient times, brides carried fragrant herbs and spices to ward off bad luck and evil spirits. The bouquet was also used to mask body odours, especially during times of the plague.
The types of flowers used in a wedding bouquet can vary depending on the bride's preferences, the wedding's colour scheme, and the season. Roses, peonies, ranunculus, calla lilies, and dahlias are popular choices. The symbolic meaning of flowers is also considered, with certain flowers representing happiness, fertility, and new beginnings.
Choosing the right wedding bouquet style involves considering the overall aesthetic of the wedding, including the bride's gown, the venue, and the desired feel for the day. The bouquet style should complement the bridal gown and enhance the romantic atmosphere of the wedding. There are various bouquet styles to choose from, such as posy bouquets, boho bouquets, garden-style bouquets, and classic bouquets.
