Are you looking for an unusual wedding bouquet? Take note of the composition of lilies of the valley. Are spring inflorescences suitable for all brides? It is worth considering both personal preferences and the meaning of the flowers in the wedding bouquet, the palette and style of the celebration. The portal svadbagolik.ru has prepared photos of bouquets with lilies of the valley for you so that you can see for yourself how attractive such compositions look.
Celebrities often prefer these delicate flowers. For example, Kate Middleton's wedding bouquet consisted mainly of fragrant lilies of the valley combined with other inflorescences. He looked simply amazing!
Reference
It is generally accepted that you can buy a bouquet of lilies of the valley only at the end of spring, sometimes at the beginning of summer. That's when they bloom in our climate. But thanks to the successes of the greenhouse business, it is now possible to purchase a composition at any time of the year , since lilies of the valley with rhizomes are brought from Dutch greenhouses.
They are already planted in special containers or prepared for planting, so from such plants you can arrange either a traditional bouquet (by cutting off the stems with buds), or a basket or boutonniere.
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.
Symbolism
Lily of the valley is a symbol of purity .
Most people associate the luminous whiteness of delicate petals, the juicy green of large leaves, and the unobtrusive sweet aroma with purity and freshness. In modern culture and the “language of flowers”, a lily of the valley at a wedding is consent to marriage, evidence of the purity and tenderness of the newlyweds’ feelings . It can also be used as a symbol of the bride’s innocence, so older ladies who are getting married for the first time should prefer other colors.
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.
What to add?
If no other flowers are used in the floral arrangement, it is advisable to complement the lilies of the valley with fresh bright greenery and/or openwork (lace) or satin ribbons that match the tone (since the plant’s own leaves quickly turn yellow).
Sometimes the bouquet is packed in special paper or a lace “frill”; even feathers are used as a frame. But in any case, it is advisable to wrap the lower part of the composition with something , since the bright green leaves can stain the bride’s gloves.
Who should buy a bridal bouquet? Details at the link .
Since “May flowers” are too modest, they are often used in combination with other flowers :
- With light-colored tulips , they add the meaning of “nobility” and “admiration” to the modesty of the May flower. Can also be interpreted as a symbol of luxury;
- Terry lilac - it symbolizes spring, and also sadness. Therefore, it is added to wedding bouquets in combination with other flowers, for example, roses of a suitable color;
- With freesia , the main meaning here is “trust”, “confidence”, serious intentions. This theme is perfect for a wedding;
- Callas - in the language of flowers they mean family happiness, building relationships;
- Peonies - they add femininity and tenderness to the basic meaning;
- Roses are an eternal classic of the genre. In combination with roses, lily of the valley takes on the meaning of solemn and at the same time passionate purity. With a huge variety of varieties and colors of roses, the possibilities for decorating a bouquet are almost limitless.
Flowering period
Unlike many other flowers, lily of the valley is one of a kind, it comes in only one species. The plant is a thin stalk that contains several inflorescences in the form of drooping bells. Lily of the valley leaves are wide, which allows you to create a beautiful bouquet without adding additional elements. After flowering ends, red poisonous berries appear on the stems, so it is advisable to pick the flowers at the beginning or middle of flowering.
As a rule, lilies of the valley begin to bloom in May or June, when warm weather sets in, but in the middle zone this process can begin earlier - at the end of April. These flowers can be found in forests, but recently they have also appeared among gardeners, which makes the process of making a wedding bouquet easier. Some people manage to develop a winter variety of lilies of the valley that bloom for the New Year, but this happens extremely rarely.
Photo
The images below show combinations of lilies of the valley with the previously listed colors:
with tulips / with lilacs
with yellow freesia / with callas
with peonies / with roses
More photos of newlywed bouquets with lilies of the valley:
Care Tips
The peculiarity of the flower is rapid fading . Therefore, it is not worth collecting a wedding bouquet of lilies of the valley in the forest. It is better to purchase a ready-made arrangement from experienced florists who will correctly “assemble” the bouquet, take care of its safety during the long day and give advice on caring for it after the wedding.
- In a combined bouquet, capsules with a preservative solution should be different for different groups of flowers ;
- Bright sun, drafts, strong wind and frost are contraindicated for any plants, but especially for lily of the valley;
- For winter weddings, such a bouquet is practically unsuitable , since the petals caught in the frost will quickly lose their appearance.
- At home, it is better to keep the composition in a dark, cool place ; it is better to take it out of the bedroom at night - the strong smell can cause a headache.
How to throw a bouquet at a wedding? Read more about this .
Bouquet shape
Don't know how to design your wedding bouquet? We offer the best options:
- sphere as the most elegant classic;
- a floral cascade will add sophistication and bohemianism;
- the basket will add a fairytale touch to the celebration.
If there are few branches in the bouquet, you will get a light floral web, and a large number will create a lush composition.
Lilies of the valley at celebrity weddings
Hyacinths, gardenias, freesias, ivy, myrtle, orchids and lilies of the valley in Princess Diana's became as famous as her luxurious dress. But Kate Middleton preferred lilies of the valley and hyacinths.
This is interesting . How much do celebrity wedding dresses cost? We have compiled the TOP of the most expensive dresses in the world . Read more .
Claudia Schiffer chose a delicate mono-bouquet and a floral wreath for her wedding . Another celebrity also had a monobouquet - Audrey Hepburn , although in the film “Funny Face”.
Thanks to the masters of the greenhouse business, lilies of the valley are available in almost any season. But it is better to prefer this delicate bouquet specifically for a spring wedding - then they will best be able to emphasize the freshness and purity of the newlyweds’ love.
