Royal weddings are always a spectacle of grandeur, elegance, and tradition. One of the most significant aspects of these celebrations is the royal wedding flower arrangements. Wedding flowers often reflect the bride’s personality, style, and the royal family’s traditions. Previously, we discussed flowers as a key decorative element at weddings. We also compiled a list of lucky flowers and wedding bouquet mistakes to avoid. This article explores the evolution of royal wedding flower arrangements from Princess Diana to Meghan Markle. We will discuss how styles have changed over the decades.
A Little Historical Context
If you find someone you love in your life, then hang on to that love.
Princess Diana
The tradition of using flowers in wedding ceremonies dates back centuries. In ancient times, brides would carry herbs and spices to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck. As the practice evolved, flowers became the primary choice for bouquets, each selected for its specific symbolism.
Royal weddings have always captivated the public’s imagination with their ceremonies. Moreover, rich symbolism accompanied every detail, including the wedding bouquets. The flowers chosen for these bouquets do not merely act as decorations. They carry deep meanings and reflect the traditions and values of the royal family.
In royal weddings, where every detail is carefully planned, the choice of flowers, all in all, holds particular significance. They represent not only love but also fidelity and the hope for a prosperous future.
Let’s start our tour of royal wedding flowers by taking a closer look at the wedding bouquet of style icon, Princess Diana!
The Iconic Royal Wedding Flower Bouquet of Princess Diana
Princess Diana’s wedding to Prince Charles in 1981 marked a turning point in royal wedding bouquets. Diana’s bouquet was a stunning arrangement featuring a mix of flowers, including gardenias, stephanotis, and myrtle from the Queen’s garden. The bouquet featured a cascading style that exuded romance and drama. It was also notable for its size; the bouquet was large and lush, reflecting the opulence of the wedding. By including myrtle, it symbolized love and marriage, a tradition that royal brides have embraced ever since.
It’s time to get to know Diana’s bouquet better. Each flower in it has a deep symbolic meaning.
Gardenias are a timeless option for wedding bouquets, symbolizing purity, love, and elegance. Their delicate white petals and enchanting fragrances bring forth emotions of joy, tranquility, and fresh starts, making them ideal for a wedding celebration. Additionally, they convey the idea of a hidden love or admiration, adding a romantic element to the bouquet.
In the language of flowers, stephanotis stands for marital happiness and devotion. Its delicate white blooms have a sweet fragrance and are often used in wedding bouquets and corsages. In addition, they represent the joy and purity of a new marriage. Stephanotis can also symbolize a desire to travel, adding a sense of adventure to wedding traditions.
As we have said, Myrtle has been a staple in royal wedding bouquets since the time of Queen Victoria. This fragrant herb symbolizes love and marriage and traditionally signifies fertility. By the way, people often grow the myrtle plant from a cutting taken from the original myrtle plant used in Queen Victoria’s bouquet, representing continuity and the enduring nature of love.
The Timeless Elegance of the 1990s and 2000s
In the years following Diana’s wedding, royal bouquets maintained a sense of tradition while also incorporating modern elements. For instance, Sarah Ferguson’s bouquet in 1986 featured a more compact style, with white roses and ivy, emphasizing simplicity and elegance. Similarly, Sophie Rhys-Jones (now the Countess of Wessex) opted for a classic bouquet of white roses and myrtle in 1999, showcasing a timeless aesthetic.
However, it was Kate Middleton’s bouquet in 2011 that truly blended tradition with modernity. Kate’s arrangement included myrtle, lily of the valley, and hyacinths. One of the most iconic flowers in royal wedding bouquets is the lily of the valley. This delicate flower symbolizes humility, sweetness, and the return of happiness. Queen Victoria famously included it in her wedding bouquet in 1840, setting a precedent for future royal brides. The inclusion of the lily of the valley often signifies a desire for a joyful and harmonious marriage.
Using myrtle and lily of the valley in Kate’s arrangement honored royal traditions while hyacinths reflected a personal touch. Hyacinths in wedding bouquets symbolize a range of emotions and concepts, including love, beauty, joy, sincerity, and forgiveness, with meanings varying by color. Moreover, they represent playfulness, romance, and new beginnings, which is why they are often chosen for spring weddings.
The bouquet was smaller and more understated than Diana’s, aligning with contemporary bridal trends that favor a more natural look.
Meghan Markle: A Modern Twist on Royal Wedding Flower Tradition
When Meghan Markle married Prince Harry in 2018, her bouquet represented a significant departure from previous royal wedding flower arrangements. Meghan’s choice of flowers was deeply personal and symbolic. Her bouquet featured a mix of myrtle, sweet peas, and forget-me-nots.
In wedding bouquets, sweet peas symbolize delicate pleasure, happiness, and gratitude. Their soft texture, gentle fragrance, and airy quality add romance and elegance. You can use sweet peas as a main flower or as a filler to bring texture and lightness to the arrangement.
Forget-me-nots serve as a tribute to Princess Diana, as they were her favorite flowers. Moreover, these blooms are frequently utilized in floral arrangements and memorials to honor her legacy. Additionally, they symbolize true love and remembrance, which resonates with the enduring affection in which Diana is remembered.
Meghan’s bouquet was intentionally small and understated, reflecting her modern sensibilities and her desire for a more intimate representation of love and remembrance.
Additionally, Meghan’s bouquet was tied with a simple silk ribbon, contrasting with the more elaborate styles of previous decades. This minimalist approach resonated with contemporary bridal fashion, showcasing a shift towards simplicity and authenticity in royal weddings.
Don’t miss your chance to highlight bridal perfection during the ceremony using the trend set by Megan.
Personal Significance and Its Reflection on Royal Wedding Flowers
Royal wedding bouquets have changed over time, reflecting shifts in what society values and what is personally important to brides. As royal brides become more focused on their individuality, their flower choices show their unique personalities and values. For example, Meghan Markle included flowers that had personal meaning, which shows a trend toward making royal weddings more personal and less traditional.
Today, many brides choose seasonal and locally sourced flowers. This choice highlights a commitment to sustainability and a connection to nature. Meghan’s bouquet is a good example of this shift, as it featured flowers that were in season and available from local sources.
We can offer wedding planners a wide selection of wedding bouquets for the bride. Without any doubt, she can feel like a queen at the significant event of her life with the bouquet from Good Choice Flowers.
The journey from Princess Diana’s bold bouquet to Meghan Markle’s simple arrangement shows how royal wedding flower arrangements have changed over the years. Each bouquet tells a story about the brides’ styles and the shifting values and traditions of the royal family. As we look ahead, it will be interesting to see how these floral designs continue to develop, mixing tradition with modern ideas in the changing world of royal weddings.
Now that we’ve explored the elegance of royal wedding flowers, let’s discover how your corporate event can achieve the same sophistication.
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Born in Nalchik in 1966, graduated with a major in English Lit, and working as a school teacher since 1990. My interests are diverse: music, good literature, and computer technology at the user level. I like to try new things, and I bring what I started to its logical conclusion. Oh! And I do love my pets! I’m already 54 and I still believe in miracles and hobbits with elves and Gandalf. I myself am a bit of an adventuress like a hobbit, and I love mushrooms, too, like they do.