History of Wedding Flowers

The Use of Flowers and Herbs in Weddings Throughout the Centuries

Dec 27, 2008 Sharon Falsetto

Many flowers and herbs have been used for weddings throughout the centuries; although wedding flowers have a long history of use, originally herbs were more common.

The ancient Greeks are credited with the first recorded use of wedding flowers; it was more common to use herbs in a bridal bouquet than it is today. Bridal bouquets were originally formed from interwoven garlands and wreaths which were placed on the heads of both bride and groom. Herbs such as Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and Marjoram (Origanum marjorana) were common in the bridal crowns of Greek brides, as well as other herbs, bulbs and garlic.

The Meaning of Herbs in a Bridal Bouquet

Many herbs were believed to have magical powers to ward off evil spirits and bad luck and were used to protect the future of the bridal couple. Dill (Anethum graveolens) was said to be the herb of lust and a bride would only lust after her husband if she carried Dill and garlic together; Sage (Salvia officinalis) was believed to be a herb of wisdom and the bride who carried Sage and garlic together was believed to learn goodness and gather great wisdom.

The Use of Wedding Flowers in a Kissing Knot

A Kissing Knot was made from tying Roses (Rosa damascena) and Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) together; it was then hung from the ceiling over the head table of the reception, where the bride and groom would sit. A kissing knot was believed to bring love and good luck to both the bridal couple and others sitting at the head table.

The Use of Confetti

Another ancient wedding tradition was the throwing of confetti over the bridal couple. Confetti means sweets in the Italian language but it was common to throw rice, grain, nuts and sweets as well as more traditional flower petals as confetti; the throwing of confetti was meant to symbolize good luck, fertility, riches and sweet experiences for the bridal couple.

The Use of Wedding Flowers in Different Countries

In Medieval times, a knight usually wore a Lady's colors to declare his love for her; many flowers have been used in different countries to symbolize various meanings. In Victorian England, flowers in bridal bouquets were chosen with reference to the Victorian language of flowers. Another common English tradition was for a flower girl to precede the bride on the pathway to the church, scattering flower blossoms; this was said to bless the bride with a lifetime of happiness and flowers.

In India, the bride groom's brother scattered flower petals over the bridal couple at the end of the wedding ceremony to ward off evil spirits. In Sweden, the bride groom traditionally carried Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) in his pockets and the bridesmaids carried bouquets of aromatic herbs to scare away any trolls.

References:

Aromatherapy for Weddings

The copyright of the article History of Wedding Flowers in Botany is owned by Sharon Falsetto. Permission to republish History of Wedding Flowers in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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