Why does a bride carry a floral bouquet? Old Traditions and New Trends (2024)

FAQs

Why does a bride carry a floral bouquet? Old Traditions and New Trends? ›

The custom of having a bridal bouquet dates back to ancient times when woman would carry strong herbs and spices from reasons such as warding off evil spirits to creating lust and fertility. Flower girls

The bride carries a bouquet as a tradition that dates back to ancient times. It was originally done to ward off evil spirits, mask body odors, and symbolize fertility and happiness.

The History. The tradition of the bouquet toss started in England in the 1800s and was created to bestow luck upon the guests. Single women were desperate to catch the bouquet as marriage was the only way to bring a woman and her family out of poverty, meaning it was seen more as a necessity, rather than a romantic act ...

After the 'I dos' or when the reception party is coming to an end, all the single women in the wedding party gather and the bride tosses the bouquet over her shoulder. The woman who catches the bouquet is said to be 'next in line for marriage'.

Another big reason brides originally started carrying bouquets centuries ago was because of the perfume of the flowers, which masked their body odor (you know, back when bathing wasn't such a frequent occurrence) or the surrounding smell of death during the plague.

BRIDAL BOUQUET MEANING

Wedding bouquet is considered to bring happiness and satisfaction in marriage, while the ribbon with which the bouquet is tied with symbolizes fellowship. Tradition of wearing decorations (usually made of same flowers) on groom's lapel first appeared in the Middle Ages.

The maid of honor.

This is by far the most popular choice. After all, one of the MOH's main responsibilities is to help the bride before, during, and after the wedding. Hand it to her at the start of the ceremony and let her keep it until after your first kiss.

These aromatic bouquets were thought to ward off evil spirits and ensure a prosperous future for the newlyweds. Similarly, in ancient Greece, brides carried aromatic herbs and flowers to symbolize fidelity, happiness, and fertility—essential elements for a successful marriage.

When Someone Receives Flowers, They Feel Loved. Flowers are often seen as a symbol of love and affection, and when someone is given a bouquet, it's a sign that they are loved and appreciated. Flowers can make anyone feel warm and fuzzy inside, and they are the perfect way to show someone that you care about them.

Flower meanings put together

The calla lilies represent beauty, the white roses express pure love, and the peonies convey good luck. The baby's breath accents also help capture the overall theme for any bridal bouquet: everlasting devotion. The white color scheme lets the bouquet feel innocent, bright, and clean.

Do brides keep their bouquet? ›

This is entirely up to preference. If the person who catches the bouquet wants to keep it (and the bride wants to give it up), they totally can. If not, many newlyweds opt to either give their arrangements to guests as favors or donate the flowers to a charity the next day.

As superstition has it today, the lady who catches the bouquet and the man who catches the garter will be the next two to get married. This doesn't necessarily mean to each other, but it is a fun idea.

While the origin of the bridesmaids carrying flowers tradition is not clear, it's assumed that they originally served similar purposes to a bridal bouquet: bringing luck and good fortune, decoration, and a general sense of romance.

You cannot go wrong with white wedding flowers – they always look good against a colored dress. Or go with a monochromatic color scheme and use flowers that are shades of the color of your wedding dress.

This is entirely up to preference. If the person who catches the bouquet wants to keep it (and the bride wants to give it up), they totally can. If not, many newlyweds opt to either give their arrangements to guests as favors or donate the flowers to a charity the next day.