Christian Oth Studio
Amaryllis
Don't call amaryllis a wallflower! With its bold colors and lily-like style, it rightfully has made a name for itself in the botanical world as a "splendid beauty."
From romantic symbols to emblems of hope, the historical meanings behind some of the most popular big-day blooms may surprise you.
If you're planning a wedding with lots of personal touches — you're getting married the same month you and the groom met three years ago! Wearing Mom's veil! Serving the cocktail you had the night he proposed! — think about personalizing your flowers too. But instead of basing your choices on color and style alone, let the blooms' historical meanings inform your decision too.
The "language" of flowers is a thing and has been for centuries. During Victorian times, for example, flowers were used to express emotions when words and gestures failed. Today, many couples follow this romantic practice and create bouquets and centerpieces with flowers whose meanings have some significance to them. While flowers with a love connection, like roses and carnations, are popular, there are many other meaningful traits like new beginnings (daffodil), faith (iris), and perseverance (hydrangea) to consider.
While most flowers have good vibes and positive sentiments, you'll want to steer clear of those whose meanings have a negative association. (Begonia symbolizes "beware"; tansy, "hostile thoughts.") Color plays a substantial role in a flower's meaning too. Everyone's favorite wedding flower, the rose, has different meanings depending on the hue. While a red rose symbolizes passion, a white rose means purity and a pink one signifies joy and admiration. The same goes for hyacinths: The white variety means loveliness, the blue kind represents constancy.
Whatever sentiment you want to convey on your wedding day, there's sure to be a flower to fit your need. Just like every picture tells a story, every flower has a story to tell too.
Dennis Kwan Weddings
Anemone
You don't need a breeze to be charmed by the allure of this delicate bloom, which comes from the Greek word for "windflower," and symbolizes anticipation.
Lillian Haidar
Anthurium
If you're going with a heart theme for your wedding, this tropical beauty, which stands for hospitality, has a Cupid-inspired shape that will fit right in.
Rebekah Westover Photography
Baby's Breath
Like an extra in a movie that stays in the background, this popular bouquet and centerpiece filler — which signifies festivity — is there to support the star flowers. With tiny white clouds for petals, it deserves top billing of its own!
Jonathan Young
Calla Lily
When people think "wedding flower," this bloom often comes to mind. With its trumpet shape and elegant air, the calla lily more than stands up to its meaning: regal.
Kelsey Thompson
Carnation
Beyond being just lapel decoration, carnations can be massed together for a lush look that's affordable. The pink variety means gratitude, and white is pure love but stay away from striped, which represents refusal.
Katelyn James Photography
Cherry Blossom
Brides who want to incorporate these delicate pink buds, which symbolize the fragility of life, into their décor better act fast: They're only around for a few short weeks in the spring.
Red Fly Studio
Chrysanthemum
Looking like a cross between a pompom and a daisy, mums are a full-bodied favorite of weddings for their variety of color, shapes and sizes and their symbolism of joy.
Jose Villa
Clematis
A climbing plant of the buttercup family with large showy petals, clematis could be considered a brainy flower — after all, it symbolizes ingenuity and mental beauty.
Lisa Warninger
Daffodil
What do marriage and this shapely spring flower have in common? Both represent new beginnings, which is tailor-made for a bride and groom's big day.
Harrison Studio
Dahlia
A kissin' cousin of the daisy family, dahlias originated in Scandinavia and mean from the valley, perfect for a wedding with a garden theme.
Michael and Carina Photography
Daisy
If ever there were a flower that made the world smile, it's this pretty little thing, whose meaning is innocence. The daisy's free-spirit ambiance goes well with casual weddings.
Carlie Statsky
Forsythia
If you've been planning your big day for months (years even!), why not give a nod to your excitement by including this bell-shaped bloom, whose meaning is anticipation, in your arrangements?
Michael Falco of Christian Oth Studio
Freesia
A sweetly fragrant spring favorite with up to 10 tiny bell-shaped flowers on each stem, this beauty originated in Africa and represents innocence and friendship.
Natalie Franke Photography
Gardenia
This tropical treasure, known for its fragrance and waxy petals, symbolizes joy. It's got a reputation as a popular flower for a bride to wear in her hair.
Alyssa Joy Photography
Gerbera Daisy
A wildly popular member of the daisy family, the Gerbera differs from the traditional variety with rows of overlapping petals. But with a name that means cheerfulness, it has the same sunny disposition.
Figlewicz Photography
Hyacinth
If you're athletic and looking for a flower that symbolizes your love of games, look to the highly fragrant hyacinth, which was named after a Greek boy and represents sport or play.
Annabella Charles
Hydrangea
If you love full-bodied flowers, this round bloom with an abundance of tightly packed petals, is the one for you. Bonus: its marriage-ready symbolism of perseverance and heartfelt emotion.
Red Sparrow Photography
Iris
The inspiration for the fleur de lis, France's national emblem, the iris represents three important entities: faith, valor and wisdom. It's best known for its deep purple shading.
KT Merry Photography
Japonica
Also known as camellia, this classic Southern charmer, which grows as a flowering shrub, has lush petals similar to the peony and glossy leaves. Brides choose it because it exemplifies graciousness.
HA Photography
Larkspur
Let's hear it for a flower that has a dual personality: It symbolizes both beautiful spirit and fickleness. Part of the buttercup family, larkspur is a complex flower like the orchid with an irregular shape.
Izzie Rae Photography
Lavender
Don't just pick this flower for its gorgeous color and scent — give it a place in your arrangements for what it symbolizes: devotion and virtue.
Odalys Mendez Photography
Lilac
Is the groom the very first person you fell for? Awww. Consider walking down the aisle carrying a bouquet of this purple bloom whose meaning is first love.
Angie Silvy Photography
Lily
The symbol of modesty and virginity, the white variety of this timeless flower is a wedding staple. The other shades have significant meaning too: The orange lily symbolizes passion, while yellow represents gaiety.
Beach Productions
Lily of the Valley
Just one look at the tiny petals of this dainty bloom and its symbolism makes perfect sense: sweetness and purity of heart. It's also thought to represent a return to happiness.
Jose Villa
Magnolia
Generally associated with the south, this large showy flower with a distinctive fragrance is prized worldwide and has been around for 20 million years! Fittingly, it symbolizes nobility and dignity.
Jose Villa
Muscari
Also known as grape hyacinth, this flower develops small, urn-shaped blossoms that are usually purple (symbolizing mystery, calm, and creativity) but also comes in dark blue (for power and confidence).
Kelly Hornberger
Orchid
Carrying a bouquet of this exotic beauty on your wedding day is not only a sign that you love a dramatic touch but that you are a woman of refinement and charm, its symbolism.
Lisa Lefkowitz Photography
Peony
Romantic brides may love peonies for their lush fluffy petals, but they'll cherish the meaning even more: The bloom symbolizes a happy marriage.
Lehua Noelle
Poppy
For your wedding, choose the right color of this eternally cheerful bloom: A red poppy is linked to pleasure, yellow stands for wealth and success. But steer clear of white, which signifies consolation.
Elizabeth Messina
Protea
Dating back 300 million years, this flower comes in many sizes and colors and symbolizes courage and diversity. It was named after Greek god Poseidon's son, Proteus, who could change his shape at will.
Louisa Bailey
Queen Anne's Lace
Symbolizing delicate femininity and complexity, this wedding favorite of frilly white blossoms comes with a naming legend: Queen Anne was challenged to create a lace as delicate as a flower.
Reese Moore Photography
Ranunculus
Well known for its diversity of brilliant colors, this rounded bloom is similar in appearance to camellias, with multiple layers of crepe-paper-thin petals. It's no wonder the flower symbolizes radiant charm and attractiveness.
Josh Gruetzmacher
Rose
If you want your bridal bouquet to tell the world how you feel about your groom, nothing says it better than red roses, which symbolize passionate love. Pink (admiration) and white (purity) say a lot too.
Linnea Paulina Photography
Snapdragon
Though this bloom stands for two vastly different ideas: One, gracious lady, seems more fitting for such a lovely flower than its other meaning, deception. The latter may have come about because if you squeeze it a certain way, the flower looks like a dragon's mouth.
Rachel Solomon Photography
Stephanotis
Lots of family and friends will wish you and your new husband well on your wedding day. Get a head start by filling your celebration with this flower that's a symbol of good luck.
Nami Dadlani Photography
Sunflower
Big and lush, sunflowers — symbolic of dedicated love — are beloved for their striking appearance and look-at-me allure and are often used at rustic, country-themed nuptials.
Lisa Lefkowitz
Sweet Pea
If you want your wedding to be remembered as one of blissful pleasure, incorporate some of this delicate flower into your centerpieces.
Dixie Pixel
Tulip
If it's spring, it's tulip time! This beloved beauty comes in many colors, each with a different meaning. Among them: Red means declaration of love, yellow is sunshine and the variegated kind symbolizes beautiful eyes.
Emily Wren Photography
Tweedia
Any bride wishing for something blue in her bouquet should check out this pretty bloom known for its blue star-shaped flowers and greenish-gray felted leaves symbolizing peace and harmony.
Cassidy Parker Smith
Zinnia
Gardeners are wild about this flower because it attracts butterflies, and brides love it for the gorgeous variety of colors like magenta (lasting affection) and scarlet (constancy).
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