Flowers play an important role in weddings and have a long history of use in these ceremonies. From blessing the bride and groom with a long-lasting marriage to casting away wicked spirits, flowers in weddings often have deep and specific purposes beyond simply being pretty.

Why Are Flowers a Tradition in Weddings?

Flowers have long played a central role in wedding ceremonies thanks to the amount of symbolism they carry. They can signify fertility, love and a new beginning for newlyweds. Additionally, a bride and groom may select flowers with personal meaning to them, such as red roses to show their love or white tulips to signify purity.

Flowers in Attire

Certain members of the wedding party may have personal flowers that coincide with the ones displayed at the event. For example, bridesmaids typically have individual bouquets that complement each of their dresses. The bride is also likely to have a special bouquet that can be used for a bouquet toss later in the wedding event.

Other female members of the wedding party may be gifted corsages that are pinned to clothing or worn on the wrist. The male members of the wedding party, like the groom, groomsmen and ring bearer, will often have a boutonniere pinned to the left lapel of their suits.

Flowers in Decoration

Floral designers are often hired to craft customized flower arrangements that match the bridal party's decor. These can hold the same significance as the personal bouquet and bring the aesthetic to life.

At a typical wedding, you may see flowers utilized in:

• Centerpieces
• Archways
• Table decor
• Chair pieces
• Reception decor
• Wreaths

The Bridal Bouquet

The bridal bouquet is the star piece of many floral wedding arrangements. Historically, the bridal bouquet was a nest of flowers imbued with herbs and spices to protect the bride from evil spirits, illness and misfortune.

Certain herbal aphrodisiacs were also added to increase the mood of love and represent the strength of the affirmed bond of the newlyweds.

Nowadays, flowers in bridal bouquets are more commonly chosen for their beauty rather than for any superstitions, but there’s still spiritual, symbolic and aesthetic significance to a bride's bouquet. 

Many brides choose a bouquet arrangement with flowers that coincide with important aspects of themselves and personal traits. They may choose to work with a floral designer with a trained eye in creating the perfect bouquet to help them incorporate flowers that are both meaningful and beloved.

Symbolism examples for the bridal bouquet include:

• Pink Roses: sweetness and loveliness
• Peonies: good fortune and luck
• Gardenias: joy and happiness
• White Lilies: purity and faith
• Yellow Roses: friendship and comradery

The bridal bouquet is a symbol of new beginnings, and a common tradition is for the bride to throw her bouquet into a crowd of women at the end of the night. Whoever is lucky enough to catch it is said to be the next in line for marriage, or soon to meet their next love.

The Flower Girl

The flower girl tradition is meant to honor both the past and the future of the bride and groom. The young flower girl dressed in white is said to symbolize the bride when she was just an innocent child. Many see the flower girl, as she spreads her petals down the aisle, as spreading the gift of fertility to the bride and groom on their special day.

Flower Traditions from Around the World

Flowers play important roles in wedding ceremonies around the world, and symbolism varies from culture to culture. Flowers typically represent something special to the bride and groom, or unique to the culture that is present.

In Chinese weddings, the lotus flower is of special significance. It is said to denote purity and longevity, and every couple who has one at their wedding is believed to be welcoming harmony into their future together.

In Greek weddings, the bridal couple will wear “stefana,” or Greek wedding flower crowns that are clasped together by a ribbon for unity. These are said to show that the new couple is now the king and queen of their home. The crowns are then alternated back and forth between the couple to seal the marriage.

In Indian weddings, the beginning Varmala ceremony includes the exchange of a “mala,” which means garland in Hindi. It represents acceptance of marriage between each party and is sometimes interwoven with money for good luck.

Host Your Wedding at CrystalView in Fairfax, VA

Are you looking for a quality venue to host your special day? Do you want flower arrangements that are meaningful and uniquely crafted to your tastes? Our luxury event venue team works with trusted vendors, including renowned D.C.-area florists who can bring your bouquet dreams to life. To schedule a tour, contact us today.