How Did The Concept of the Bridal Bouquet Begin?

There are a number of things that are the focal point of a wedding; the couple and the love that they share, the dress, the food, and the flowers, specifically the bridal bouquet. Have you ever wondered where this idea came about where the bride should carry a bunch of flowers with her as she walks down the aisle? I know I have! Being a florist who specializes in weddings, I feel that I should know this stuff, so I did a little research.

In ancient times, brides traditionally carried clusters of garlic, dill, and other herbs as a way to scare off evil spirits. Bridesmaids also carried these clusters to confuse the evil spirits as to who the bride was. Specifically in Europe starting around the 1600’s, the bride would carry an array of flowers in order to smell pretty on her wedding day. During those times, people did not bathe frequently and therefore would carry flowers to mask any odor.

I’m sure everyone if familiar with the tradition of tossing the bridal bouquet, but why do they do that?? When the bride would carry garlic and herbs, she was known to have good fortune for warding off the evil spirits to pursue a successful marriage. All the non-married women would gather and the bride would toss her bouquet to pass on her good fortune to the next woman. Hence, the one who catches the bouquet will be the next to get married!!

In more modern times, starting with Queen Victoria who also started the tradition of a white wedding dress, brides carried flowers because they are pretty and add a touch of elegance to a wedding. Today, bridal bouquets and all other flowers are used to tie all design elements together to create a beautifully styled event. Below we have shared some of our favorite bridal bouquets from this wedding season!