Wedding bouquets are a long-standing custom, but do you know that the origin of the bouquet once had nothing to do with romance or beauty? Way back to the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, the floral display was meant to ward off evil spirits. In the Middle Ages, the perfumed scent masked body odor. The flowers were purely ornamental in the Elizabethan era. It wasn't until the Victorian age that the flowers became symbolic and sentimental; the most popular flower symbols were fertility and fidelity.

Even now, many brides-to-be choose their floral arrangements based on the symbolism of each flower, the specific kind and color. There is a "science" referred to as floriography where each flower is chosen to increase the love, fertility, passion and overall success of the marriage. The flowers most associated with love and passion are red roses, red tulips, daisies, baby's breath and white carnations. While red roses represent love, white say charm and innocence, pink roses portend perfect happiness, orange for fascination, and yellow roses symbolize friendship, joy and gladness. Beware of the yellow carnation, as that can predict disappointment and rejection.

Vines and leaves are also used in many bouquet arrangements, many times for aesthetic reasons and often to make the bouquets appear fuller while keeping costs lower. Some of the more common add-ins include, both fake and real, willow leaves, eucalyptus, tree leaves, nandina foliage, and vines (sometimes with small fruits attached). Vines and greenery can help to shape your bouquet. The shape should complement the dress/gown style, the elegance of the wedding and, of course, the bride herself.

The classic round bouquet is stylish, understated enough not to detract from the bride, and still beautiful. Cascading bouquets often use lots of greenery, can be a mix of short and long stems, and often mix a variety of flowers and colors. The teardrop bouquet is a smaller version of the cascade but without the long, trailing vines. The nosegay style of bouquets was once reserved for members of the bridal party but is now becoming more popular to highlight the bride herself. The nosegay features a petite look and often showcases just one type of flower. Bridal party members could be furnished with an individual complementary flower and ribbon.

Unfortunately, the expense of extravagant floral arrangements puts extra burden on the wedding costs, especially if flowers are also needed for bridal attendants and parents/family members of the couple. Although many brides no longer throw the bouquet, either foregoing it altogether or tossing a matching nosegay instead, the chances of preserving your complete bouquet are usually not optimal. Florists sometimes must bring flowers in from other parts of the country (or world), which puts your beautiful flowers at an even greater risk of demise. That beautiful and expensive memory is liable to remain only in the photos of the day and your memories.

But there are many other non-floral bouquets that are becoming increasingly common. Who says that your beautiful wedding bouquet needs to be organic? Many options are becoming more commonplace, and the iconic bridal bouquet now comes in silk, paper or felt. Some bouquet designers are using goods like buttons, beads and even pearls to fashion something eye-catching. Others use natural items such as seashells, twigs, feathers and other trinkets. One more fashionable alternative to the floral bridal bouquet is hand fans made of paper or silk. The item of beauty representative of love, happiness and family might even be a favored pet being carried down the aisle instead of a bouquet!

Whatever "bouquet" is chosen, remember that it is just an accessory to the entire bridal outfit and should never overshadow the dress or the bride. A petite bride wearing a slim A-line, for example, should carry a small bouquet that doesn't detract from her or her gown. A taller, or fuller, bride wearing a full ballgown wedding dress could probably pull off a large bouquet. Remember also that the larger the bouquet, the heavier it is to carry. If the bride does plan to toss her bouquet, it might take a few more muscles to successfully launch it across a room.