More than words. What your flowers are saying!

In Victorian times flowers took on much more than making a pretty tabletop. Called floriography, this coded language gave individuals a way to communicate feelings that were not allowed to be expressed openly. This is where the "tussie mussie" (small bouquets) sprang from. Add special meaning to your wedding day with some secret flower choices.

Amaryllis	Pride
Ambrosia	Love is reciprocated
Anemone	anticipation, unfading love. Price Range: Moderate.
Apple blossom	Preference
Aster	Symbol of love, daintiness, talisman of love,trusting
Azalea	Take Care, temperance, fragile, passion, Chinese symbols of womanhood
Baby's breath	Innocence, pure of heart. Price Range: Inexpensive
Bachelor button	Single blessedness, celibacy
Bells of Ireland	Luck
Buttercup	Riches
Calla Lily	Magnificent beauty  Price Range: Expensive
Carnation (general)	Fascination; distinction; love. Price Range: Inexpensive
Carnation (red)	Deep romantic love, passion, "My heart aches for you," "Alas; for my poor heart!"
Carnation (green)	secret symbol of the followers of Oscar Wilde
Carnation (white)	Sweet and lovely, innocence, pure love, faithfulness
Carnation (pink)	A woman's love, a mother's love, "I'll never forget you," "Always on my mind,"
Carnation (purple)	Capriciousness, whimsical, changeable, unreliability
Carnation (mauve)	Dreams of fantasy
Carnation (solid color)	Yes, affirmative
Cherry blossom	Feminine beauty
Chrysanthemum (red)	“I love". Price Range: Inexpensive
Daffodil	chivalry, return my affection. Price Range: Inexpensive (in season)
Dahlia	Elegance and dignity
Daisy (general)	Innocence, loyal love, purity, faith, cheer, simplicity. share your feelings.
Daisy (red)	Beauty unknown to possessor. Price Range: Inexpensive (in season)
Freesia	Meaning: Innocence. Price Range: Inexpensive (in season)
Forget-me-not	True love
Gardenia	You're lovely, secret love, joy, sweet love, good luck. Price Range: Expensive
Hibiscus	Rare delicate beauty
Hydrangea	heartfelt gratitude for being understood. Price Range: Expensive
Iris	Good news. A message of faith, wisdom. Price Range: Moderate to expensive, depending on variety
Ivy	Dependence, endurance
Jasmine	Unconditional and eternal love (in the Philippines)
Jonquil	"Return my affection"
Lavender	Devotion
Lilac (purple)	First emotion of love
Lilac (white)	Youthful innocence, memories. Price Range: Moderate to expensive. The French lilac is more flower-like and can be used as such in bouquets and arrangements.
Lily (white)	Purity
Lily (scarlet)	High-souled aspirations
Lily (orange)	Desire, passion. Price Range: Moderate to expensive
Lily of the Valley	Sweetness, Humility, Returning Happiness, Trustworthy. Price Range: Expensive. These small, fragile, bell-shaped flowers are considered traditional marriage flowers.
Moonflower	Dreaming of love
Orchid	Refined beauty. Price Range: Expensive
Oxeye daisy	Patience
Peony	Bashfulness; Prosperity & honor (China); Masculinity & bravery (Japan). Price Range: Expensive
Phlox	Harmony, "Our souls are united", "We think alike"
Plumeria	Perfection, springtime, new beginnings
Primrose	Eternal love
Protea	Courage
Poppy (general)	imagination
Poppy (red)	Pleasure
Poppy (white)	dreams, modern, peace
Poppy (yellow)	Wealth, success
Rose (red)	True love
Rose (blue)	Mystery, attaining the impossible, love at first sight
Rose (white)	silence or innocence, wistfulness, virtue, purity, secrecy, reverence and humility
Rose (black)	Death, hatred, farewell, rejuvenation or rebirth
Rose (yellow)	Friendship, jealousy, infidelity, apology, a broken heart, intense emotion, dying love, extreme betrayal
Rose (pink)	Grace
Rose (dark pink)	Gratitude
Rose (light pink)	Desire, passion, joy of life, youth, energy
Rose (burgundy)	Unconscious beauty
Rose (coral or orange)	Desire, passion
Rose (lavender/violet)	Love at first sight
Rose (red + white)	United
Stephanotis	Marital happiness. Price Range: Moderate. These trumpet-shape blossoms are traditional bridal flowers, no doubt due to their meaning.
Sunflower	Short-stemmed meanvPure and lofty thoughts. Price Range: Inexpensive to moderate in season
Sweetpea	"You have my thanks", Pleasure. Price Range: Moderate
Tulip (red)	Undying love. Price Range: Expensive.
Tulip (purple)	Forever love
Tulip (white)	One side love
Tulip (yellow)	Hopeless love
Violet (blue)	Faithfulness
Violet (purple)	Daydreaming
Violet (white)	Modesty
Violet (red + yellow)	Joy, happiness and excitement
Violet (thornless)	Love at first sight
Wheat	Wealth and prosperity

Flowers with Negative meanings
Certain flowers & plants have less desirable meanings attached. You might reconsider having them in your bouquets if you're superstitious. Or you can ignore those traditions and create all new meanings for the blooms you enjoy. Just for kicks, here's that list.

Christmas Rose: Scandal	Red Poppy: Consolation
Fig: Idleness	Rhododendron: Danger
Foxglove: Insincerity	Striped Carnation: Refusal
Larkspur: Infidelity	White Poppy: everlasting Sleep
Lavender: Distrust	Yellow Carnation: Disdain
Marigold: Grief	Yellow Chrysanthemum: Slighted Love
Mulberry: I shall not survive you	Yellow Lily: Falsehood
Raspberry: Remorse	Yellow Rose: Jealousy
Red Carnation: Alas for my poor heart

When are my flowers in season?

Choosing wedding flowers that are in season can save you some money. Most florists can special order out-of-season buds but you'll be paying premium prices for the privilege. Keep your wedding purse fuller by checking this list for the blooms in your season.

Spring
Anemone: Blue, red, pink, white. Jan-May and Aug-Dec.
Bells of Ireland: Green. January-October
Boronia: Pink. April-May
Casa Blanca Lily: White. January-October
Daffodil: Yellow. January-Early May
Delphinium: White, Blue. April-October
Hyacinth: Purple, Pink or White.
Lilacs: Violet or White.
Narcissus: White.
Peony: Pink or White. Late Spring – Early Summer
Ranunculus: White, pink, red, orange, yellow. February-May
Star Gazer Lily: Pink, White. January-October
Sweetpea: White, pink, red/coral, and lavender/purple. December-May
Tulip: Many colors like white, pink, yellow, red, and purple. December-April
Waxflower: Pinkish purple and white.

Summer

Alstromeria:  orange, pink, yellow and cream, other colors
Bells of Ireland:  Green  January-October
Chrysanthemum:  White, Yellow, Orange, Pink, other colors
English Lavender:  Purple
Forget-me-not:  Blue
Freesia:  White, Yellow, Pink, Blue, Purple
Gerbera Daisy:  Pink, Yellow, Orange, Red, White
Hydrangea:  White, Blue, Purple, Pink
Iris:  Purple, Blue, White
Larkspur:  White, Purple, Blue, Pink
Liatris:  Pinkish Purple
Lily (asiatic/oriental): White, Pink, Yellow, Orange
Lisianthus:  Purple, White, Pink
Matsumoto Asters:  Pink, Purple
Monte Casino Asters:  White, Purple
Queen Anne's Lace:  White
Snapdragons:  Pink, Yellow, Orange, White, Other Colors
Solidaster:  Yellow
Statice:  Purple
Stephanotis:  White
Sunflower:  Yellow, orange
Tuberose:  White
Yarrow:  White, Pink, Yellow
Zinnia:  Red, Orange, Pink


Fall
Aster:  White, Pink
Chrysanthemum:  White, Yellow, Orange, Pink, other colors
Dahlia:  Many Colors
Marigold:  Yellow, Orange, Red
Statice:  Purple
Zinnia:  Red, orange, pink
Dried Leaves


Winter
Amaryllis:  Red, White
Anemone:  Blue, red, pink, white  Jan-May and Aug-Dec.
Bells of Ireland:  Green  January-October
Camellias:  White, Pink
Casa Blanca Lily:  White  January-October
Cosmos:  Pink, White, Brown, Other Colors
Daffodil:  Yellow  January-Early May
Forget-me-nots:  Blue
Holly:  Green with Red Berries
Jasmine:  White
Narcissus:  White, Yellow
Poinsettia:  Red, White
Ranunculus:  white, pink, red, orange and yellow  February-May
Star Gazer Lily:  Pink and White  January-October
Star of Bethlehem:  White
Sweetpea:  white, pink, red/coral, and lavender/purple  December-May
Tulip:  Many colors, including white, pink, yellow, red, and purple  December-April
Waxflower:  Pink, White

Available Year-Round
Baby's Breath:  White
Bachelor's Button:  White, Pink, Red or Blue
Calla Lily:  White, other colors
Carnations:  Many Colors
Delphinium:  Blue, White, Purple
Eucalyptus:  Blue, Silver
Gardenia:  White
Gladiolus:  Many Colors
Heather:  Pink
Lily of the Valley:  White and Pink
Orchid:  Pink, White, Purple, Other Colors
Protea:  Pink
Rose:  Many Colors. higher priced near Valentine's Day
Scabiosa:  Purple, White

2013 wedding flower trends

Choosing the blooms you'll have in your wedding is almost as important as a color theme. Flowers should accent, not distract. If you have different styles of bridesmaid dresses for each person, the flowers can help pull them all together.  Here are some trending flower options projected for 2013. Don't forget to check when your favorite blossoms are in season!

Dahlias - Variety of white, pinks, reds, oranges, purples. Large or small blooms. Check out this recipe you can bring to your florist for Burgundy Dahlia and Eucalyptus wedding bouquet from Wedding Chicks. 

Mums - Ranging in color from limey greens to fiery orange, mild pinks and whites. Similar in style as dahlias but more compact softer petals. 


Peonies - ball-like blossoms reminiscent of ice cream scoops in white, light yellow or pastel to dark pinks. Petals can be slightly fragile. Old-world charm.

Brunia Berries - More of an accent flower than a main bouquet character. Small round berries on stalks. 


Succulents - Not blossoms as they are actually leaves that resemble buds. Possibly an alternative to flowers if you're extremely allergic. Mostly green colors but some have tinges of rose pink, purple or red.



Baby’s Breath -  Traditionally an accent piece and still used regularly as such. Gaining popularity as a stand-alone bloom. When used as the main bouquet character, it can feel light and airy. 


Ranunculus - Compact petals in round blooms with a flat top. Similar to peony but less ball-like. Come in a variety of colors. 



Anemones - Open blossoms with dark centers. They can make an impact with contrasting colors.



Garden roses - Timeless roses appeal to many. Come in a variety of colors. Great for garden weddings.



Clematis - Star-like open blooms in a variety of colors. Grow on trailing vines which can also be used as greenery in bouquets.