Flowers & Bouquets, Their History and Meaning

Carrying flowers by the bride is not something new to our century; it actually has its roots in ancient times. During that time, superstitious beliefs such as evil spirits and bad luck were prevalent. It was thought that the use of strong smelling herbs and spices would drive these away. Garlic and chives were also used for the same reason. During the Roman era, this tradition was added to. The bride and groom wore floral garlands signifying new life and hope for fertility. The bouquet in particular symbolized a women in bloom. During Victorian times, lovers would make use of flowers by sending them as messages to each other, each flower having a different meaning. Soon, the tradition of the meaning of each flower trickled down and was adopted for the bride’s bouquet.


Flowers and Their Meanings

Many today still carefully choose the flowers for their bouquet by researching the meaning of each flower. For information on the flowers listed below please view our Flower Library. A dynamic library of information on flowers kept fresh by real live feedback from visitors each day! Just click on a flower below.

Acacia, Amaryllis, Anemone, Apple Blossom, Aster, Variety, Talisman of love, Bachelor Button, Begonia, Bells of Ireland,  Bittersweet, Bluebell,  Calla Lily, Camellia,  Candytuft, Carnation, Chrysanthemum,  Crocus, Cyclamen,  Daffodil, Daisy, Dandelion,  Fern, Flowering Almond, Forget-Me-Not, Foxglove, Fuchsia, Gardenia, Gladiolus, Globe Amaranth, Heather, Heliotrope, Hibiscus, Holly, Honeysuckle, Hyacinth, Hydrangea, Iris, Ivy, Japonica, Jasmine, Jonquil, Larkspur, Lavender, Lemon Blossom, Lilac, Lily, Lily of the Valley, Maidenhair, Magnolia, Mimosa, Monkshood, Moss, Myrtle, Narcissus, Orange Blossom, Orchid, Pansy, Peach Blossom, Peony, Petunia, Phlox , Poppy, Pot-marigold, Primrose, Rose, Rosebud, Rosemary, Smilax, Snapdragon, Snowdrop, Spider, Stephanotis, Stock, Sweet Pea, Sweet William, Tuberose, Tulip, Verbena, Veronica, Violet, Wood Hyacinth, Zinnia


Tips When Choosing Your Flowers

Be sure to check with your florist to find out what is in season at the time of your wedding and what is at a reasonable price to keep your floral costs within budget. You may also want to consider visiting your local flower mart or farmer’s market to purchase your own flowers if you feel that you can create either all the arrangements or a few (such as pew bows or center pieces). If you choose to have fresh cut flowers on your cake, it would be a good idea to choose the blooms from a market as opposed to purchasing them with your floral package, this too will help keep costs down.

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