If you’ve been reading along for the past few weeks, then you’ve noticed a few posts about the symbolism of  flowers.  Sure, when you put your wedding bouquet together, color is going to play a big part in your decision.  But what about a little sweet symbolism tucked in alongside your color-punch?  And roses?  Well, they have a language of their own.

We already know that red roses speak of love, pure and simple.  Did you know that the white rose is the traditional wedding flower?  The white rose carries a message of purity, innocence and unity, making it the perfect bloom for a wedding bouquet.

Pink roses are the coquettes of the rose family.  Standing for grace, elegance, sweetness and poetic romance in general, different pink hues carry additional meaning.  The lighter shades convey gentleness and admiration, while the deeper shades convey gratitude and appreciation.

No, silly.  The yellow rose does not just stand for Texas!  They’re actually native to the Middle East, and throughout the centuries they’ve been associated with the sun.  Today they convey joy and friendship.

Do I have a personal favorite?  I love them all, but the peachy-pink Sonia rose is my fave!

What’s yours?  Leave a comment, please!  I love to hear your thoughts.

Just click the Tweety Bird to follow us on Twitter!

Simply stunning, sensuously scented, a burst of fragrantly silky cream on rich green leaves, the gardenia has been a classic bride favorite for centuries.  Symbolizing secret love, purity and refinement, gardenias lend an old-world ambiance to your wedding.

Tuck one luscious blossom behind your ear, or pin a whole garland of them to the bow on the back of your dress a la Victorian weddings.  Rim the edge of your veil with the flowers, or your florist can make you a lovely bracelet of gardenias.  Then every time you lift you hand the delicious fragrance releases into the air!

Gardenias mix sumptuously with other flowers in a bouquet.  The late Princess Diana’s bouquet, which measured an amazing 42″ long and 15″ wide, prominently featured gardenias mixed with stephanotis, freesia, lily of the valley, and Earl of Mountbatten roses.

Sooooo… a  touch of fragrant Victorian flair for you?

Think fast! First thing that comes to mind when I say Tulips?  Holland, right? Guess again!

Turns out tulips are awash with  symbolism, apparently starting their journey to your wedding in Persia and Turkey.  They picked up their name, by the way, from the Turkish word for “turban”.

In  general, tulips symbolize “perfect love.”  And if you dig a little deeper, you find that each color has an extra meaning.  Like …

Pink = Perfect Love + Caring

Yellow = Perfect love + sunshine and happy thoughts

Red = Perfect love + true love

Psst!  The Persian translation = “my heart burns with passion”.  Cool, no?

The “official flower” of the 11th wedding anniversary, each tulip part has symbolism, too.  Like the velvety black center, which represents a lover’s heart, darkened by the heat of passion.

And of course, there’s always an ancient legend associated with flowers.  Tulips?  Well, there was a Persian dude named Ferhad, who fell passionately in love with Shiri, a local Persia beauty.  She didn’t return his affection (do they ever?) and so it broke his heart.  He hauled himself out to the desert for a good cry, during which time he died (we can assume from the broken heart).  His tears, as they hit the sad, burst into tulips. I’ve also see this as his blood.  Who knows?

Happy tulip wedding planning!