Wedding bouquets have been a traditional staple in nuptials since ancient Roman times, when brides carried bunches of blooms for good luck. While the superstitions surrounding flowers and fertility have faded over time, the beauty they bring to weddings has made this tradition survive for millennia. Flowers within a bouquet often hold romantic symbolism, such as Queen Victoria carrying snowdrops for her wedding to Prince Albert, and Kate Middleton choosing lilies, hyacinths, and ivy for her wedding to Prince William.
Royal weddings have featured bouquets with specific flowers that hold symbolic meaning. Queen Victoria and Kate Middleton both included flowers that represented happiness, love, and friendship. For her wedding to John F. Kennedy in 1953, Jackie Kennedy opted for elegant white spray orchids and gardenias, symbolizing elegance and pure love. Bouquets in famous weddings have always been carefully selected to reflect the love and joy of the couple’s union.
In Vogue’s coverage of weddings, couples have chosen a wide array of flowers for their bouquets. Some stick to traditional white bouquets, while others opt for colorful flowers that match the wedding environment. Some couples take a more avant-garde approach, like PJ Magerko-Liquorice and Jordan Millington-Liquorice, who chose a monochrome set of roses for their wedding. Designer Sandy Liang even held just a single allium with a black ribbon for her coastal Maine wedding, showcasing the variety and creativity of bouquet choices in modern weddings.
The variety of wedding bouquet ideas featured in Vogue offers inspiration for couples planning their own weddings. From traditional white bouquets to colorful and avant-garde choices, there are endless possibilities for couples to express their love and personal style through their floral arrangements. Whether you prefer elegant and classic flowers like orchids and gardenias, or more unique choices like monochrome roses or a single allium, the bouquet is a meaningful and beautiful part of any wedding ceremony, symbolizing the fertility, love, and happiness that flowers have come to represent through the ages.
