The tradition of a bride carrying a bouquet has been a significant part of weddings for centuries. While it may seem like a simple, beautiful accessory, the bridal bouquet holds deep historical significance, cultural symbolism, and modern-day meaning. In this article, we will explore the reasons why brides carry bouquets, tracing the tradition’s origins, evolution, and contemporary relevance.
Summary
Why Does a Bride Carry a Bouquet? The Practical Reasons
Holding Something in Hand
One of the more practical reasons a bride carries a bouquet is simply to have something to do with her hands during the ceremony. Walking down the aisle can be a nerve-wracking experience, and holding a bouquet gives the bride something to focus on, helping to calm her nerves and steady her hands.
Tradition and Continuity
Carrying a bridal bouquet is also a way to honour tradition and connect with the generations of brides who came before. For many, the bouquet is a tangible link to the past, a way to incorporate family history and cultural customs into their wedding day. This continuity of tradition provides a sense of stability and connection to one’s roots.
The Evolution of Bridal Bouquets: From Traditional to Modern
Traditional Bouquets
The traditional bridal bouquet is often round and tightly arranged, featuring classic flowers like roses, lilies, and peonies. These bouquets are elegant and timeless, fitting well with traditional wedding themes and formal settings.
Modern Bouquets
In recent years, brides have embraced more unconventional bouquet styles. Cascading bouquets, asymmetrical arrangements, and bouquets featuring exotic blooms or non-floral elements like feathers, fruits, or succulents have become increasingly popular. These modern bouquets allow brides to express their individuality and creativity, making a bold statement as they walk down the aisle.
Non-Traditional Alternatives
Some brides choose to forgo the traditional bouquet altogether, opting instead for unique alternatives such as a single flower, a bouquet of paper or fabric flowers, or even carrying a meaningful object like a book, a family heirloom, or a lantern. These alternatives can be deeply personal and meaningful, offering a fresh take on the traditional bridal bouquet.
The Symbolism of Flower Choices in Bridal Bouquets
Roses: Love and Passion
Roses are one of the most popular choices for bridal bouquets, symbolising love, passion, and beauty. They are available in a wide range of colours, each with its own meaning. Red roses represent deep love and desire, while white roses symbolise purity and innocence.
Lilies: Purity and Commitment
Lilies are another classic choice for bridal bouquets. Their elegant, trumpet-shaped blooms are associated with purity and commitment. White lilies, in particular, are often used in weddings to symbolise the purity of the bride and the sacredness of the marriage.
Peonies: Prosperity and Happiness
Peonies are prized for their lush, full blooms and are often used in bridal bouquets to symbolize prosperity, happiness, and a happy marriage. In some cultures, peonies are also associated with honour and good fortune, making them a meaningful choice for a wedding bouquet.
Exotic and Unique Flowers
For brides looking to make a statement with their bouquet, exotic flowers like orchids, proteas, or anemones can add a touch of the unexpected. These blooms often symbolise beauty, strength, and resilience, qualities that many brides wish to embody on their wedding day.
Modern-Day Significance of the Bridal Bouquet
Aesthetic Appeal and Personal Expression
Today, the bridal bouquet is often seen as an essential part of a bride’s ensemble, adding beauty, colour, and elegance to the wedding ceremony. Brides select bouquets that complement their wedding theme, dress, and personal style. The bouquet serves as a statement piece that reflects the bride’s personality and taste.
The Symbolic Role of the Bouquet
While the practical and protective reasons for carrying a bridal bouquet have largely faded, the symbolic role of the bouquet remains strong. Many brides choose flowers that hold personal significance, whether it’s a flower that represents their relationship, a family tradition, or a nod to their cultural heritage. The bouquet becomes a symbol of love, commitment, and the couple’s journey together.
Conclusion
The tradition of a bride carrying a bouquet is steeped in history, rich with symbolism, and continues to be an important part of weddings today. From its ancient origins as a protective talisman to its modern role as a symbol of love and beauty, the bridal bouquet has evolved while retaining its significance. Whether a bride chooses a traditional round bouquet, a modern cascading arrangement, or a unique alternative, the bouquet remains a powerful symbol of the love, commitment, and personal expression that define a wedding day.
FAQs About the Bride’s Boquet
What Kinds Of Flowers Should You Use?
This part can be overwhelming, but a lot of the times the kinds of flowers you choose comes down to three things: personal preference, the colour theme of your wedding, and the time of year it’s taking place. Here’s a breakdown of the types that tend to be the most popular.
What Style Of Bouquet Should You Have?
Traditional, loose and organic, basic, or even non-floral bouquets are all appropriate; the key is to find one that the bride and groom are both happy with. It is important that the bride’s bouquet is not too enormous or too tiny for her; otherwise, the bride may feel like she is being smothered by or unable to fully appreciate either the beauty or the symbolism of the flowers.
Should It Complement My Wedding Dress?
Owens says the final design of the bouquet has a lot to do with the design of the gown. “A sleek, clean-lined gown perhaps calls for a more minimal bouquet, so as not to overpower the dress,” she says. “Likewise, a larger ball gown might be able to handle a larger, more elaborate bouquet.”
How Much Does A Bridal Bouquet Typically Cost?
It typically ranges anywhere from $150-$350, but that doesn’t include flowers for everyone else in the wedding party. You can learn more about those additional floral costs here.
How Do I Differentiate Between Bouquets?
Most commonly, brides opt to have their ‘maids carry a slightly smaller version of their bouquet, sometimes designating a certain flower to appear in the bridal bouquet only. You could also choose a variety of blooms for your bouquet and then have each bridesmaid carry a single bloom or a few stems of a single variety. Another great option is to play with colour, either adding tone to your bouquet or having one be quite bright while the other is more muted.
What Should I Do With It After The Wedding?
If you’re attached to your bouquet, look into options for having it preserved. You can press a few of the blooms in a book, dry the flowers and place them in a shadow box, or have a professional preserve it for you. Otherwise, stick the stems in a vase, and pop by your local florist for flower food to add every few days to keep the flowers alive as long as possible. Then relish in the pictures from your photographer.
