The Language of Wedding Flowers

There are some flowers that are synonymous with weddings. They are the standard flowers that brides consider while designing their bouquets. But have you ever wondered why?

Victorians had a flower language. Each flower had a different meaning and a bouquet could convey a message without words. Even an unkind message like “I dislike you”, so don’t include orange lilies in your arrangements. That would be a very confusing message.

I have compiled a list of the most popular flowers and their meaning so you can create a bouquet with its own unique meaning.

Roses

We all know that roses mean love, but the colour will subtly alter the message. Red roses represent love, lavender means enchantment and pale pink means joy.

A single full bloom rose means I love you, so a single rose in your bouquet is more romantic than a whole bunch.

Peony

Is there anything more romantic than a bouquet of peonies? Not in my opinion, and the best part is they mean happy marriage. Now you know why they are so popular in bridal bouquets.

Tulips

In general, tulips mean perfect love and, like roses, by changing the colour you add to the meaning. For example, red symbolises a declaration of love, while yellow means “there’s sunshine in your smile”. What an amazing sentiment to include in your bouquet.

Calla Lilies

Calla lilies with their long elegant stems represent beauty. They also bring height to your bouquet, making them especially attractive in your arrangement.

Lily of the Valley

No flower could be more perfect for a bouquet than lily of the valley. They represent sweetness, and by giving them you are saying “you’ve made my life complete.” Their diminutive size combined with their meaning make them great for your buttonholes and as a lacy addition to your bouquet.

Ranunculus

These are big, round-headed flowers similar to peonies and roses. They mean “I am dazzled by your charm” which is a wonderful message to include in your flowers.

Stephanotis

For the couple that love adventure, stephanotis should be a consideration because not only do they mean happiness in marriage, they also represent a desire to travel.

Lilacs

Depending on the colour, lilacs can mean different things. Magenta lilacs symbolise love and passion, blue means happiness, while lilac ones symbolise first love.

Dahlias

Whatever else dahlias may have come to represent, to the Victorians they meant a lifelong commitment, a perfect sentiment for the start of your marriage.

Why not take a look at our other wedding blogs for more inspiration!