A tradition that will never change is the brides bouquet. For thousands of years every bride has worn or carried some kind of flower of herb. It is almost like time has stood still with the bridal bouquet. Flowers and fruit were used to trim for the celebrations of weddings and this tradition carries on today. The beliefs and fears of the earliest people found them using garlic and other items to ward off the evil sprits. There are so many unusual stories from these times that it would take pages to explain. I suppose that we still do carry some of those old traditions with us even today without really knowing the true meaning.

The most romantic time in the history of the flower is the Victorian era. For years lovers wrote poems and notes to each other to express their feelings. It was in this time period that the flower gained new meaning. Gentlemen started sending their lady friends flowers to express affection. Each flower had a meaning . A floral dictionary was written by Elizabeth Wirt in l829. Lovers now could send flowers and let the receiver know what the message was by the meaning of the flower. The only problem was that some of the dictionaries gave different interpretation of the meanings of the flowers and this gave the whole language of flowers a wonderful mysterious translation..

The Victorians gave us a wonderful way to present the flower. Small clusters of flowers that were tied or put into a gold holder were called Tussy Mussy. Lace and ribbons were incorporated into the bouquets. The language of the flower became a romantic way of sending a message to a lover. Today the Victorian way still brings on the emotional value of the flower. The white rose, which is used so commonly in the bridal bouquet, means love, joy and beauty.

The white bouquet has been a tradition since Queen Victoria’s wedding in l840. Lilies and roses are among the top choices for white bouquets. Lily of the valley make a beautiful white spring bouquet. The fragrance of stephanotis is always a favorite of mine. Its tender flowers make a beautiful white bouquet. There are numerous white flowers that can be mixed for texture and fragrance. The most popular include orchids, calla lilies, gardenias, tulips, hydrangeas, peonies, freesias, lilacs, and the wonderful madonna lilies. A large cluster of calla lilies makes a dramatic bouquet.

Of course with the turn of the century brides have begun to go out on a limb, choosing wild colorful bouquets for themselves. Yellows, reds, oranges, purples and hot pinks have become a way of showing the new millennium bride is a free sprit. Times have changed since the Victorian days and the traditional white bouquet is fast becoming a thing of the past. There will always be the brides who choose the traditional traditions. Keeping a little of the past and blending it with the future has created a wonderful new look.

Combining colors has become a challenge for the florist as well. It opens up a whole new array of the choice of flowers. Blending colors and textures takes a clever mind and hand.

Smaller, hand tied bouquets are now the rage and look lovely with every gown. Keeping the bouquet small lets the eyes of your guests view your dress. You bought the dress so that everyone could see it. Why cover it up with a large bouquet. Nosegays and tussy mussy are again making a comeback, especially for Mothers. The traditional corsages are losing their stand. The arm bouquet is also something that has come back into the picture.

Silk flowers are also an option. Touching is the only way to tell them apart from fresh. Boutonnieres and corsages can also be created with silk flowers. They are much more durable, and will not wilt, fade or dry up. They are a practical choice for anyone with allergies. You will also have them for a lifetime.

No matter what kind of flowers you choose for your bouquet ,you will be adding a special touch to your day. Have some fun and look up what each flower means and pick something that is special to you and your groom. It will make your day a more memorable one.

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