Whether it is a glorious, lavish wedding or a lonely escape during an elopement, the bouquet is the floral accessory that never misses a wedding. Over the years it has evolved according to fashions and trends and has adapted to the customs of different peoples. In every marriage, it is customized according to the wishes of the bride and perhaps it was this flexibility that made it eternal. Knowing how to reinvent itself is its charm, as fascinating is also the story behind this timeless and evergreen symbol, if you allow me the pun. Between meaning of fertility, aphrodisiac value, protection against evil spirits and bad odors, let’s discover the story behind the bouquet and how we bring it to life today. If in the meantime you think about the bouquet you would like for your dream wedding, contact me! We will create it to measure of your soul, your essence in the form of a flower.
History through people and historical eras
The birth of the bouquet has many interpretations. The best known is that attributed to the Arabs who, among the various customs, observed that of adorning the head of the bride with orange flowers, which represented purity and good omen for a large number of children.
To the fragrant orange flowers, which are still today the ultimate symbol of marriage, several floral varieties have been added. This custom also came to us after 1400 through the Arab invasions and we adopted this practice. Before that, during the Middle Ages, the brides held in their hands a needle and skein, symbol of the jobs they would do in the married life. The noblest families, used flowers and vegetative decorations during the celebrations to surround themselves with pleasant fragrances and perfumes since hygiene at that time was not their strong point and it was easy to sweat under the mass of fabrics. From the wreaths we went to delicate bouquets to carry in hand, up to the contemporary bouquets.
Even the Romans attributed to the bouquet the meaning of good omen, in pre-Christian times, it is said that the brides went to the ceremony with twigs of myrtle or rosemary, herbs considered auspicious, symbolizing fertility and fidelity. Do not be surprised that nature symbolizes prosperity and abundance for the Romans, in fact Ceres was a maternal deity of the earth and fertility, protected the crops but was also Goddess of birth, since all flowers, fruits and living beings were considered his gifts. Even in the rites of the ancient Egyptians were present herbs accompanied by garlic, to protect from evil spirits the couple and it is also said that later they ate the bouquet to acquire its aphrodisiac properties.
The contemporary symbolism of the bouquet
The bouquet has a symbolic value that varies according to culture and historical period. Today in Italy, for example, it represents the union of the spouses and serves to seal the promise of love made through the engagement ring. If, in the past, we preferred the color white and flowers as the lilies symbol of purity, all tied with a double knot in a sign of fidelity to her husband, now they range daring colors, adding objects and different textures or even using candy. After the bride has chosen the bouquet topology and botanical varieties, it is usually the boyfriend who gives it to her and has it delivered home on the morning of the fateful day. After that, it must also pass through a third hand, the one of the guest who will take it during the throw. These 3 handovers are very important and synonymous with good omen, it is well known that the number 3 in numerology represents perfection and excellence.
The liberation of the bouquet seems to have originated in France during the 14th century, together with the tradition of the garter parade, over time it has become an increasingly consolidated moment: Initially you threw the precious bouquet at the exit of the Church or just finished the rite, now the modern trend is more and more to carry it at the end of the reception and tradition wants that the guest who will pick it will be the next to marry. Would you like to keep it as a souvenir? If you can prepare two identical ones and one you can keep it at home drying, a technique not very known is that uses silica gel: dehydrated them so that they maintain color and shape unchanged.
The bouquet in 2024: trends and tips
A special accessory that stands beside you on such an important day sharing with you joy and trepidation, deserves special attention. It is there in your excited hands, a few centimeters from the heart, and it is just the first to hear your fast beats. It is a companion of tears and smiles, an extension of your happiness.
Now more than ever, the bouquet becomes personalized, not only tailored to the bride’s outfit and wedding color palette, but also to her character, reflecting her personal tastes. And let’s not forget that it will be in almost every photo! It must be as wow as you, without stealing the scene.
It is recommended that the bouquet respects the wedding theme, your verve and style of dress, but also the seasonality of the elements that compose it. Choosing floral types according to the season means respecting the cycles of nature and lowering prices. In addition, this kind of flowers is more easily found and equipped with greater resistance. Take, for example, the case of the peony, so beloved by the bride. It is not recommended to choose it after May, and if used in August, it will really suffer.
As for the trends of the moment, here are two key words to inspire you in 2025: sustainability and color! Currently, bright and brilliant colors are the protagonists in the wedding world, which in recent years has become more and more open to personalization. In the same way, also the desire to respect the environment as much as possible, begins to bring together more and more couples. This eco-sustainable trail leads us to choose seasonal flowers and not exaggerate the number of stems. Unmassed bouquets and decomposed compositions are thus born, to which dry elements are added to obtain greater dynamism and originality.
