The History of Bridal Bouquets: Time-Honored Traditions to Make Your Own

You probably can’t imagine a wedding day without a few key floral arrangements. After all, the image of a bride walking down the aisle with her bouquet is iconic. But where did the bridal bouquet tradition come from? That’s what we’re here to discover.

Below, learn all about the origins and history of the bridal bouquet. Plus, see how the trends have evolved over the years and learn how you can put your own spin on this wedding floral tradition.

Where did bridal bouquets originate?

Humans have been arranging flowers since the very earliest days of civilization. There are records of floral bouquets dating back to ancient Egypt, where they were offered to the dead.

But while floral decorations have always had their place in important moments, the tradition of the bridal bouquet, as we know it today, historically has its roots in Europe.

When did brides start carrying bouquets at weddings?

One of the earliest known uses of flowers at weddings dates back to the Roman era. Some early records show that Roman brides wore flower crowns on their heads, possibly to symbolize new beginnings and fertility or as a nod to Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers.

Brides kept up the tradition of wearing flower crowns throughout the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, with bridal bouquets emerging during the Tudor period (1488 to 1683.) Historical figures like Anne of Cleaves are recorded as carrying bouquets at their weddings.

Beyond being decorative, floral bouquets served a more practical purpose during this period: Their sweet scents warded off unpleasant smells. (Remember, this is a time when many people only bathed once per month.)

When did brides start throwing bouquets?

The tradition of tossing the bouquet evolved from an earlier tradition, where it was considered good fortune to get a piece of the bride’s dress. Lucky maidens could put this dress scrap under their pillows and wish for their own weddings (not creepy, at all.)

Since most brides, naturally, weren’t thrilled with the idea of tearing scraps off their wedding dresses, this tradition later morphed into tossing their bridal bouquets over the shoulder. Now, we consider catching the bridal bouquet good luck, since it means that your wedding will be next. (And you don’t even have to put anything under your pillow!)

Today, many brides may also opt for a second “throwing bouquet” instead of tossing their main one to the crowd. After all, your bridal bouquet is a souvenir you may want to hold onto.

5 Historical bridal bouquet trends to make your own

Since the tradition of the bridal bouquet has been around for centuries, many floral trends have risen and fallen every decade. But just like karma, the best styles always come back around.

So, if you want to capture vintage vibes on your wedding day, there’s never been a better time to revive the following historical bridal bouquet trends.

Flower language

During the Victorian era, flower language became a popular way to send hidden messages between lovers. For example, red roses represented romance, while white calla lilies conveyed feelings of modesty.

Today, we mainly choose flowers for their aesthetic, but incorporating blossoms and wedding colors based on their symbolism can also be a fun way to reflect your inner emotional state on the outside.

Cascading bouquets

Long and flowing cascade-style bouquets were popular during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Flowing blossoms and greenery could highlight the hem of a long and elegant bridal gown. Plus, luxurious flowers, like orchids, could double as status symbols for brides who could afford these rarer blooms.

Today, you can still use the trend of a cascading bouquet to draw attention to a flowing wedding dress. But if orchids are a little out of your budget, you always have the option of faux flowers to get the same length.

 Smaller bouquets

In the 1920s, during the heart of the flapper era, fashion trends shifted and shorter skirts became popular. To match their lighter, breezier wedding gowns, brides began carrying smaller bouquets, often consisting of a single flower, like lilies.

Today, carrying a bouquet of a single flower type can still capture feelings of understated simplicity, regardless of the length of your wedding dress.

Corsages instead of bouquets

The tradition of shrinking floral arrangements continued into the 1940s. During World War II, flowers could be a bit hard to come by. After all, growing food was a priority, so farmers couldn’t devote the resources to growing large flower fields. However, American brides still managed to innovate by wearing smaller floral shoulder corsages pinned to their dresses.

Today, if you favor a more understated floral look, or just don’t want to carry flowers around all day, you can take a cue from this vintage floral trend and wear a floral shoulder corsage. Shoulder corsages also make great gifts for your maid of honor or other important bridesmaids, with or without matching bridesmaid bouquets.

Rounded bouquets

While the 1950s saw a revival of long wedding gowns and cascading bouquets, the mod trends in the 60s saw a revival of shorter skirt hems and more tailored gown styles. So, that defined tailoring extended to bridal bouquets, which sported rounded shapes rather than more natural freeform styles. Some brides also opted to revive the ancient art of the flower crown by wearing flowers with their wedding veils.

Today, rounded bridal bouquets can still bring a touch of mod glam to a tea or knee-length wedding gown. And of course, a good flower or floral hat crown can always offer an extra touch of beauty to any bridal look. The more flowers, the merrier.

Conclusion

While trends can come and go, bridal bouquets remain as a quintessential accessory for brides of all decades. You can make your bridal bouquet your own by looking at trends from the past, and incorporating your favorites to match the aesthetics you love.

If you’re on the lookout for a bridal bouquet that will look timeless throughout the years, Ling’s Moment is here to help. Our vintage-inspired bouquets and DIY flower kits contain designer flowers that won’t wilt or fade away, so you can keep your wedding flowers as a souvenir of your special moments.