Flowers Brides & Bouquets

Flowers  Brides & Bouquets

Flowers add visual beauty and a touch of romance to a wedding, they have their own significance and meaning like a language they speak to you.

 

What would you choose and  why do Brides carry bouquets?

A Bride carrying flowers or wearing garlands dates back to ancient Greek, Roman and Egyptian times.

Brides carried sheaths of wheat hand tied and embellished with grains, branches of fruit or nut trees anything to signify abundance, they also wore caplets of native flowers. Bride and grooms may have worn blossom circlets and wreaths of greenery.

After the wedding ceremony, the crowd would scatter flower petals before the happy couple which was crushed underfoot as they walked through the streets to their new home.

 

What do those flowers mean?

It was the Greeks and the Romans that gave meaning to certain flowers.

In ancient Greece ivy was used to symbolise “enduring love”

Today it also means fidelity in marriage.

In Roman and Egyptian times brides wore or carried flower garlands to signify “new happiness, beginnings, fidelity and hope of good fertility”.

By the middle ages strong smelling herbs and spices were added to the bouquets to ward off evil spirits, bad luck,  ill health and maybe odours as bathing was not a regular practice.

Wedding bouquets were considered to bring happiness and satisfaction in marriage while the ribbon with which the bouquet is tied symbolised fellowship.

Today the significance is more personal and decorative, a modern bouquet does not have to be flowers, can be all different shapes and sizes, corsage, cascading bouquet, flowers in a basket, handbag bouquets.

Your bouquet can be made out of paper, silk, silk butterflies, jewels, fruit ,candy, feathers, buttons, seashells, metal or combinations of different things. You can add heirlooms, charms, something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.

Things  that you love and mean something to you for a personal touch: your pets’ name tag, paper flowers made with pages of your favourite book.

What does your favourite flower represent?

Here’s a list from A-Z, to find the flower that’s meant to be;

  • Alstroemeria – Fortune, devotion and friendship

  • Amaryllis – Splendid beauty

  • Anemone – Greek word for ‘wind flower’- Anticipation

          Thought to bring luck and protect against evil

  • Anthurium (Flamingo flower)- The heart -Hospitality and kindness

  • Astilbe- (or false Spirea) – meaning “I’ll be waiting for you”

           Or “I’ll still be waiting for you”- symbolises patience and dedication to a loved one

  • Azalea – Love and romance

  • Babys’ Breath – Festivity – Everlasting love, innocence and purity

  • Birds of Paradise – (the flower crane) – Symbol of paradise, freedom and joy. Represents faithfulness, thoughtfulness and love

  • Bouvadia – Enthusiasm

  • Calla Lily – Regal – Magnificent beauty  -Named after the Greek word for beauty

  • Camelia – Love, affection and admiration

  • Red – Love, passion and deep desire

  • White – Adoration

  • Pink – longing for someone and given to someone  who is missed

  • Carnation -Love

  • Pink Carnation- Gratitude, pride and beauty

  • White Carnation- Pure love and innocence

  • Cherry Blossom- Symbolises “the fragility of life” -Only around for a few weeks in spring

  • Chrysanthemum – symbolism “joy and long life, fidelity and optimism

  • Clematis – Ingenuity and mental beauty

  • Coreopsis – Love at first sight

  • Cornflowers- Wild flower, legend has it that cornflowers were worn by young men in love. If his love was returned the flower would remain bright and fresh. If the mans’ love was not returned the flower would fade quickly

  • Daffodil – New beginnings and marriage

  • Dahlia – means from the valley – represents dignity, elegance and good taste

  • Daisy – Innocence and new beginnings – lovely for a wild flower bouquet

  • Delphinium – Light heartedness and vivacity  -Comes from the Greek word for dolphin

  • Forsythia – Anticipation

  • Freesia – Innocence, friendship, sweetness and thoughtfulness and trust

  • Gardenia – Joy, purity, love and sophistication. Popular to wear in your hair.

  • Gerbera Daisy – Cheerfulness

  • Gladiolus – Generosity, sincerity, strength of character, faithfulness and honour.

  • Hellebores – Just to add beauty to your bouquet.

  • Heather – Good luck, protection and admiration

  • Honeysuckle – New beginnings and resilience

  • Hyacinth -Constancy and sincerity. Symbolises sport or play – Named after a Greek boy Hyakinthos

  • Hydrangea – Perseverance and heartfelt emotion

  • Iris – known for its purple hue it represents three important entities – Faith, Valour and Wisdom

  • Larkspur – Beautiful spirit and fickleness

  • Lavender – Devotion and virtue

  • Lilac – Of first love – Good to use if this is your first love, First child or any first love

  • Magenta lilac – Love and passion

  • Lilies – Fertility and purity

  • White – Modesty virginity, purity, and refined beauty

  • Orange Lily – Passion.  Yellow Lily – Gaiety

  • Lily of the Valley – Sweetness, humility, purity of heart, Can also represent a return to happiness

  • Lisianthus – Gratitude, charm and everlasting bond

  • Lotus Flower – Symbol of purity, enlightenment, self regeneration and rebirth

  • Magnolia – Nobility and dignity

  • Muscari – Tenderness, softness and caring love

  • Orchids – Refinement, charm, with exotic beauty and glorious femininity

  • Peonies – Happy marriage, a happy life, good health and prosperity

  • Poppies – Red poppy – Pleasure

  • Yellow – Wealth and success

  • Protea – Diversity, courage, change and transformation.
    Named after the Greek god Poseidons’  son Protea who could change his shape at will.

  • Queen Annes Lace – Femininity and complexity

  • Rannunculus – Radiant charm and attractiveness

  • Roses – Love and romance – Red Rose -Passion

  • – White Rose- Innocence and purity

  •  Pink Rose – Gratitude, grace, joy and Admiration

  • Orange – Enthusiasm and passion

  • Yellow – Friendship

  • Snapdragon – Graciousness – known as Gracious lady or Deception, if you squeeze this flower a certain way the flower looks like a dragons’ mouth

  • Statice – Success, sympathy or remembrance

  • Stephanotis – Symbol of good luck

  • Stock – Everlasting beauty, a joyous happy life and a lasting loving bond

  • Sunflower – Dedicated love, warmth and adoration

  • Sweetpea – Blissful pleasure, appreciation and departure

  • Tulip – Red tulip – declaration of love, perfect love and faithfulness to your partner, undying love

  • Pink – Caring, good wishes, friendship, joyful occasions

  • Purple – Nobility, royal, rebirth and spring time

  • Yellow tulip – represents sunshine , the variegated kind symbolises beautiful eyes

  • Tweedia – Peace and harmony, good for something blue – star shaped flowers

  • Yarrow – Has a fresh herby scent

  • Zinnia – has a gorgeous variety of colours, symbol of endurance, affection, lasting friendship, goodness and remembrance.

  • Magenta – Lasting affection

  • Scarlet – Constancy

You can chooses flowers by your Astrological Birth Sign

 

Astrological Sign

 Birth Flower

Flowers & Plants Suited For Your Sign

Aries

Thistle & Honeysuckle Flowers

Opuntia cactus (prickly pear), celosia (cockscomb), thorn-bearing shrubs, red roses, tulips, red peppers, amaryllis flowers

Taurus

Rose, Poppy & Foxglove Flowers

Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus), scented stock, fruit-bearing trees, lavender, lilac, aster, lily of the valley, sweet pea flowers

Gemini

Lavendar & Lily of the Valley Flowers

Solanum (Winter cherries), ranunculus, maidenhair fern (Addiantum), solidago (goldenrod), acacia (mimosa, wattle), daffodil, nut-bearing trees, cactus

Cancer

White Flowers, especially Rose Flowers

Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus), Ammi (Queen Anne’s lace), delphinium, ferns, plumbago, passionflower, hydrangea, iris flowers

Leo

Marigold & Sunflower

Safflower (Carthamus), croton, Joseph’s coat (Codiaeum), marigold, gerbera, crocosmia, dahlia, clivia, sunflower

Virgo

Bright small flower e.g. Buttercup

Monkshood (Aconitum), hypericum (St John’s wort), chrysanthemum, eucalyptus, veronica, violet, ivy, thistle flowers

Libra

Bluebells & large Rose Flowers

Chincherinchee (Ornithogalum), Moluccella (bells of Ireland), Cymbidium orchid, gardenia, tea roses, tuberose, freesia, gladiolus flowers

Scorpio

Dark red flowers e.g. Geraniums

Venus fly trap (Dionaea), Alpinia (pink ginger), Amaranthus (love lies bleeding), red hot poker (Kniphofia), hibiscus, peony, cactus, anthurium flowers

Sagittarius

Carnation Flowers

Eremurus (foxtail lily), eustoma (lisianthus), Liatris (blazing star), carnation, crocus, muscari, berried plants, allium flowers

Capricorn

Pansy & Ivy Flowers

Statice, holly, African violet, ivy, philodendron, kentia palm, snowdrop, jasmine flowers

Aquarius

Orchid Flowers

Eryngium (sea holly), arum lily (Zantedeschia), bird of paradise (Strelitzia), pitcher plant (Sarracenia), banksia, protea, yucca, aloe flowers

Pisces

Water Lily Flowers

Madonna lily (Lilium candidum), Euphorbia marginata, Cyperus (papyrus), stephanotis, jasmine, lilac, narcissus, gypsophila flower

 

 

 

 

 

You may want to choose your flowers by your birth month.

January  –  Carnations and Snowdrops

February–  Violets and Primrose

March    –  Daffodils and Jonquils

April      –  Daisies and Sweet peas

May        –  Lily of the valley and Hawthorn

June        –  Roses and Honeysuckles

July         –  Larkspur and Water lily

August   –  Gladiolus and Poppies

September –  Aster and Morning Glory

October –  Marigolds and Cosmos

November –  Chrysanthemum

December –  Narcissus and Holly

Flowers that symbolise marriage:

American Linden: – Matrimony

Ivy Geranium: – For the bride

Orange Flowers: – Bridal festivities

Pea: – Happy Marriage

Peony: – Happy Marriage

Safflower: – Marriage – Welcome

Stephonitis: – Weddings

 

Flowers that symbolise love:

Ambrosia: – Love returned

Anthurium (Flamingo flower): – The Heart

Azalea: – Love and romance

Cabbage Rose: – Ambassador of love

Coreopsis: -Love at first sight

Forget-Me-Not: – True Love

Myrtle: – Love

Philodendron: – Loving tree

Purple Lilac: –

Red Catchfly: – Youthful love

Red Chrysanthemum: – “I love”

Red Tulip: – Declaration of love

Rose: – Love

Rosehips: – The fruits of loveDo you have a favourite colour?

You may choose your flowers by colour.

Wedding flowers do not have to match  the decor, but you should choose blooms that compliment the colour palette of your surroundings and be bold with your colours.

Look at the colour of your invitations, bridesmaids and groomsmen outfits, linens and more.

Don’t forget the seasons

Choosing flowers that are seasonal

May make your flowers more readily available and gives you and the florist an opportunity to get creative with your bouquets and decorations.

Spring: In season are delicate anemones, ranunculus, mixed with garden roses and textures of greenery, lily of the valley,sweet peas, tulips and lilacs.

All white bouquets feature heavily too or in late spring deep berry and lime.

Summer: Early summer blousy peony and garden roses. Scented sweet peas , ammi, sweet william, delphiniums, freesias and hydrangeas.

Mid-summer: Dahlias are in season to incorporate into your bouquets. Dahlias photograph exceptionally well and come in  a variety of colours.

Autumn: Subtle Autumn colour of soft rusts, toffee roses and mellows, dahlias, gladioli, gerberas, Hypericum berry, delphiniums, sunflowers,and poppies are in season  . Dried flowers can be incorporated here also.
Add fruit and candles to your reception tables to continue the theme.

Winter:  For a decadent opulent winter look, rich deep burgundy or reds with blue viburnum berries and thistle is a beautiful combination or berried ivy, hyacinth, pussy willow, amaryllis and christmas rose (not related to christmas) can be used.

 

What can you do with your flowers after the event to be as Eco friendly as you can be.

  • Have a bouquet station at your wedding so guests can take a bunch of your flowers home.

  • Re-purpose them for your home.

  • Donate your flowers – to Nursing homes, Shelters, Companies in your local area. Ask for permission beforehand, so you can donate them after your wedding.

  • Dry your flowers

  • Press your flowers in glass – A beautiful way to create an art piece to remember your wedding day

  • Make your own candles, add some flowers into the wax or wax dip your flowers.

  • Make pot pourri.

  • Turn them into jewellery- A special way to remember your day with options to gift pieces to your bridal party, friends and family or jewellery pieces to be passed on as heirlooms.

  • Remember your loved ones – This is an opportunity to share your wedding with the friends and family that are no longer with you.

  • Create flower letters

  • Turn your flowers into confetti .

Recipe for confetti – courtesy of Upwaltham Barns

  1. Get your flowers

  2. Free the petals from the stem

  3. Line a microwave safe plate with a paper towel

  4. Place the petals in a single layer try to space them out

  5. Cover the layer of petals with a paper towel place on top

  6. Place the plate in the microwave and heat on high until all the petals are no longer damp to touch ( you will need to experiment with timings – 30 second increments).

  7. Remove from the microwave, check the petals are all dry and store in a sealed container ready to use for the next wedding or celebration.

How much do you need? This is an estimate not an exact amount.

Measured in a one litre measuring jug.

One litre provides about five or six large handfuls.

For 60 guests – estimate 12litres

100 guests – estimate 20litres

140 guests – estimate 28litres

       Note:

  • This estimate measurement is for dried rose petals.

  • Smaller flowers will require a smaller volume.

  • Red petals may stain clothes if they get damp.

  • An estimate to scatter dried or fresh petals along a 14 metre aisle is half a litre per metre.

Here are a few flowers supposedly said to have a negative meaning and association:

Begonia – Beware

Tansy – Hostile thoughts

Striped Carnation – Refusal

White Poppy – Consolation

Chrysanthemum – Symbol of death

Gladiolus – Strength and character

Forget-me-not – Remembrance

The White Stargazer Lily – Considered to be the saddest flower

White Carnations – Deep sorrow, sadness and respect.

Would you think twice about choosing these?

 

I hope the flowers speak to you and you find this blog helpful when choosing your flowers or maybe  ideas to choose something like a paper bouquet or adding something personal to you into your flower bouquet .

Let me know what you think or leave a comment on:  rita@chameleonceremonies.com

https://www.instagram.com/chameleonceremonies

https://www.facebook.com/chameleonceremonies

 

References and sources:

The Old Farmers Almanac
Modern Wedding
Hannah Baker
Impressed by Nature
Fantastic Blooms
Nancy Matia
Benna Crawford
www.brides.com
Ceremonies in France – Gaynor McKernan
Pickup Flowers
Upwaltham Barns
Bloom Beads
Raven Caldera & Tannin Schwartzstein

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