Written By: Phaedra, an Element Preservation Designer
Here at Element Design, we know more than most that your flowers are deeply meaningful. That’s why we do what we do to preserve them for years to come! Beyond the personal meaning of being the very flowers you held on your special day, many have long histories of deep symbolism associated with them. If you’re as sentimental as we are, you’ll love learning the meaning of some of the most popular flowers we see come in with each turn of the seasons.
Spring
We just covered how some white roses will look in our recent post, but here we can get into what they mean! White roses are symbols of innocent love. Their blossoms were thought to evoke gentle clouds above, and act as a reminder to be soft and loving. Their sweet meaning makes them perfect for weddings, and their bright petals are suited for any spring palette.
A springtime classic, these tiny blossoms are popular additions to any springtime bouquet. As symbols of luck and continuing happiness, carrying them with you down the aisle seems ideal, especially if you’re tying the knot in the early spring. If your March or April wedding includes these little beauties, we hope they help get you and your partner off to a lucky start!
Tulips are perfect flowers, so it makes sense that they are seen as symbols for perfect love. When you’re with the perfect person, things certainly feel like all is right. What better way to represent that feeling than to add tulips to your bouquet! For a bonus, they press perfectly, making them incredible additions to your frame or resin artwork!
A favorite in the spring months, daffodils add a bright, quirky pop to any arrangement! Their meaning is one that truly fits with both spring and weddings- new beginnings. They are bulb flowers, meaning they stay curled under the earth until they are ready to bloom. If you choose to carry daffodils in your bouquet, your new beginning will also blossom into something amazing!
Summer
This climbing flower isn’t necessarily traditional for wedding bouquets, but we see more and more of them each summer! These symbolize wisdom and mental beauty. This plant originated in Japan, where they took on this special meaning. Perhaps this makes one of these blooms just the thing to use in a father’s boutonniere, on display as he imparts his wisdom during his speech!
The idea of having an open heart is always important, but rarely more so than when entering a marriage with your beloved. Larkspur represents that open heartedness. This is one of the most popular summer blooms we see come through the shop, and we love the meaning behind it!
This fluffy classic is one we see throughout the seasons, but summer is truly the best time for hydrangea. Though all of the many color variations have their individual meanings, the general meaning behind them is one of gratitude. Aside from love, gratitude is one of the biggest emotions when taking in your wedding day. Having hydrangeas around will serve as a reminder to take in all of the magic of your wedding day!
Popular in wildflower bouquets, these small-but-bold blooms are thought to be named for a poem in which a woman misses her true love, and by the end they are reunited with one another. This flower is perfect for couples who’ve had to be long-distance or who come from different places.
Fall
A staple in any fall bouquet, chrysanthemums (or just mums), are symbols of true friendship. This meaning makes them ideal to have in bridesmaid’s bouquets- plus, they sure look good in our gift-able ten by ten frames.
These happy flowers have long been associated with celebration, particularly celebrating with dear friends. This makes sense, as their bright petals remind us of bright days and confetti. When pressed and added to a preservation piece, they keep the memory of such joy alive.
These little flowers are such sweeties, and they symbolize patience. Patience is one of the most important things to bring into a marriage, where you’ll have a lifetime of learning to communicate with your partner. Picture these tiny blossoms in a ring holder, adding their meaning to that of your wedding bands- you have eternity together, be patient and loving and enjoy it!
The scientific name for sunflowers is pretty literal- Helianthus. This is from the Greek, Helios, the god of the sun. Coming from such ancient origins, it stands to reason that this flower symbolizes longevity. They are staples in late summer and early fall bouquets, and we’re sure they always will be.
Winter
Probably the most romantic flower that’s ever been used, we love seeing these mixed in with a winter color palette. The meaning is sweet and simple- true love! Red roses are classics in any season, but their meaning adds warmth to any winter bouquet!
The thistle, along with being the national flower of Scotland, is a symbol of strength. It takes a lot of fortitude to plan and execute the dream wedding, so having thistles with you can help reflect all you put into your wedding to make it special.
As the name suggests, evergreens of all types carry meanings of forever and always. Not just for wreaths, these greens add texture, an amazing aroma, and a powerful meaning to a wintery bouquet.
A popular way to add brightness to a winter bouquet is with snapdragons. They are great if your winter wedding is straying away from the classic red, green, or white palettes that usually come with the season. Throughout centuries and cultures, these flowers have been used to ward off bad luck and have a protective meaning. If you add them to your bouquet, we hope they get the job done!
Symbolic Meaning of a Wedding Bouquet
Now that we've covered the symbolic meaning of different flowers throughout the season, let's discuss why brides carry a wedding bouquet. There are a lot of things your wedding bouquet will symbolize, but here are a few:
- In ancient times, flowers were carried to ward off evil spirits & bad luck
- Flowers represent growth & growing into a new family to start a new chapter
- A ribbon often holds to bouquet together to show uniting together to become one
- Historically, the bouquet represents fertility and new life
Your wedding flowers carry a lot of meaning and love. You can preserve these heartfelt sentiments for years to come with bouquet preservation from Element Design. Shop our bouquet preservation collections.
