Why Are Bouquets Used in Weddings: Flowers that the bride holds in her hand as she walks down the aisle are called a bridal bouquet. In line with the wedding theme and her dress style, it’s meant to be a nice addition. But why do brides keep flowers with them?
The bridal bouquet is more than just something for the bride to hold as she walks down the aisle. It’s what ties the whole design and decor of the wedding together. It’s an addition, a focal point, and one of the first things people see when they arrive at a party.
Why Are Bouquets Used in Weddings?
The thing you choose to carry on your way to the altar is actually pretty important if you’re getting married soon. The bouquet will be a different size and have a different mix of flowers. There are times when the couple doesn’t follow the tradition at all.
It doesn’t matter where you stand on the issue; people often ask things like, “Do I have to carry one?” The flowers are gone from the wedding. What should I do with them? Where did the tradition come from?
The History of the Bridal Bouquet and What It Means
“The practice of brides carrying bouquets dates to antiquity,” tells us Owens. “Ancient Greeks and Romans, even Egyptians, carried fragrant herbs and spices to ward off bad luck during weddings.” In the past, both the bride and groom wore flower garlands, and small posies were used instead of the big bouquets we know today.
The flowers represented a fresh start and hoped for fertility, happiness, and faithfulness. Some common additions were dill, which was thought to attract lovers, rosemary, which stood for loyalty, wheat, which meant fertility, ivy, which meant an unbreakable bond, and thistle, thyme, heather, or basil, which meant safety.
The medieval period
- When brides first started carrying bouquets of flowers hundreds of years ago, it was because the flowers’ scent covered up their body odor or the smell of death during the plague.
- If body odor wasn’t enough to scare away evil spirits, strong-smelling things like garlic and spices were added to the arrangements to keep away any bad luck (or curses) that might try to hurt the newlyweds.
- This was also the start of the tradition of throwing bouquets.
- People thought that touching the bride or, even better, running off with a piece of her wedding dress would bring them luck and make them want to get engaged.
- The bouquet toss was created as a way for the bride to get away without getting hurt. It distracted and pacified the crazy crowds of young women.
The time of the Elizabethans
- For the first time, bouquets were used for more than just flowers during the Elizabethan era.
- It became a must for brides to have small bouquets, and posies were even made to give to guests as favors.
- Brides-to-be started putting flowers that went with their elaborate hairstyles to add a little extra flair.
- Before this, brides would let their hair hang loose and sometimes add a small flower circlet to the front of their head, which was the first flower crown.
The Victorian period
- “It wasn’t until the Victorian age that we see the birth of the wedding bouquet as we know it today,” says Owens.
- “While flower symbolism was hugely popular then, and brides were able to communicate their romantic sentiments through their specific floral choices, that practice has faded a bit, with modern couples choosing their flowers based more on beauty and color.”
In modern times
- The bouquet’s main purpose these days is to be a pretty addition to the wedding and make the other decorations stand out.
- Brides don’t care as much about hiding a bad smell or keeping away evil spirits and crazy crowds.
- But the Victorians weren’t the only ones who thought about the meaning and symbolism of flowers.
- Some people still choose bouquets based on these ideas.
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