Every bride has a bouquet, and we all know about the bouquet toss at weddings - the bride takes the fate of her guests into her hands as she throws her bouquet into the crowd, selecting who will be married next... Of course, it's really just a bit of fun, but have you ever wondered where the tradition came from?
The bouquet itself dates back to Ancient Greece and Rome. The first bouquets were garlands or flowers around the couple’s necks to symbolise fertility, trust and fidelity. Herbs such as dill were also added as it was seen as an aphrodisiac... Desirable for obvious reasons!
In the Middle Ages, the garlands were made from strong-scented herbs and spices that were believed to ward off bad spirits. Originally, then the bride would collect flowers and greenery from each garland to form a small 'posy' for her to carry into the wedding ceremony.
In Victorian times, flowers were used to send secret messages and every flower was given a meaning through floriography. This brought about the link between flowers and romance, hence the floral bouquet becoming the norm and replacing the small 'posy'.
Now, what about chucking your carefully constructed bouquet into a crowd of people?
The bouquet toss originated in the Middle Ages. Wedding guests used to tear little bits of the bride’s wedding dress off in the hope that some of her good luck would rub off on them! How terrible! To divert attention and protect herself, the bride would throw her bouquet or garter to get guests to try to catch them - allowing the bride and groom to slip away. This became the traditional bouquet toss, now (thankfully!) without any dress-ripping.
This article was written by Dheyna at Smitten Weddings. If you would like to get in touch about my wedding planning services or find out more about me, then please visit my website.
Sources:
Florismart.com. Ever wondered why brides carry a wedding bouquet?: www.florismart.com/flower-knowledge/ever-wondered-why-brides-carry-a-wedding-bouquet
[Image] NiceOneNana.com. Chai and Chat: niceonenana.com/chai-and-chat-2/2017/01/30/#!prettyPhoto
RoseAndBlossom.com. The History of the Bridal Bouquet: www.roseandblossom.com/blog/bridal-bouquet-history
