Choosing the right flowers is always a difficult task for a bride who wants to follow tradition, but at the same time have something exclusive, with a WOW effect. A delicate wedding bouquet of lilies of the valley will probably be the best option. Fragile miniature bells with an unforgettable aroma are inextricably linked with May flowering and the awakening of nature. Unlike their brighter and more exotic “brothers”, they will not distract attention from the newlywed, while at the same time subtly emphasizing her beauty.
Lilies of the valley are the true aristocrats of the flower world. Suffice it to say that they are a mandatory element of wedding arrangements for all members of the British royal family. The cute May flower is no less fashionable than peonies, hydrangeas and garden roses. However, he is capricious and requires a special approach.
Botanical description
Lily of the valley (Convallaria) is a herbaceous perennial belonging to the Asparagus family. There are still debates whether it should be considered a monotypic plant or two more populations should be distinguished as a separate species. In the wild, it prefers mixed and oak forests, forming vast clearings.
It blooms from early May to mid-June (in countries with warmer climates it can bloom as early as April). The gracefully arched stem supports from 6 to 20 snow-white bells. Lance-shaped leaves grow only from a basal rosette.
All parts of the plant, and especially the fruits, are poisonous. This does not prevent it from being actively used in medicine, in the production of pacemakers and choleretic drugs. Due to its beneficial properties and unique beauty, the spring flower was collected so aggressively that, despite its wide natural habitat, it was on the verge of destruction.
Wild species of the genus Convallaria are listed in the Red Book. Their collection is strictly prohibited.
For a bridal bouquet of lilies of the valley, you need to choose only garden or greenhouse plants. Today, about 10 varieties have been bred - cultivars, which are not only not inferior to their forest “relatives”, but also surpass them in their decorative properties. There are varieties with pink buds, terry, with pronounced stripes on the leaves, as well as a high peduncle reaching 50 cm.
Bridal bouquet of lilies of the valley: what do the flowers “say”?
There are many beautiful and sad legends associated with lilies of the valley. For example, according to an ancient Russian legend, a sea princess fell in love with an earthly youth. But his heart already belonged to someone else. Then the princess went ashore and burst into tears. And in the place where her tears fell, these wonderful flowers grew.
But no matter how many versions exist, all legends agree on one thing: spring lilies of the valley in a bride’s bouquet are a symbol of purity and tenderness in a relationship. Even through photographs, you will definitely be imbued with the beauty and sensuality of these fragile inflorescences.
Symbolism
The British are some of the most passionate fans of lilies of the valley. In English, the name of the flower sounds like Lily of the Valley, which means “Lily of the Valleys.” The snow-white messenger of May personifies love in its highest manifestation, spiritual purity and innocent happiness that returns to the newlyweds. It is not surprising that British monarchs attach such importance to the miniature “lily of the valleys”. The most famous representatives of the royal dynasty, including the legendary Princess Diana, included it in their wedding arrangements.
“Returned Happiness” is another popular name for a charming forest perennial. It arose from the legend of a nightingale, which sang only while it smelled the enchanting aroma of lily of the valley. When the modest flower hid in the grass, the winged artist thought that no one needed him and flew away in sadness. But as soon as the lily of the valley looked out of its hiding place, the happy nightingale returned and burst into a magical song again.
Among other European peoples, “lilies of the valleys” were no less revered. They were associated with the blossoming of nature, the approach of summer, the joy of life and, of course, romantic relationships.
In many countries, May 1 is celebrated as Lily of the Valley Day, only in France this holiday is moved to the first Sunday of the month.
Lovers present each other with small bouquets of fragrant flowers, which without words speak of the most sincere and tender feelings. Often such a gift is accompanied by a marriage proposal. If a girl agrees to get married, she presses flowers to her heart, and if she refuses, she throws them on the ground.
Among the Slavic peoples, magical functions were attributed to “returned happiness.” They used the tiny bells to guess like a daisy, wanting to know the attitude of the chosen one. The Scandinavians believed that lilies of the valley planted near the house would protect the family hearth and bring prosperity to the house.
Mysterious lily
Lily is an exotic flower for our region. To tell the truth, making a bouquet of lilies yourself is not so easy. Why? Firstly, these flowers, aware of their divine origin, are very whimsical. And secondly, lilies act as an accent and can play a cruel joke on you in a mono bouquet. Thirdly, they have a very strong smell, so you can leave them in the room with you on your wedding night, but only after removing the middle, and such a procedure can only be performed by an experienced florist.
If your entire wedding takes place under the auspices of “all by yourself,” then you can weave wreaths from lilies for a bachelorette party. After all, even in beautiful Rome, young girls organized festivals and competitions in honor of the divine flower.
Wedding style and image of the bride
Due to seasonality, lily of the valley bouquets are best used for spring weddings. Dutch producers offer May flowers all year round, but the cost of arrangement in this case will be fabulous.
Delicate miniature “lilies” are suitable for both classic and eco-weddings of various styles. The exception is Provence with its lilac-powdery and country colors, where bright and not so graceful plants are more appropriate.
Wedding compositions can be round, teardrop-shaped or free-form. They are rarely large, even when it comes to mixes, let alone lily of the valley mono-bouquets. Therefore, such arrangements are recommended for fragile, short brides. The girl's color type also matters. If you have a bright appearance, it is better to abandon a mono bouquet in favor of a more complex, textured and contrasting composition. The main role in it will not be played by lilies of the valley, but by large accent flowers: roses, peonies, callas.
For a tender, soft, pretty “spring”, a wedding bouquet of lilies of the valley is just perfect.
The final stage: packaging
For quite a long time, no special importance was attached to the design of packaging for bouquets of fresh flowers; its role was played by transparent cellophane. Later, packaging made of bright corrugated paper, fancifully decorated with prints and scallops, and complemented with floral mesh, became a sign of good taste.
Peonies in craft paper Source flowerbulbs.nl
To date, there has been a trend towards the use of more discreet and sophisticated packaging for flowers; Florists know how to properly arrange a bouquet. They offer a lot of interesting materials. The following options are common:
- Paper. Paper packaging is still in trend due to its practicality and variety. It can be monochromatic, with thematic patterns and reliefs; Kraft paper is gaining popularity. Texture types are interesting: corrugated, waffle, crinkled, crepe. Korean packaging (tracing paper) is becoming popular, which does not wrinkle and gracefully deforms around the bouquet.
Corrugated paper Source prom.st
- Fabrics. Elegant and soft artificial linen goes well with any floral arrangements. Rough jute burlap made from natural raw materials is suitable for exotic flowers. Floral felt, light and moderately dense, is suitable for both voluminous, tall bouquets and small buds.
Bouquet in burlap Source wallbox.ru
Features and rules of care
Representatives of the genus Convallaria are not only wild, but also garden, and do not remain fresh for long when cut. In addition, they are toxic to other plants. Therefore, it is advisable to collect arrangements with several types of flowers on a floral sponge, so as not to place them in water during the wedding.
Mono-lily of the valley bouquets can be left on their stems, but they must be “soldered off” as often as possible and sprayed with settled room water.
The following measures will help maintain the freshness of the composition:
- Cut the flower stems at an oblique and scratch them with a needle for better penetration of moisture. It is advisable to do this under water so that the thinnest capillaries do not become clogged with air.
- It is important to keep the arrangement away from drafts and direct sunlight - both are detrimental to the delicate May perennial.
- You can add charcoal to the water, but never sugar. It's best left to the roses.
- If by the end of the celebration the buds begin to fade, shock therapy will help. Lily of the valley stems are first kept under running water, then cut to 1 cm and dipped in boiling water, cooled to 80ºC. After 2 - 3 minutes, the flowers are removed and wrapped in thin natural fabric. The stems are trimmed again and immersed in cold water. The bouquet becomes fresh again. Now it can be placed in regular settled or filtered water (but in no case directly from the tap).
During the desoldering process, which precedes the assembly of any bouquet, May lilies should be kept in a separate container, not added to other flowers. Otherwise, all the “neighbors” in the composition will quickly die.
Flower arrangement in a box
Flowers in a box are original, beautiful and presentable. To make a bouquet, take any flowers, the main thing is that they match each other in color and shape.
- Place a floral sponge in a bowl of water for 15 minutes and completely soak it with liquid.
- Line the bottom and sides of the box with film. If the cardboard is moisture resistant, skip this step.
- Sometimes florists frame the edge of the box with thick lace or corrugated paper to give the bouquet a certain shape.
- Trim the flower stems to the desired length at an angle.
- The stems should not rest against the bottom of the box - this will prevent them from absorbing liquid.
- Maintaining an angle of 25-30º, begin sticking flowers and decorations into the sponge, moving from the edges to the center.
- Constantly rotate the box to the sides - this way the composition will be uniform, without gaps.
Instructions on how to assemble a beautiful bouquet of flowers in a box.
If you don't have a sponge, you can take a plastic container or plastic bag, fill it with water, place the plants in it, and then put it in a box.
About wedding bouquets
If you don’t want to spoil your wedding celebration, worry about a bouquet for the bride and groom in advance.
- Do not buy flowers for a wedding bouquet in the last days before the holiday - do it in advance so that even rare specimens are delivered on time.
- If you want to stand out with your bouquet, don’t order it from a catalog – show your imagination and tell the florist about your preferences.
- Choose a flower arrangement to match the style of the dress, type of appearance and figure. Show the florist your future wedding outfits - your dress and the groom's suit. Indicate what kind of jewelry you will be wearing.
- Show the master the wedding bouquets that you like - this way the florist will get to know your taste a little.
- If you or your guests are allergic to any plants, be sure to mention this when ordering.
- Tell the florist whether you plan to travel around the city by boat. The master will take these nuances into account when composing the bouquet.
Wedding arrangement
Like other spring plants, “lilies of the valleys” are distinguished by their delicacy; “glossy” decor can negate their beauty. For the handle of the bouquet arrangement, it is better to choose light natural fabrics: linen, silk, chiffon, or openwork lace. Use pins with decorative heads as fastenings. Cameos and other jewelry should be reserved for a more lush arrangement, rich in color and texture.
Often, when decorating bouquets of lilies of the valley, greenery is used, not only the “native” leaves of the plant, but also salal, pistache or pittosporum. The opposite solution is also popular, when a bouquet arrangement is assembled exclusively from peduncles. Varieties with large terry bells are especially suitable for this.
What to combine with
Mono arrangements are traditionally made from the beautiful “lilies of the valleys” - this is a recognized classic of world floristry. In search of interesting mixes with other flowers, it is worth turning to the experience of British florists who created compositions for the wedding of Crown Princes William and Harry.
For Kate Middleton's floral accessory the following were chosen:
- hyacinths;
- Turkish carnations;
- myrtle;
- ivy.
All the buds were collected in a mini-cascade on a porta bouquet. The arrangement of the second bride, Meghan Markle, who recently became related to the royal family, was a little brighter, fully consistent with the exotic appearance of the former fashion model and actress. Used:
- astilbe;
- white forget-me-nots;
- myrtle;
- astrantia;
- sweet pea.
Florists followed the fashion for a free, natural style, choosing simple garden plants to “company” lilies of the valley. But May “bells” look no less impressive with the most luxurious flowers:
- roses;
- orchids;
- freesia;
- gardenias;
- stephanotis (Madagascar jasmine).
The unforgettable Lady Di, Princess of Wales, chose a similar combination for her wedding bouquet.
Combination of textures in a composition
Each plant/flower has a special appearance of petals and foliage called plant texture. There are 8 texture groups that must be taken into account when arranging bouquets.
| Texture | Suitable flowers |
| Rustic | Rudbeckia, helianthus |
| Woolen | Ageratum, astilbe, cotton grass |
| Silky | Anemones, poppies |
| Brocade | Gaillardia, marigolds, primrose |
| Velvety | Some types of roses and violets, Saintpaulia |
| Porcelain | Hyacinths, orchids |
| Glass | Irises, bells |
| With a metallic sheen | Sedum, begonias, anthurium |
Spring cascade
Another interesting example of the combination of “lily of the valleys” with popular garden and field plants of the spring season. It is attractive because it is budget-friendly - almost all components of the arrangement can be grown in your own garden. The charming cascade looks very fresh and attractive. Thanks to the abundance of greenery, as well as the inclusion of pink and light purple buds, it is suitable for girls of the “summer” color type.
In addition to the “lily of the valleys” you will need:
- blooming honeysuckle;
- apple tree branches with flowers;
- cherry;
- periwinkle.
The arrangement will be assembled on a bouquet holder with an inclined handle. This is a special variety for "cascade" and "drop". First you need to saturate the floral sponge (piaflor) installed in the holder with water. We simply put the material in the water and wait until it sinks to the bottom. With slow natural immersion, the sponge is maximally moisturized. If you try to speed up this process, dry areas will remain and the plants that fall on them will quickly wither.
We return the moistened piaflor back to the holder, after which we place the porta bouquet holder on a narrow vase. It will serve as a support while assembling the flower arrangement and will collect excess water flowing from the sponge.
We form the main directions of the composition with cherry branches. We install them at the bottom of the holder, as well as in the center, setting the horizontal and vertical. We support the dynamics with greenery and periwinkle flowers. Before adding lily of the valley peduncles, we free them from leaves, which will be used separately.
The volume is created by flowering apple tree branches. Now that the “head” of the arrangement is ready, let’s begin creating the cascading part. Flexible, beautifully curved branches of honeysuckle honeysuckle with soft pink flowers will help us here. The same plant is suitable as a filler for the main part of the composition.
We bend the lily of the valley leaves in half and fasten them with a stapler or tape. We make a cuff out of them, covering the lower part of the composition. We decorate the handle of the bouquet holder at our discretion with a satin, or even better, linen ribbon. A bow or other decorations would be of little use here. We try to make the decor as laconic as possible, focusing on the arrangement.
Wedding bouquet of lilies of the valley and garden flowers. Final photo:
Mobile applications for florists
Mobile phone applications for floristry are always full of useful tips and life hacks.
Here are the most popular ones:
- InfoFlowers - will help you choose flowers for allergy sufferers, sort flowers by shade and find out about the presence of a certain plant in the database;
- Garden Answers - knows all the names of flowers (helps if the names are not labeled on the base), suggests alternative options if the necessary plants are not available;
- FlowerBook includes several ways to sort shades, suggests the presence of seasonal plants, features high-quality photographs, and information about the stages of flower opening.
A bouquet of flowers, assembled step by step with your own hands, can evoke admiration among guests and pride among the master. The main thing in floristry is not to be afraid of experiments, to use your imagination, to try something new. It is important to take into account the nuances that allow flowers to retain their freshness and original appearance for a long time.
Author: Kravtsova Victoria
frilly dahlia
The complete opposite is a bouquet of dahlias. These flowers easily form the basis of a bouquet. This blend will look most organic at an autumn wedding and in the hands of a middle-aged bride. I won’t recommend dahlias to too young girls, because they can create dissonance with the mood of the entire celebration. This flower was known to the wise Aztecs, but even in our area, over the course of five centuries, people managed to get used to it. In the language of flowers, the dahlia signifies pretentiousness, pride in achievement and respect for others - a very nice and complex flower.
Unforgettable Veronica
For brides who prefer small details, we recommend Veronica. Despite their small size, twigs of these flowers can form the basis of a composition. Veronicas are perfect for sentimental brides; they will help restrain unnecessary emotions at the wrong moment and increase the feeling of joy and self-confidence. Due to some variety of colors, speedwells allow you to create a flowing composition with transitions. The meaning of these colors ranges from wisdom to kindness.
