For Vibrant Brides of Color

Ethnic Flower Superstitions

This is a fun way to choose what goes in your wedding bouquet.

It can't hurt to check!

Choose your Flowers carefully!
The blossoms you select for your wedding day are rooted in rich cultural and historical traditions. From ancient Rome and Greece to the Caribbean, we've gathered the most interesting flower-related customs we could find.

HOT TIP: Send flowers instead of a note to your wedding director!

In Thailand, the mothers of the bride and groom walk to the altar to drape puang malai (flower garlands)around the couple's shoulders to wish them good fortune in their life together.

Rose and hibiscus composite bouquets.

In the Caribbean, Hibiscus is often carried in the bouquet to ward off bad omens!

Swedish and Danish grooms sew small pockets of strong-smelling herbs like garlic, chives, and rosemary into their clothes for good luck.

Toss rose petals for good luck

The Indian groom's brother sprinkles flower petals over the couple at the end of the ceremony to protect them from evil.

Ancient Greek brides often carried ivy at their weddings as a symbol of their neverending love for their sweeties.

Herb Wedding Bouquet

Ancient Roman brides carried bunches of herbs to symbolize fidelity and fertility -- and to scare off evil spirits.

The Victorians, who were fascinated by the meanings of different blooms, popularized the wedding rose, which represents true love.

The bride originally tossed her bouquet to a friend as she left the festivities to keep that friend safe (by warding off evil spirits, of course) and to offer her luck; this came to mean that the single woman who caught the bouquet would marry next.

In a Greek Orthodox wedding, crowns of orange blossoms were traditionally made for the bride and groom -- they even matched the delicate embroidery on the bride's dress. The blossoms symbolize virginity and purity because they are white and fragile, and they emit a sweet, delicate scent.

In Tudor England, brides carried marigolds dipped in rosewater and ate them afterward, since they were thought to be aphrodisiacs!

Front grill decorated getaway car

According to Italian tradition, the front grill of the Italian getaway car is decorated with flowers, paving the road to a happy marriage.

In the Middle East, the bitter herb artemisia is incorporated into bridal bouquets to ensure that marriages will survive bitterness as well as sweetness.

According to Indian tradition, both the bride and the groom sport a floral headpiece.

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