Begin your “happily ever after” with flowers and greenery rich in symbolism and history
By
Tessa Woolf
July 1, 2012
Published in the June 2012 issue of
Park City Magazine
Photographs by Leo Patrone | Prop styling by Saucy & Kitsch
Bright Ideas
To fashion this colorful bouquet, Kellie Jackstien of ARTISAN BLOOM (801-913-7444, artisanbloom.com) mixed vibrant summer blooms including coral peonies and yellow and red and green variegated ranunculus with miniature green hydrangea, purple veronica and anemone, green and white parrot tulips, lily of the valley, poppy pods, red heuchera leaves, and French pussy willow. Fluffy peonies are said to represent bashfulness—likely due to their common blush pink hue—but are also symbolic of devotion. Dainty bell-shaped lily of the valley is associated with a return of happiness. Pussy willow branches, studded with their signature velvety silver-white catkins, come from willow trees which are associated with new beginnings. With soil and water, a branch or twig from a willow will regenerate as a new tree, representing the power for growth and healing. In Celtic legend, the willow is known as the tree of dreams and enchantment, and its branches were often used in spells of fascination and binding.
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Rosy Outlook
“You can get lost looking into the center of an English garden rose—I always say it looks like a hurricane,” muses Sarah Winward, owner of HONEY OF A THOUSAND FLOWERS (801-231-3088, sarahwinward.com), who created this lush bouquet of the mesmerizing blooms. Roses are associated with beauty and love, but specific colors hold special meaning: pink is associated with admiration, compassion, and grace, while red stands for passion and romance. Winward notes that, in general, rose leaves represent hope, and when left on the stems, are said to bring good luck. Garden roses have been around since ancient times (paintings of the flowers dating back to the 14th century have been found in the Middle East), long before the modern day hybrid tea rose was introduced in the 19th century. Heirloom varieties have been passed down for ages, and since 1961, David Austin Roses has bred many of the varieties used today in floral and garden design.
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Budding Romance
Traditionally, grooms are supposed to pluck their boutonniere flowers directly from the bride’s bouquet and have them pinned on during the ceremony—today, his accessory is assembled and attached to his lapel pre-ceremony. For your nuptials, select key blossoms that coordinate with the bride’s blooms, and make sure the groom’s bout is distinct from those of his groomsmen. Clockwise: English garden rose and rose leaf by HONEY OF A THOUSAND FLOWERS; ranunculus and thistle by LA FLEUR; Green Eye rose and ranunculus by EMILY BROOKS FLORAL DESIGN; miniature hydrangea, poppy pod, and pussy willow by ARTISAN BLOOM.
Wild Love
To create this texture-rich bouquet, Natalie Bernhisel-Robinson of LA FLEUR (801-673-8758, lafleurdesign.com) clustered spiked thistle, smooth succulents, soft hydrangea, and paper-thin ranunculus, accented with refined orchids and delicate maidenhair fern. Thistle is an ancient Celtic symbol of a noble birth and character; it’s native to Utah and ranges in color from bright purples to cornflower blue. Showy hydrangea is associated with heartfelt emotions, earnestness, and perseverance. Throughout history, the meanings of orchids have included love, beauty, and strength; in Victorian England, they symbolized wealth and luxury. Slender maidenhair ferns, said to be reminiscent of the goddess Venus’s hair, represent confidence, the secret bond of love, and discretion.
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Secret Garden
Drawing on her experience in garden design, Emily Brooks Wayment of EMILY BROOKS FLORAL DESIGN (801-718-2612, emilybrooksdesign.com) created this architectural bouquet of ranunculus, lotus pods, Green Eye roses, astilbe, lisianthus, hanging amaranthus, hypericum, trachelium, kale, star of Bethlehem, brasilia, and foxtail lily in a soft palette of pinks, greens, yellows, and cream. Ranunculus was first discovered in Persian gardens in the 1600s by an English traveler who arranged to have the blooms shipped back to England, where they were welcomed with enthusiasm. Today they’re a popular pick for weddings. The ruffled petals convey the message: “You are radiant with charms” and “rich in attractions.” Seeded lotus pods are associated with offspring and fruitfulness. Long-lasting lisianthus communicates charisma and congeniality. And star of Bethlehem, named after the star in the Biblical account of the birth of Jesus, symbolizes hope, reconciliation, purity, and guidance.
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