There are many traditions associated with getting married; from the bride and groom staying apart the night before to the bride having something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. Another tradition is the bride carrying a beautiful bouquet of flowers down the aisle. But, have you ever wondered why they do this? Read on to discover where the tradition of carrying a bouquet came from.
This custom stems from ancient times when a bouquet was carried to ward off evil spirits. These bouquets were a lot different from the ones carried today. It wasn’t always an attractively arranged bunch of flowers. Very pungent spices and herbs were incorporated, such as marigolds, dill, and even garlic. It was believed that these strong-smelling herbs would defend against back luck, ill health, and evil spirits.
The Romans then carried on this tradition, as both the man and the woman would wear a garland that was made of spices and herbs, as they believed this would bring fertility and good luck. Traditional Celtic bouquets were different from this, as they incorporated heather, thistle, and ivy.
However, the tradition of carrying a bouquet continued to evolve. It was in Turkey that the wedding bouquet we have all come to know and love today took form. This is because the flower language was developed here, and so couples started to choose flowers that were meaningful to them. This is something that was adopted in the Victorian era, although edible flowers were still very much a part of the bouquet. Nowadays, no one really wants to eat their wedding bouquet! Instead, we would like to hold onto it for a memento, which is why silk flower bouquets and floral preservation are now so popular.
Shopping Tips
While working with a professional florist is ideal, there are many reasons to buy your wedding bouquet online that may be better for you. Not only will you have a much greater selection to choose from, as you don’t have to work around particular flowers being out of season, but also you will be able to make some great savings too. But, before you dash off to make your purchase, read on to discover some top tips.
Of course you want to begin shopping for your bouquet as soon as possible. But before you do, there are some things you and your partner need to decide on first, such as the theme and style of your wedding, what you will wear, what your partner will wear, as well as your bridesmaid dresses and flower girl dresses, and groomsmen attire. Then you can determine the type of flowers you want to buy, and begin the shopping process.
If you opt for silk flower bouquets, they will never lose their beauty, unlike fresh blooms, and so buying in advance can minimize the stress as it gets closer to your special day. It also gives you time to send them back and buy a new bouquet if for some reason you are not happy with the flowers you have received.
This leads to the next tip perfectly; choose a company that has a good returns policy in place. You want to be confident that you can get your money back if you are not satisfied.
Another piece of advice is to look for feedback that has been left by previous customers, as this will give you a good indication as to whether they have been happy with the flowers they received. You should also choose a company that offers free delivery, as this will help you to keep your costs down.
Photo Credit: Flora Westbrook from Pexels
* This is a contributed post
I hope you found this information useful!
Hearts, Joy, Love!
Jean
For planning help and unique ideas for your wedding call or text me at 937-581-3647, or email me at [email protected]!
