Weddings are the beginning of a life-changing and life-long journey to create life and live happily ever after. Hence, flowers and herbs have been used since the ancient Greeks to symbolize love, happiness, luck and long lives. Usually, the brides, and sometimes the groom too, would wear flowers and herbs around their head to symbolize fertility, fidelity, purity and ward off evil spirits. In India, flower petals were sprinkle over the bride and groom at the end of the wedding ceremony as a magic shield against evil spirits as well. In England, a small girl would lead the bride and her bridesmaids to the church while sprinkling flower blossoms along the path to ensure a life filled with flowers and happiness. The small girl is now called “flower girl”.
Bridesmaids have also existed since ancient Greece, and they would make the floral decorations including bridal bouquet and boutonniere.
Herbs had had different meanings. Dill was considered the herb of lust, and when carried down the aisle the bride would lust only for her husband. The aphrodisiac power of dill has not been yet confirmed. Furthermore, the Ivy was used to represent enduring love.
Nowadays flowers are still used in wedding for tradition and to set a relaxing, youthful, festive, cheerful, joyful and lively atmosphere. Vases for weddings are used as decoration and to extend the beauty of its contents, which usually are flowers. Cylinder glasses are also used as centerpieces containing water, flowers and/or floating candles; but more often are used to hold alcoholic beverages.
