A bridal bouquet has become an integral part in wedding ceremonies
It is a common scenario in a wedding ceremony to see the bride dress in white and holding her bridal bouquet as she walks down the aisle.
The bouquet can be taken out of the picture. However, the bunch of flowers beautifully arranged has become part of the tradition. Just like many beliefs and traditions in the world, there was also a beginning story about the bouquet that brides carry.
Although it is not really necessary that a bridal bouquet will be part of the bride’s moment down the aisle but since this has become the common notion, it would be awkward now for many people seeing that the woman is not holding anything towards her groom.
So where did this tradition begin? Based on the article in Mental Floss, it was initially believed that wedding flowers were used to hide the body odor before frequent bathing became a normal routine. However, this was a misconception.
It was said that the earliest bouquet contain minimal flowers. Mostly, the bouquets were consist of herbs. Ancient Romans were the first who had the tradition to sending their brides down the aisle with bundles of herbs. For them, this symbolizes fidelity and fertility.
At that time, a known aphrodisiac called dill, was a common feature in bouquets and this was often served during the reception to help the bride and groom to consummate their union. Sometimes, the bouquet has garlic as it was believed to have the ability to drive away bad luck or evil spirits.
As years passed, people started to introduce other kinds of flowers in the bridal bouquet. In the 16th-century England, the flower marigold was extra popular in bouquets. It is a symbol of faithfulness and endless love, and was also considered as aphrodisiac.
During the Victorian era, floriography, which is the language of flowers, gained popularity. In this era, people started arranging the flowers meticulously based on the meanings of flowers.