The Evolution of the Wedding Bouquet

Flower arrangements have been used as décor for centuries. The earliest evidence of formal floral arrangements comes from ancient Egypt, where there were often depictions of flowers like the lotus, iris, anemone, and narcissus as well as herbs and palms. Similar arrangements were first used for bridal bouquets in ancient Greece and Rome, though they looked different from the bouquets of today. In Greece, these bouquets included olive branches and herbs to honor Hera, the goddess of marriage and fertility, as well as orange blossoms. In Rome, the arrangements were similar but often contained roses, thyme, basil, and marjoram to honor the gods, ward off evil, and entice good luck. Flower arrangements in this era were often garlands meant to symbolize the bride's fertility as well as a union built on trust and fidelity. In some places, brides wore circlets made with locally grown flowers, and it was common for both brides and grooms to wear circlets or wreaths created out of greenery.

• The Flowers of Ancient Egypt and Today
• Lucky Flowers to Use in Wedding Arrangements
• Roman Marriages

By the Middle Ages, wedding flowers changed from being garlands to collections of herbs held by the bride, often including garlic, spices, and dill. These plants were chosen not only to fend off any evil spirits or bad luck that might befall the bride and groom or their guests but also because dill was an aphrodisiac that could be served during the wedding dinner. Like in ancient times, these bouquets may look different from the ones popular today, but medieval Europe did one thing with their bouquets that is common to this today: the bouquet toss. Wedding guests believed that everything the bride touched was imbued with good luck, and it was common for guests to tear off bits and pieces of the wedding dress, the bride's hair, or her bouquet in the hopes that her good luck would rub off. To mitigate this, and likely to divert attention from themselves, brides would throw the bouquet at the crowd. Over time, tossing the bouquet began to symbolize that the person who catches it next would be the next in line to be married.

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During the Elizabethan era, flowers were more abundant, and wedding bouquets became much more popular. Flowers began to take on a larger part in weddings during this time. The traditional herbs were replaced by floral nosegays and sachets. Bridesmaids also carried bouquets during this time and might be put in charge of creating decorative bouquets for the guests as well. Elizabethan brides also wore a wedding garland, which would be carried until the ceremony ended and then placed on the bride's head.

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• Elizabethan Wedding Customs
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Bouquets of all kinds skyrocketed in popularity during the Victorian era as floriography became popular. Floriography is the association of certain flowers and plants with particular meanings, and today, it's more commonly known as the Victorian flower language. People were so taken by this practice that it became ingrained in high society, and many books were dedicated to explaining what each flower meant as well as botany in general. Victorians paid careful attention to the flowers they put in their bouquets in order to send messages with their flowers, and Queen Victoria was no different. Her use of flowers in her wedding inspired the tradition of the royal wedding bouquet. Queen Victoria used a wide variety of cut and blooming plants in her ceremony and carried a lavish bouquet filled with symbolism. Her bouquet contained myrtle, which was meant to represent the love goddesses Aphrodite and Venus, and creamy white blossoms that symbolized beauty, fidelity, passion, and true love. Most British royal wedding bouquets have used a sprig of myrtle from the same plant ever since. These royal weddings have changed the way people in the western world use flowers in their wedding ceremonies, and now, wedding bouquets of all kinds are commonplace.

• The Language of Flowers
• Victorian Flower Language
• Royal Wedding Flowers
• Floriography: The Language of Flowers
• Royal Brides All Carry One Flower From Victoria
• The Meaning Behind Princess Kate's Bouquet
• Meghan Markle's Royal Wedding Bouquet

This article was published by Chad Kremp