Brides Bouquets Weddings & Whimsies!

16 Nov Brides Bouquets Weddings & Whimsies!

How does a bride choose her bouquet flowers?

I love it when brides send me pictures of the accessories which, along with her celebrant – me, 

contributes to making her day exclusive, amazing and very special. From their dresses to table decorations, the rings and the cake! But what I love most is when they send me pictures of their flowers. I love flowers and adore having them around the house, and blooming in my garden, but how do I choose them? Yellow roses for my mum’s vase for unconditional love, fragrant lilies in the living room for their gorgeous perfume; I love freesias in the hall for their decadence and sweet scent, and of course holly, ivy and poinsettia at Christmas time.

Bouquet from That Finishing Touch – Party and Event Styling Find them on Facebook: @Thatfinishingtouchx

This got me thinking about how brides choose their bouquets. Both the Duchess of Sussex and the Duchess of Cambridge chose Lilly of the valley which were also included in Princess Diana’s bouquet. Kate also had a sprig of sweet William. Meghan included sweet peas, jasmine and astrantia, all handpicked by Harry from the Kensington Palace gardens. Queen Victoria began a tradition of including myrtle into the royal bouquets, and this continues today with all royal brides including it; myrtle symbolises hope and love making it poignant for any bride.

Duchess of Cambridge’s Bouquet by Shane Connolly and Duchess of Sussex Bouquet by Phillipa Craddock

Floriography

In the Victorian era when communication was stifled, floriography,

or the language of flowers, was a way of covertly secreting messages, maybe to an illicit lover or friend. Etiquette often forbid inappropriate contact, maybe with someone outside of your class or social status, floriography circumnavigated these strict regimes. Queen Victoria herself adored flowers, their hidden messages, and how they could be used to express emotions. Azaleas for passion, red roses for love, peonies for honour and devotion, eucalyptus for healing and good health. Asters can also symbolise love as does a pink carnation, and sunflowers, in all their glory, symbolise adoration and dedication.

Some firm favourites of mine are astrantia which symbolises strength and courage, with its petite star shaped flower it would complement any bridal bouquet. Calla lilies symbolising beauty, purity and innocence, whilst gypsophila indicates everlasting love. Patriotic brides may choose to include flowers symbolising their homelands, daffodils for the Welsh bride, red or white rose for the English bride, Buttonhole from a thistle for a Scottish bride and a sprig of shamrock for the Irish bride.

Buttonholes

We shouldn’t forget buttonholes here either, as guests could also honour the happy

couple with their choices. Traditionally worn by the men on the left lapel of their suits, and usually in-keeping with the colour palette of the wedding, the symbolism of your choice can also reflect the lovely couple. Corsages, usually  worn by the ladies, can also be chosen with love and reflect the bride and groom whose union you are coming together to celebrate.

Buttonhole from http://the-wild-flower-shop.co.uk/weddings/buttonholes%20%26%20corsages.html

The Language of Trees

Trees also carry powerful symbols. I am currently working on a tree ceremony and the happy couple have chosen Japanese maple, symbolising grace, peace and serenity, known in Japan as kito meaning calmful rest. I’m having such fun researching this ceremony and have learnt so much, us celebrants love on going professional development! There will be lots of added surprises for this festival going, fun loving couple I can’t wait to share more about their ceremony in a future blog, but rest assured it is unique personal, colourful, funky and fun!

If any of you are considering a tree ceremony, I’m happy to chat with you further. Many of our native British trees carry powerful symbolism, such as wisteria for love, oak for power and courage, cherry for love and romance, birch equals new beginnings, whilst elm symbolises intuition and knowledge. Lilac is given on the 8th anniversary, its Botanical name is Syringa, Greek in origin, and named after a beautiful nymph. Blossoming in spring it epitomises the changing of our seasons, with the purple flower symbolising first love and the white blooms for youthful innocence.

Whimsical Bouquets

If you fancy something more whimsical take a look on Etsy, I found these two stunners, one made from crystals, the other buttons! By Crystal Wedding UK & Pumpkin and Pye.

A celebrant led ceremony, whether it is to celebrate new beginnings for happy couples or celebrating the end of a life, are always heart-led, personal, exclusive and unique. I work with you to create a personalised celebration of love and commitment turning your magical moments into magical memories.

Poppies growing on a battle field in a Belgian field inspired Lieutenant Colonel John McRae to write ‘In Flanders Field’. This ultimately led to the poppy being adopted as the flower of remembrance. Poppies have long since captured the imagination of many an artist and poet, often found growing on verges and other humble and unlikely places. Besides its medicinal qualities it carries very potent symbolism, sleep and recovery, condolences, beauty and success, among a few. Its seeds are edible, and useful in a variety of cakes, pastries, bread and can be pressed for poppyseed oil. Poppies are universally recognised, and they carry different symbolism for a variety of countries, but always for remembrance.

Ending with poppies is poignant for me today as I write this on the 11th day of the 11th month, and it’s rightly fitting that I mention royal bouquets once more. The Queen Mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Diana, Sarah Ferguson, Kate and more recently Meghan did not throw their bouquets, nor did they donate them to hospitals, they all chose to lay their wedding flowers upon the grave of the unknown soldier in Westminster Abbey.

With Love KB