A BRIEF HISTORY
OF WEDDING FLOWERS
During the Victorian Era the
Bridal Bouquet was composed of carefully selected Flowers and
Foliage to express
the Bride’s sentiment and emotion. A variety of
Flowers were used, but the Bridal Bouquet was almost always
white and tied with a pastel ribbon. Her Bouquet may
have been constructed as a composite design of small groups
of Flowers tied with Ribbons. After the Ceremony, the
Bride would give each Bridesmaid a Flower from her Bouquet. When
the Ribbon was untied, each Bridesmaid received a small Bouquet. The
Bridesmaid who found a Gold Ring hidden in her Bouquet would
become the next Bride.
The
Posy, or Tussie Mussie originated during the Victorian
Era. This design was so petite;
the Bride held it in one hand along with an embroidered lace
handkerchief. Toward
the end of the Victorian era, the Bridal Bouquet became more
elaborate. By the end of the 1880’s, the Bouquets
had become so large, the Bride often carried a white prayer
book at the Ceremony and left the Bouquet to be held during
the Reception. The “Shower Bouquet” cascaded
almost to the Bride’s feet and weighed as much as 10
to 15 pounds.
During
the postwar years, the Bouquet transformed into more angular
and geometric shapes. During the 1960’s
and 1970’s, the Bouquet took on a more organic and
natural look. The Bride often wore flowers in her Hair
instead of a Veil.
Of
course one of the most memorable Weddings in our Lifetime
will always be that of Lady Diana Spencer to Prince Charles
in 1981. She carried a large cascading Bouquet of
Roses and Stephanotis, which then set the trend for the
1980’s
era. More recently the Bridal Bouquet has maintained
a garden influence which has resulted in many Brides choosing
the hand tied design.
For
better or worse, for richer or poorer, in war and peace,
Bridal Bouquets are constantly
reinvented. Flowers will
always symbolize Love, Happiness and Hope as couples unite
in Marriage and begin their new Life together.
Photo:
Karen Vickers |
Choosing a Florist
Determining
the floral theme for a Wedding can be an overwhelming chore. Choosing
the proper Florist will make that chore less stressful
and more enjoyable for You. The following
list details helpful things to consider when you are
searching for a Florist.
1. Hire a Florist at least 6 to 9 months prior
to your Wedding date. Preferably 9 months
if it is June or October or near a holiday.
2. Ask
your Florist if certain Flowers are in season year round
or what the availability will be.
3. At
your first meeting with the Florist you will need a
picture/photo
of your Gown and bridesmaid dresses. A
fabric swatch should also be provided.
4. Ask
to see photos of the Florists designs.
5. Ask
the Florist about their experience
and how many Weddings they have
designed.
6. What
will the Florist require for a Deposit and when will
the balance be due?
7. How
flexible is the Florist with changes to your order?
8. Will
the Florist have any other Weddings on the same day
as yours?
9. Do
they offer Rental Items?
10. The
Florist should be a Good Listener and Advisor. More
importantly you
should feel comfortable at your first
meeting with the florist.
The Florist should make you feel “special”,
because you are.
11. Will
the Florist work with
the baker, if Cake Flowers
are desired?
Photo:
Karen Vickers |
Basic Flower Facts
Everyone
is aware that Flowers need a Water source. Some flowers
need more
than others do. In the popular Hand-Tied Design
most flowers will
survive and remain beautiful throughout your Wedding
day. Always
keep the flowers in a vase of water when they are not
in use. This will help keep them fresh
throughout the
day and looking beautiful for the Ceremony. Some
flowers to consider
not using would be the Hydrangea, Lily, Orchid and Tulip. Depending
on the outside
temperature, these flowers are
prone to Wilting
and Browning.
Of
course any flower will remain beautiful
throughout
the day
if they are designed
in a Bouquet
holder. This
provides the flowers
a constant water
source. The
Bouquet Holder
also “Shows
Off” the
Flowers in a more
dramatic way versus
the Hand-Tied method,
which basically
shows a Frontal
View of the Flowers.
Photo:
Karen Vickers |
Ceremony
Flowers
Many
Churches or Ceremonial sites have specific rules that
the Bride must
adhere to when it comes to Flowers. When
you have
decided your Ceremony location, ask for a list
of rules. Most
of your
vendors will be glad
you did.
Some valuable
information
to obtain
after choosing your
Ceremony
location:
1. Will there be a Service prior to your Ceremony?
2. What
time will you and your Vendors be allowed in
the Church for preparation?
3. Does
the
church provide an Aisle Runner and
if
not, what is the length of the aisle?
4. Does
the
church have Candelabras
or
Pew Candles for your use?
5. Will
you
be permitted to remove floral
arrangements
from
Ceremony to take
to
the reception?
6. Does
the
church allow Flower
Petals
to be scattered
down
the aisle?
7. Does
the
church provide any
Altar
Vases and
can
you use them?
8. Are
Pew
Decorations allowed and
do
they require a certain method
for
attachment?
9. Is
a
Unity Candle permitted and
where
will it
be
located on the Altar?
10. Will there be a Wedding Coordinator
at the Ceremony to help with Corsage and Boutonniere pinning? If
not,
you will need to appoint
someone
to
take on this duty.
Photo:
Karen Vickers |
Reception
Most
Brides are finding that Reception venues offer on site
Centerpieces
included in the cost. However, if your
site doesn’t provide them you will need
to consider what type of Centerpiece you want
for your guest tables and the Wedding
party table. Some of the Ceremony arrangements
can be taken to the Reception, which proves
to be more cost effective. The
Bridal attendants Bouquets can also be placed
on the Wedding Party Table or placed around
the Cake. Centerpiece designs
can be simple to elaborate. Prices
will vary depending on the
Design
and if Rental items are
desired.
Your
Wedding Day is
one of the most
important events
you will
ever plan
in your Life.
The planning stages
can be overwhelming
and stressful
at times. The above tips and suggestions
will help you in many ways in choosing
your Florist and Flowers for your special
day. Because it is one of the most
Special Days in your Life, you should be
treated Special by every Florist
you have consultations with. Since
Flowers are such an important
factor
in a Wedding, remember to
feel comfortable
with the Florist you choose.
Photo:
Karen Vickers |
The
Meaning of Common Bridal Flowers
Alstroemeria—Aspiring
Baby’s
Breath—Festivity
Calla
Lily—Aristrocratic,
regal
Carnation—Distinction
Daisy—Loyalty
Delphinium—Boldness
Freesia—Spirited
Gardenia—Joy
Hydrangea—A
boaster, heartlessness
Iris—Faith,
hope,wisdom,valor
Lisianthus—Calming
Lily
(white)—Purity, sweetness
Orchid—Rare
Beauty
Peony—happy
marriage
Rose
(red)—Passionate Love
Rose
(white)—Purity
Rose
(yellow)—Decrease of love,
jealousy
Rose
(pink)—Friendship
Snapdragon—Presumption
Statice—Success
Stephanotis—Good
Luck
Sunflower—Haughtiness
Sweet
Pea—Blissful pleasure
Tulip—Fame
