Weddings are wonderful times where love comes together to form something truly beautiful. Whether you’re the one getting married or you’re there as a guest, there’s something special about a wedding that you won’t soon forget. The decorations, the music, the food, and of course, the flowers. In the UK, spending on wedding and funeral flowers accounts for over 10% of the total market and is worth around £300 million a year. Needless to say, flowers are an integral part of ceremonies in general. But how do you choose the right flowers for your wedding? You could go for your favourites as many do. Or you could choose the style that fits in with your wedding theme or aesthetic. But have you considered choosing flowers that signify something special?
The meanings behind wedding flowers
Starting with the obvious choice, we have the rose. Roses have been cultivated for more than 5000 years and are thought to have originated in China. The rose symbolises romance in general as well as everlasting love, beauty and courage and has been a symbol in wars, art and politics. But we already knew that. What’s interesting about the rose is it’s said to be ruled by the planet of love, Venus which makes it the ultimate expression of femininity. On the other hand, the white rose which is equally as beautiful as its red counterpart, signifies new beginnings which could be perfect for your wedding. There is a reason roses are so popular, after all.
Lavender is another flower that holds great significance, enough so that perhaps it should be at your wedding. Lavender derives its name from the Latin 'lavare' meaning 'to wash”. The Romans used Lavender to scent their baths, beds, clothes and even hair. Most commonly, lavender is associated with happiness, particularly happy marriages, but it also means love, devotion and fertility. It’s hard to find a better suited flower for a wedding than lavender. Especially considering how it also is associated with calming and peaceful thoughts, something we’re sure any bride and groom could use to calm wedding nerves.
Calla lilies are as beautiful as they are significant. They come in different colours, all of which have their own meaning. White symbolises purity and innocence. Yellow symbolises gratitude. Pink symbolises appreciation and romance. Red symbolises beauty and courage. Said to bring bliss to your wedding day, these lovely flowers are associated with beauty, fertility and life whilst offering a sleek modern look. As you might expect, calla lilies are incredibly popular choices for weddings but that doesn’t take away from how impressive they’ll look on the day. If you’re looking to inspire guests with awe whilst choosing a flower that signifies something meaningful, calla lilies might be a great choice.
Our final flower of the day is the inspired orchid. Representing love, luxury, beauty and strength, this flower looks incredible at any wedding. In fact, the orchid also symbolises luxury, providing your wedding with an additional feeling of elegance that we bet most brides will take an interest in. Interestingly, orchids are given as gifts in Japan, representing success. So you can be sure if orchids are at your wedding, you’ll have a long happy marriage.
A Ceremony amongst flowers
An option for some couples is to focus less on arranging bouquets of flowers, and shift focus to finding a venue situated amongst nature for an outdoor wedding. This means marrying in an outdoor location with flowers in bloom, so that they naturally form part of the ceremony. Doing this means you save money on a florist and gain some spectacular wedding photos from the ceremony. A venue like High Trenhouse is able to provide this. Of course, it does all depend on the time of year that you book your wedding. Spring and summer will be perfect if you want fresh blooming flowers. Autumn will work nicely if you prefer that leafy look!
Choosing the perfect wedding venue
Now you’ve thought about what flowers you’d like adorning the tables at your wedding, have you considered the location? Set amidst the stunning Yorkshire Dales, High Trenhouse is a converted farm house with two buildings sleeping up to 28 people across 21 bedrooms. We are also fully licensed to host up to 50 of your guests outside. The picturesque Yorkshire Dales make the perfect background for any wedding photos, regardless of what flowers you choose.
Get in touch with us to learn more.