The Hidden Language of Wedding Flowers
(CA.ARA)
- Almost every wedding today is graced with flowers.
From the bride's bouquet to the church's pews,
flowers have become a way of expressing a couple's
individuality and adding beauty to an already
extraordinary event.
Flowers are not only an extension of the bride and
groom's personality, but they express a language all
their own, and incorporating their beauty throughout
the wedding takes planning and a short lesson in the
language of flowers.
Symbolically, flowers have come to represent
different things throughout the years. Many brides
choose flowers for their wedding that have
sentimental value. Perhaps it was the first flower
she received from her fiance or maybe the flower her
mother carried down the aisle at her wedding. For
brides who want to create their own tradition, the
meanings of individual flowers can help with the
decision.
"There is a definite trend developing in Canadian
weddings when it comes to flowers," said Lisa Best,
owner of Beautiful Weddings By Me in Windsor,
Ontario. "This year, the calla lili and stephanotis
are big."
Those two flowers were heavily featured at the
Toronto Star National Bridal Show in January. The
show is one of the biggest wedding planning events
in the country. "Cala lilies are favored because
they are easy to work with in hand and arm
bouquets," said Best. "The stephanotis is popular
because it symbolizes good luck."
While those two flowers are becoming popular, Best
says the rose remains the flower most often used at
formal weddings. This customary flower's colors
represent many different emotions and the rose is
the most widely given flower in the name of love. A
red rose represents passionate love; a white rose
represents pure love; a pink rose represents
innocent love; and a yellow rose symbolizes
friendship.
Non-traditional flowers have also come to represent
certain feelings and emotions. The gardenia
symbolizes joy while the lacey lily of the valley is
associated with happiness. For a regal feel at your
wedding, purple lilacs - which represent regal unity
- might be appropriate. The softness of a white
lilac is often related to youthful innocence, while
the strong aroma of forget-me-nots may convey the
feeling of true love during your nuptials.
Along with the expression of emotions, the flowers
you choose for your wedding should also coordinate
with other items. The shape, size and style of the
bouquet should compliment your dress and you.
Whatever flowers you choose, be sure that the
bouquet is well constructed to ensure that it lasts
all day. The attendant's flowers usually complement
both the bridal bouquet and dress.
For a more romantic feel, flower headdresses are the
perfect addition to your own wedding attire. A
traditional circle of flowers or small additions in
any pattern or shape to suit your hairstyle is
another way to incorporate your flower theme of
choice into the day. Grooms, best men and ushers
should also accessorize with the use of buttonholes,
continuing the same theme or pattern of the bride
and her attendants.
However you incorporate flowers into your wedding
day, the budding blooms convey a plethora of
messages all their own. Whether it's their
traditional meaning, a distinct aroma or colorful
petals, the language of flowers at a wedding is
identical to the language of love.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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