How to guides A Short History of Bridal Posies

Bridal Posies product range

Bridal Posies

Bridal posies have been popular and unpopular many times throughout their long history. They are commonly described as being a simpler and cheaper version of the full bridal bouquet however this isn't strictly true, the bridal posy is a flower arrangement in its own right and today more and more brides are returning to the simple beauty of posies.

A Short History of Bridal Posies

Bridal posies, as with all other forms of wedding flowers, date back to the era of the ancient Greeks when brides would use fragranced flowers and herbs to ward off evil spirits that were thought to attack the bride during the wedding ceremony. The small hand held flower arrangements became popular for the first time during the Victorian Period and at this time the bride would often choose a single type of flower which expressed her sentiments for her husband. If she chose roses she was seen to be expressing her love whereas lilies signified purity and red poppies told of the pleasure her beau had bought to her life. Many of the flowers commonly used in bridal posies have a traditional meaning however today brides tend to choose their flower combinations according to their personal tastes and the colour scheme of the wedding.

During the early part of the twentieth century the bridal posy went out of fashion and was replaced by big, extravagant bouquets however the 1960s saw a revival of the small posies that has never really waned since. Today, many brides seem to find it much easier to hold a posy during the ceremony than a large flowing bouquet and for this reason women are increasingly turning to silk bridal posies as their primary choice of wedding flowers.

Choices of Bridal Posies

There are two main forms that a bridal posy can take however there are limitless variations on these themes that can make a bride's posy unique. The first is a structured, formal arrangement which has a somewhat perfect and highly polished appearance. The Biedermeier is a variation of this form that consists of a number of concentric circles of brightly coloured flowers, each circle being composed of a different flower type. The overall look is that of a symmetrical, often geometric shape which is arranged to perfection. The second form however is much more loose and unstructured and often makes use of florists wire, vines and ribbons to hold the flower arrangement together. This informal look allows more delicacy and variation to be achieved and brides today often interweave a combination of ribbons, lace, feathers, beaded fabrics and other decorative adornments in with their chosen flowers to give their bridal bouquets a unique touch.

It is not uncommon for the bride to have two bridal posies created, one more intricate and detailed than the other. The first is to use during the ceremony and for the official wedding photos while the second is to throw to the single female guests at the reception as the tradition dictates. It is also becoming increasingly popular for the bridal posies and in fact all of the wedding flowers to be created from silk rather than using fresh blooms. This is because fresh flowers tend to wilt and become damaged while being formed into the posy design, especially when a structured, formal shape is needed. By using silk flowers the bride can rest assured that her bridal bouquet will last for the length of her special day, plus she will have the posy to keep as an everlasting memento.

Things to Consider

There are a number of things to consider when choosing a bridal posy. The first and possibly the most important is whether a small flower arrangement will complement the bride and her wedding gown. Posies tend to suit shorter brides as they are more proportional to the physical size of the individual and they don't detract from the female figure. Tall, slender brides are similarly more suited to long, trailing bouquets or loose, flowing posies that have vines or ribbons hanging down.

The bridal posy also needs to complement the bridal gown. This means that a simple flowing gown should have a simple but beautiful posy created from just one or possibly two types of flowers, maybe with pearl or beaded adornments. A highly detailed gown should have an intricate posy to match and it may be that in this case more exotic flower combinations can be used, such as Orchids, poppies and Stargazer Lilies. By choosing to have the bridal posy made with silk flowers the bride can have a much wider range of flowers and colours to choose from which perfectly match her wedding attire and the theme of the day.

Colour is another important consideration when choosing a bridal posy. The colour of the flowers needs to match the overall colour scheme of the wedding however it also needs to contrast slightly so that it becomes the centrepiece of the bride's attire. A very strong colour should be avoided if the bridesmaids are also going to carry complementary posies as this can overpower the bride herself. Rather than choosing a strong colour for the silk flowers it is often preferable to interweave coloured ribbons or feathers in with the flowers or alternatively add pearls, beads and even tiny twinkling lights to the main flower heads. It can be quite difficult to strike the correct balance between understated and overstated when it comes to the bridal posy however a flower designer can help with this point.

Conclusion

The bridal posy is undoubtedly an important part of the brides wedding attire and it is something that should convey the sentiments of the bride while also combining her favourite combination of flowers in a simple but beautiful form. A simple posy can be made unique with the addition of a number of small adornments and with the use of silk flowers as apposed to fresh stems the posy will undoubtedly last past the bride's special day and well into her future.

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