For most brides the most important feature of the big day is their dress. However, almost all brides also follow the numerous traditions associated with bridal attire and accessories. Personal expression is often distinguished by its absence. Brides generally wear white or ivory dresses partnered with a veil, a garter, something blue and they carry flowers. Why the flowers?

It is rare to see a bride who doesn’t carry a bouquet but how many stop to question why they are walking down the aisle clutching flowers? This is actually a tradition which has evolved from a number of ancient practices and none of them had much to do with the aesthetics of the bridal outfit.

Smells and Spirits

It would appear that brides originally carried herbs and flowers to ward off evil spirits. Veils have a similar origin as they hid the bride from these spirits until she was safely married.  Flowers were then carried for their fragrance. The blooms smelled pleasant whereas there was a good chance that the bride did not back in the days when people rarely bathed and deodorant hadn’t been invented. Young women at least wanted to smell appealing on their wedding day!

The Plague

After the plaque had wiped about millions of people brides began carrying garlic and herbs as a symbol of renewal. These had been held to the nose by plaque victims in the hope of beng saved from the disease.

Edible Flowers

There was also a time when brides would carry marigolds. This was not because of their vibrant colour but rather because they were a symbol of fertility. After the ceremony the brides would eat their flowers in the hope of being blessed with a child.

Roses

It wasn’t until the Victorian era that brides began to choose specific flowers for their weddings and this was for their symbolic meaning. The Victorians were fascinated by such things and it was at this time that roses became a popular choice for bridal bouquets because they were symbolic of everlasting love. Gradually it became the norm for brides to carry pretty flowers, often roses, and this practice continues at the majority of weddings to this day.

Bridal flowers were first carried to ward off evil spirits and to mask body odour. How romantic! Somehow this custom has evolved into a significant feature of modern weddings and a major money spinner for florists. Which brings me to another wedding tradition. After carefully choosing their flowers and spending a fortune on their bouquet, brides then throw it at their guests after the wedding. How did throwing the bouquet become a feature of nuptials?

Apparently in times past single women were in the habit of trying to grab a piece of the bridal attire before the bride took her leave. The wedding dress was considered lucky and a symbol of fertility. This belief resulted in the wedding dress being torn to shreds which I am sure most brides weren’t too happy about. It is thought that the tossing of the bouquet evolved as a distraction and to give the single brides a piece of good luck without the need to rip the dress. This is how people came to believe that the girl who catches the bouquet would be the next to marry. Bouquets may also have been thrown to hand over the protection from evil spirits to a future bride.

Some brides have a replica of their bouquet made for the ceremonial throwing so they can keep and preserve the original.  As many brides are turning to artificial flowers so they can keep their bouquet, the practice of flower tossing could become less common in the future. These blooms certainly wouldn’t have helped the smelly brides of the past or perhaps worked on those evil spirits!

Article by Sally Stacey