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 Congratulations! You have found the man of your dreams and are getting
married. What a wonderful time in your life – full of promise, hope,
and happiness. Can you think of a better way to express these emotions
than through flowers? A wedding would just not be the same without
wedding flowers.
The
Tradition of Wedding Flowers
Carrying
flowers by the bride is not something new; it actually has its roots in
ancient times. Strong smelling herbs and spices were used to keep away
evil spirits during the wedding celebration. Later, during the Roman era,
flowers were used to symbolize fertility. Eventually, flowers were given
different meanings and used as a way of sending “love notes” in the form
of bouquets. Soon, the tradition of the meaning of each flower trickled
down and was adopted for the bride’s bouquet.
By
tradition, the groom wears a flower that appears in the bridal bouquet in
his buttonhole. This custom originates from the Medieval tradition of a
knight wearing his lady's colors as a declaration of love.
So it
seems that a wedding without flowers is like, well, it’s like a garden
without flowers!
So Many
Choices
Have you
ever considered how many different kinds of flowers there are? Hundreds of
beautiful blooms are available to create the romantic elegance your
wedding deserves. You may even feel like author Phoebe Cary, who said, “I
know not which I love the most, Nor which the comeliest shows, The timid,
bashful violet Or the royal-hearted rose: The pansy in purple dress, The
pink with cheek of red, Or the faint, fair heliotrope, who hangs, Like a
bashful maid her head.” So, how do you choose?
One way
is to consider the different meanings of the flowers and create a bouquet
that is not only beautiful to the eye, but also meaningful to the heart.
Another way is to consider the time of year. Many flowers are more common
during one season than another, so finding off-season flowers may be
difficult!
Based on
tradition, here are some of the more popular wedding bouquet flowers and
what they mean, along with when they are in season:
* Red
Rose – Love, All Year
* White Rose - Unity, All Year
* Yellow Rose - Joy, All Year
* Orange Rose - Passion, All Year
* Pink Rose - Secret Love, or Grace & Sweetness, All Year
* Alstroemeria - Devotion, All Year
* Baby's Breath - Innocence, All Year
* Calla Lily - Magnificent Beauty, March through September
* Carnation - Devoted Love, All Year
* Daisy - Innocence & Romance, All Year
* Ivy - Fidelity, Marriage, All Year
* Lily Of The Valley - Happiness, March through September
* Myrtle - Joy , All Year
* Orchid - Love & Beauty, All Year
* Stephanotis - Marital Happiness, All Year
* Tulips - Love & Passion, January through April
* Zinnia - Affection, All Year
The best
way to get the right flowers is to choose the right florist and one of the
best ways to find a good florist is by word of mouth. If the florist's
service and work comes highly recommended, chances are they will do a good
job for you. Select a florist that listens to you and really grasps the
look and feel you want. Be open to the florist's ideas and suggestions. In
the long run, it will be the value of their experience, talent, and
expertise that you have purchased.
Don’t
Forget the Flowers for the…
In
addition to flowers for the wedding party and family members, you will
need flowers for the church, arrangements for the reception tables, head
table, and guest book table. You may even want flowers for the cake and a
small bouquet for the ladies' room. To make sure you don’t forget any of
your floral needs, here is a list of possibilities:
* Flowers
for the Bridal Party
* Bride's Bouquet
* Maid/Matron of Honor
* Mother of the Bride
* Mother of the Groom
* Bridesmaids
* Flower Girl
* Grandmothers
* Groom
* Best Man
* Father of the Bride
* Father of the Groom
* Ushers
* Ring Bearer
* Grandfathers
Flowers
for the Wedding Ceremony
* Altar
Arrangements
*Aisle Markers
* Candelabras
* Aisle Runner
* Canopy or Archway
* Kneeling Bench
Flowers
for the Reception
* Bridal
Table
* Cake Table
* Guest Table
* Buffet Table
* Bandstand
* Gift Table
* Guest Book Table
* Bouquet to Throw
Fresh
flowers underline the importance and elegance of your wedding day. They
enhance any setting and can literally transform an average looking room
into a beautiful scene. If you've planned well, your flowers will be
exactly what you want, and you'll be free to focus on what your day is all
about.
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