The bridal bouquet and it’s interesting history
The beautiful bride will carry her bouquet with her down the isle and it will most certainly be part of many memorable photographs too. When you go to a wedding, there comes a point when all the single ladies line up and prepare to catch the bridal bouquet. The tradition of this bouquet goes back many years. Here’s more about this fascinating history and how these traditions evolved.
Sweet-smelling herbs
Centuries ago, hygiene was not what it is today. Bathing was often reserved for special occasions. As you can imagine, the people of that time did not smell all that great. To make things more pleasant for the bride, she would carry a bouquet of strong-smelling herbs down the isle. If she felt that a bad smell was coming her way, she could tuck her nose discretely into the bouquet instead. The bouquet also made her more appealing to the groom since he could enjoy the scent as well while it amplified her beauty.
Edible arrangements
Later, the bridal bouquet would consist of edible flowers and some herbs, like dill. Dill was included because it was believed to act as an aphrodisiac. Not only would the newly weds eat from the bouquet, but so too would their guests.
A pretty accessory
Over time, the bridal bouquet became less of a practical item and more of an accessory. It was included in the list of arrangements that the couple would order from their florist. So, when placing the order for centrepieces, they would order the bride’s bouquet and smaller ones for her bridesmaids too.
A reflection of her personality
The bridal bouquet is not only selected based on the colour scheme of the wedding. The flowers used and the style of the bouquet will reflect the personality of the bride. Each flower has a meaning so it is important to do some research before choosing a design.
Time to toss it!
Now for the fun part! Tossing the bridal bouquet has been a tradition for many years. It is believed that the bride is lucky to have found her love and now it is time for her to pass that luck on to another lady. She is to toss the bouquet without looking and the single women are to try to catch it. Whoever catches the bouquet is said to be the next to marry. In addition, the groom will remove the bride’s garter and toss it to all the single men. It is tradition for the man who caught the garter and the woman who caught the bouquet to share a dance. Some believe that these two will be the next happy couple. Others say that they will each marry but not necessarily one another. Of course, another variation is for the bride to pass her luck on intentionally to somebody special. She can choose a lucky lady and present her with the bouquet.
As you can see, the bridal bouquet has a long and interesting history. Is has come a long way from hand picked herbs too! Remember, if you have a modest bridal gown, you should choose a smaller bouquet. If your dress is more extravagant with several layers, your bouquet should be larger. The bouquet is always proportionate to the dress.