The symbolism of wedding flowers – and what they REALLY mean for your marriage

Brides-to-be, your wedding flowers can tell people a LOT about you and your groom. Find out all about their symbolism here…

flowers

by Kayleigh Dray |
Published on

Planning a wedding is a lot of fun (and a lot of hard work!), and one of the best bits is choosing which beautiful flowers you should in your big day.

But did you know that there was more to it than just choosing which blooms look the nicest?

During the Victorian era,

Check it out:

  • Amaranthus: Constancy

  • Amaryllis: Pride

  • Anemone: Expectation

  • Baby’s Breath: Innocence and everlasting love

  • Bells of Ireland: Good luck

  • Calla Lily: Magnificent beauty

  • Chrysanthemum: Happiness and long life

  • Daffodil: Respect

  • Daisy: Loyal love

  • Fern: Sincerity

  • Forget-Me-Not: Faithful love and memory

  • Freesia: Innocence

  • Gardenia: Purity, joy

  • Honeysuckle: Bonds of love

  • Hydrangea: Understanding

  • Iris: Faith and wisdom

  • Ivy: Fidelity

  • Lavender: Devotion

  • Lilac: First love

  • Lily: Truth and honour

  • Lily of the Valley: Happiness and humility

  • Magnolia: Love of nature

  • Marigold: Grief

  • Mulberry: ‘I shall not outlive you’

  • Orange Blossom: Purity

  • Orchid: Love and beauty

  • Passion flower: Passion

  • Peony: Happiness and prosperity

  • Rhododendron: Danger

  • Rosemary: Remembrance

  • Stargazer: Ambition

  • Stephanotis: Wedded bliss

  • Stock: Lasting beauty

  • Sweet Pea: Farewell

  • Sweet William: Gallantry

  • Sunflower: Adoration

  • Tulip: True love

  • Violet: Modesty

  • Zinnia: Remembering absent friends

But what about roses?

Well, as it happens, roses are a whole different ball game, as each and every single roses has a different meaning depending on its colour.

To help you put your sweet-smelling and rosy bouquet together, we’ve broken down their colour symbolism below.*

ROSES, BY COLOUR:

  • Black roses: Death

  • Blue roses: Unattainable

  • Coral roses: Desire

  • Lavender roses: Love at first sight

  • Orange roses: Desire

  • Peach roses: Sincerity

  • Peach roses (pale): Modesty

  • Pink roses: Perfect happiness

  • Pink roses (dark): Gratitude

  • Pink roses (light): Sympathy

  • Red roses: Romantic love

  • Red roses (dark): Unconscious beauty

  • White roses: Purity / happy love

  • Yellow roses: Friendship, platonic love

  • Yellow roses (with a red tip):* Falling in love*

*Chrysanthemums are, similarly, divided into different meanings by their colour.

If you’re considering including them in your bouquet, make sure to check out their meanings below.

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CHRYSANTHEMUMS, BY COLOUR:

  • Bronze chrysanthemum:* Excitement***

  • Red chrysanthemum: True and long-lasting love

  • White chrysanthemum:* Loyalty and devotion***

  • Yellow chrysanthemum:* Neglected love or sorrow*

*Carnations are good for wedding flowers, as they can easily be obtained throughout the year and are pretty cost-friendly.

But, again, their meaning depends on their colour.

*Image via

Check it out for yourself below.*

CARNATIONS, BY COLOUR:

  • Pink carnation: Gratitude

  • Purple carnation: Changeable

  • Red carnation: ‘My heart aches for you’

  • White carnation: Pure love

  • Yellow carnation: Disdain

  • Striped carnation: Rejection*

That’s a lot to think about, isn’t it?*

*Want to know more about flower symbolism? Buy The Language of Flowers on Amazon now.

*Which flowers will you be including in your wedding bouquet?

Let us know via Facebook or Twitter (@CloserOnline) now.*

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