What are the Meanings of Wedding Flowers

The Power of Flowers

We love flowers for their beauty and we use them throughout our lives to mark celebrations and communicate our feelings to others.

As a florist, this communication behind flowers is so important to understand. What messages underlie our gift bouquets, wedding bouquets and sympathy flowers? I was heartened to see the multiple meanings within the wreath King Charles gave to his mother, the Queen for her funeral. There was Oak for strength. Myrtle which was grown from the Myrtle she had in her own wedding bouquet, this symbolises a happy marriage. There was Rosemary for remembrance.

This is the inspiration for my blog, but the love language of flowers is a huge topic, so we shall start with our popular wedding flowers and the meanings behind them.

Popular Wedding Flowers

Anemone

This gorgeous flower which is available between September and May means ‘sincerity’. It comes in white, red, pinks, purple and blue.

Antirrhinum

Also more commonly known as the Snapdragon, this majestic, tall flower means ‘gracious lady’.

Calluna

Also known as Heather, Calluna is perfect for a Scottish wedding. Although it is only in flower between July and October, this flower means ‘protection’ and it comes in white, mauve, pink, purple and red.

Convallaria

Also known as Lily of the Valley, this beautiful little flower is perfect for weddings and it comes in ivory, white and pale pink. It is available between March and May and it means ‘happiness’.

Dahlia

This beautiful British flower is available between July and November. It means ‘forever thine’, a perfect message for a wedding and it comes in all colours except blue and green.

Dianthus

This romantic flower is commonly known as the Carnation. It is one of my favourite flowers and it means ‘devotion’. The Carnation is available all year round and it comes in all colours except blue and black.

Freesia

This popular wedding flower is highly fragrant, it means ‘trust and innocence’ and it is traditionally available in spring. It comes in shades of yellow, orange, pink and purple along with white.

Gypsophila

This fairy tale flower which is also known as Baby’s Breath is very popular for weddings. It means ‘pure of heart’ and it comes in white mostly, but there are also shades of pink and cream available.

Hippeastrum

Also known as Amaryllis, this stunning winter flower is available between September and April and it means ‘splendid beauty’. It comes in white, pink. salmon, peach, bright red and deep red.

Ilex

Also known as Holly, these beautiful red berries symbolise winter and Christmas. They actually mean ‘domestic happiness’! What better meaning can you get for a winter wedding?

Lavandula

Also known as Lavender, this textured and fragrant flower means ‘love and devotion’. It can be used as a fresh or dried flower in wedding work and the fresh flower is available between March and May.

Matthiola

Also known as Stocks, these beautifully fragrant garden flowers are so popular for weddings and they mean ‘bonds of affection’. They are available between January and August and they peak between March and July.

Myosotis

Also known as Forget-me-Not’s, these gorgeous, dainty, little blue flowers look beautiful in delicate bouquets and they mean ‘true love’. They are available between February and April.

Orchid

This elegant and luxurious flower is also known as Phalaenopsis. It means ‘love, beauty and refinement’ and it comes in white, cream, lemon, pinks, lilac and green.

Rose

Probably the most popular wedding flower in the UK. This splendid, elegant flower simply means ‘love’ and spray roses mean ‘grace’. They come in all colours except black and blue.

Veronica

This popular wedding flower is linear and it means ‘fidelity’. It comes in white and various shades of pink and purple. 

What you can do…

So, when you are considering which flowers to choose for your wedding day, think about these meanings and what is personal to your partner and you. Place these flowers in your designs to convey their meanings in such a special and personal way.

If you are getting married in the North East and looking for a wedding florist, why not get in touch? We would love to hear from you and we can book you in for a free consultation where we can talk all things wedding flowers - our favourite subject 💚

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