Brides have carried bridal bouquets for centuries, but the traditions and reasons have changed over the years. The flowers in the bouquet are believed to symbolize different things. Red roses were, and still remain, one of the most popular because they symbolize love. In ancient times the bride wore garlands of spices and herbs, or carried a bundle of them in her hands to ward off evil spirits. Today, past traditions do not predict the bride’s bouquet choice nearly as much as her color scheme and personal taste.
Today’s bride has many choices to make when selecting her bouquet. Making an appointment with your florist to view all options is a good starting point. Your florist will be a valuable resource for new trends and ideas. Start
collecting pictures of flowers and bouquet styles you like. Get fabric swatches of your gowns and take these with you to the consultation. It is also good to know how many corsages, boutonnieres, and floral decorations you will need. Get an estimate of the complete costs for all your
flowers. Ask if they will be delivered, or if you are responsible for picking them up.
Consult with the florist as to which flowers will be more readily available during the time of your wedding. There may be flowers that are not available during certain times, or the cost may be significantly higher if they are in limited supply. Also, many greens and ivies can be used to fill bouquets and add a special touch. Ask to see examples of the greens and other unique stems they have to select from.
Finally, don’t forget the special touches you can add in. Some florists offer pearls, sequins, or gems, inserted into the bouquet, or a finish spray with a glitter touch to add a little sparkle. One new trend is to use flowers to lace the grooms initial into the bouquet, or to use ribbons
embossed with the couple’s names, to tie the stems.
