What's the history behind the Bridal Bouquet?

Brides carry bouquets for a mix of historical, symbolic, and practical reasons that have evolved over time. The tradition dates back to ancient times when bouquets weren’t always flowers. In ancient Greece and Rome, brides carried bundles of herbs like garlic, dill, or rosemary to ward off evil spirits and protect the couple from bad luck. These herbs were also thought to have medicinal or symbolic properties, like promoting fertility or love.

By the Middle Ages, bouquets started including flowers, but the practical reason was often to mask body odor, as bathing wasn’t as common. Strong-smelling herbs and flowers helped keep things pleasant during ceremonies. 

Over time, as hygiene improved, the bouquet became more about aesthetics and symbolism. In the Victorian era, specific flowers gained meanings—roses for love, lilies for purity—turning bouquets into a kind of coded message about the bride’s intentions or virtues.

Today, bouquets are mostly a tradition rooted in these historical practices, serving as a beautiful accessory that complements the bride’s look and the wedding’s theme. 

They also give brides something to hold, helping with nervous hands during the ceremony. Plus, the bouquet toss has become a fun ritual, symbolizing passing on good fortune to the next person to marry. So, it’s a blend of superstition, practicality, and style that’s stuck around for centuries.