In China and Japan, the colour white represents death and funerals, so it’s avoided in weddings. Red is the preferred colour; roses and peonies are popular wedding flowers.
Greeks include ivy in their bouquets because it represents endless love and tenacity.
In Middle Eastern cultures, the herb artemisia is included in the bridal bouquet to help new couples overcome the tough and bitter times of the marriage.
Swedish and Danish grooms have been known to fasten pungent herbs like chives, garlic and rosemary inside their suit jackets for good luck and health.
In India, the grooms’s brother sprinkles flower petals over the couple at the end of the ceremony to ward off evil spirits.
Traditional English brides ate marigolds soaked in rosewater because the combination was thought to have aphrodisiac properties.
In Thailand, the mothers of the bride and groom drape flower garlands around the couple’s shoulders for good luck and fortune in their new life together.
In early Roman times, brides carried herbs under their veils to ensure fertility and fidelity.
The tradition of the flower girl leading the wedding party and scattering flowers is supposed to bring the new bride a life filled with happiness and flowers.
Traditionally, the bridal bouquet toss represented the passing on of good luck and to ward off evil spirits. Nowadays, whoever catches the bouquet will be the next one to marry.
Wedding Flowers: Trends of 2012 (funflowerfacts.com)
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