We are all familiar with the tradition of the bride carrying a bouquet of flowers on her wedding day, but where did the tradition start?
The first wedding bouquets were not made with flowers at all, but instead were composed of herbs. It was thought that evil spirits would be repelled by their strong aroma. Dill would be included in the mix because it was thought to promote lust! It was also consumed for these alleged properties. In the Tudor era, another substance thought to put brides in the mood for love was marigolds, which were gilded and dipped in rosewater.
Some brides choose the flowers in their bouquet based on that flower's particular meaning. For example, crocuses are a symbol of joy, ivy means fidelity, and violets indicate modesty. Red and white roses (chosen by many brides) mean "I love you" and "You're heavenly", respectively. Women who choose orange blossoms are demonstrating their hope for fertility and happiness in their marriage by their choice.
Queen Victoria carried a bouquet of snowdrops on her wedding day because they were Prince Albert's favorite flowers. Another royal bride, Princess Grace, gave careful though to the type of flowers she wanted for her wedding. Her choice? Lilies-of-the-valley, which symbolize purity.
Brides today are truly fortunate in that they have the freedom to include any color or type of flower that they like in in their wedding party's bouquets and boutonnières. Altar flowers and decoration for the reception can be had in almost any color. Long gone are the days when one had to worry about what was "in season" at the time of the wedding. Hopefully, brides don't have to worry about trying to keep evil spirits at bay, either!
Jodee Redmond
http://paranormal.suite101.com
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