What Did Flowers “Say” About This Special June Bride & Her Maids of Honor?

Art of the Garden

Jun 13

My mother is a June bride ~ and I marked what would have been 78 years of marriage with a beautiful bouquet of roses to gift her on this auspicious occasion. 💞 (There’s no expiration date on love, right?).

Later, I consulted their wedding announcement, the kind that ran in their local newspaper, most often in the social pages when it was the custom to herald the couple returning from where they journeyed on their honeymoon, their new address (wouldn’t this be verboten in today’s hyper-security alert concern?!), their parents, the bridal showers, the gowns worn by the bride and her maids of honor ~ (sorry lads ~ no mention of your white tuxedos) and most charming, the flowers that each lady carried and wore in her hair.

All the nuptial news got me thinking that it would be so lovely to honor those thoughtful floral designs by recreating them for the couple’s anniversary every year. In some design you create in their honor.

Recreate a wedding bouquet design to celebrate an Anniversary

Herewith, is my Mother Virginia’s lovely bouquet, a nostalgia evocative of her wedding day as reported in the news:

Given in marriage by her father, (Allen R. Voorhees, my parentheses) the bride had a white organdy gown made with a hooped skirt trimmed with tiers of ruffles.

Her fingertip veil was held by a tiara of orange blossoms,

And her bouquet was of gardenias, white roses, baby’s breath, and a white orchid for the center.

The Wedding Party ~ and all the fabulous flowers whispering words of love

Her sister, Mrs. Elaine Phillips, was matron of honor gowned in coral organdy. Her bouquet was of tea roses, delphiniums, and baby’s breath.

Her sisters Margaret and Alice, were the bridesmaids and wore aqua organdy gowns. They carried bouquets of yellow roses, daisies, and baby’s breath.

The attendants’ head pieces all matched their bouquets.

The news doesn’t report on either the men’s attire nor their florals, but I can see from the (Black and White photos ~ no color images back then), delicate white baby roses on their white tuxedos’ lapels .

Let’s unpack these flower blossoms and their meaning, shall we?

The Rose, of course, celebrates love the world over.

White Roses symbolize Purity, Innocence, and New Beginnings. White Roses are known as the quintessential flower for fresh starts and honest intentions, they stand for unity, loyalty, and a deep, everlasting love 🌹
Curiously, Baby’s Breath symbolizes the same. Its sincerity, purity and love adds that double dip to an arrangement.
Amplifying this theme, the White Orchid makes it a kind of veritable hat trick of attributes: White orchids symbolize pure love, innocence, elegance, and new beginnings. With their striking, symmetrical petals, they are the perfect floral gesture to express deep admiration, reverence, and respect

The Orange Blossoms Mother wore in her hair echo the love pronounced in her bouquet, Orange blossoms too are heavily steeped in romance and tradition. Primarily symbolizing purity, fertility, and eternal love as well as New Beginnings. Because of the flower's bridal association, the Victorian phrase "to gather orange blossoms" historically meant "to seek a wife". In ancient China, Persia, and Mediterranean countries, they have long been used in bridal crowns and bouquets to ensure fertility and happiness. In the language of flowers, orange blooms represent vibrant energy, joy, and warmth. Orange blossoms are believed to have deeply calming effects, too; reducing anxiety, and tension. (Hey, weddings were always a wee bit stressful!)

Bridal Bouquets adorn the Wedding Cake-Cutting table that Mother’s Father lovingly created for the special day

In Aunt Elaine’s Matron of Honor bouquet, the Delphiniums symbolize positivity, an open heart, and good will, as well as dignity, and grace.

In Mother’s sisters’ bouquets, the Yellow Roses mean joy, warmth, and caring ~ just what you want from your ladies in waiting, no? Yellow Roses also represents Optimism: Their sunny color bringing happiness and energy.

And then there is the Daisy ~ now it is Mother’s favorite blossom. 🌼

Daisies represent innocence, purity, new beginnings, and cheerfulness. Thanks to their bright appearance, they are widely recognized as symbols of joy, loyal love, and simple, natural beauty.

The Daisy echoes the overall themes resonating throughout the wedding floral designs: Purity, Innocence, True Love, and New Beginnings.

The Daisy symbolizes Purity, New Beginning, Joy, & Loyal Love

I marvel at such thoughtful selections to amplify Mother and Daddy’s promises to each other and to their shared hope for their future together.

To that point, I asked her what the wedding day was like and she wrote: “The day started out with a little rain. My friend loaned us her new car. My dad decorated it with streamers. The church went as usual. The reception was in our backyard. Many of our neighbors donated food that was (presented: my parenthesis) indoors and out. When we left for church, the sun came out for the rest of the day. About 40 people were there. In the dining room in front of the bay window, dad set up a table for the wedding cake. Drinks were plentiful. (Mother and Daddy didn’t drink and she emphasized that Daddy never did…).

I hope that when choosing flowers to celebrate, mark an occasion, especially a wedding or engagement, you consider the Language of Flowers. I have written about the tradition of Floriographies, as the Victorians referred to it. You can read more here at Garden Graphemes: The Language of Flowers

So, no matter that almost 80 years have passed since her wedding day, Mother still is happy to receive a pretty boquet of roses that speak of love. And to reminisce about her “Happy Day.”