Wedding traditions ... where did they come from?

In the shadow of the multibillion-dollar wedding machine, it can be hard to tell real tradition from a made-up sales pitch. Without question, the wedding industry has piled on the notion of paying to preserve tradition, when in fact, many of those high-priced traditions, such as the diamond engagement ring, don't go back much further than the 1920s.

Nonetheless, some traditions are real.... like a brides bridal bouquet. The custom of bouquets has its origin in ancient times. Women carried aromatic bunches of dill & garlic, to ward off evil spirits. The bouquets were never made with florals,  but strong-smelling herbs and spices. The strong smells were thought to have mystical powers and meant to keep away evil spirits. 

Fast forward to Victorian times, flowers became the secret messengers of lovers; each flower within the bouquet symbolizes its own meaning. Lovers began using floral exchanges to convey messages. Thus bridal flowers were chosen with regard to their traditional significance. 

However in our modern times, brides pick their flowers based on their colors, shapes, and overall wedding theme. Bridal bouquets now symbolize each brides own unique and individual taste!