How to guides A Short History of Wedding Corsages

Wedding Corsage product range

Wedding Corsages

When compared to the other wedding flowers, such as the bridal bouquet and the groom's buttonhole, the wedding corsages are often deemed to require less attention however they continue to be an important part of the wedding preparations. Corsages today are normally only offered to the mother and grandmother of the bride and groom however it is becoming popular for smaller versions to be given to other special members of the families and any other females of importance, such as godmothers and even the officiate if she is female.

The Origin of Corsages

Wedding corsages date back to the advent of wedding flowers when the ancient Greeks used the strong fragrances of flowers and herbs to ward off evil spirits during the ceremony. In addition to the bride and her bouquet, the other members of the wedding party were also given flowers to protect themselves, the females of which created small bunches which they held or pinned to their clothing.

Since their creation, corsages have remained a part of the wedding flower arrangements and while the bridal bouquet has undergone many transformations over the years, the design of the corsages has stayed virtually unchanged. Today wedding corsages are generally small and simple with the bride and groom's mothers having a slightly larger and more elegant setting than the rest of them.

Choosing the Wedding Corsages

There are a number of forms that a wedding corsage can take and so it is important to ask each of the recipients which form they would prefer to wear. The most popular form continues to be the lapel corsage which is simply pinned to the clothing of the wearer. If this is the corsage of choice then the old adage 'less is more' applies as large settings can become heavy and this can severely affect how some types of fabric lie.

Other options for the corsages include handbag corsages which are pinned to the front of the recipient's handbag or wrist corsages which adorn the wrist area and leave the hands free to do other things. Wrist corsages are quickly becoming very popular with younger bridesmaids and flower girls rather than they more traditional posies, especially since very young bridesmaids are prone to dropping their flowers on the way down the aisle.

As well as choosing the setting and form of the wedding corsages, the bride also has to choose the colour schemes and the flowers for each one. Some brides choose natural colours and simple lines that will complement any wedding attire and have identical corsages made for both mothers and any grandmothers present. White roses and carnations are very popular neutral choices and white or cream flowers coordinate with any colours the family may want to wear for the special day, plus keeping the colours neutral means that it doesn't matter as much if someone special decides to wear a different outfit at the last moment. More often though, the bride chooses individual wedding corsages that compliment the outfit of the mother or grandmother and this means that more exotic and colourful flowers can be used in their creation. Red roses and poppies are popular choices today, as are lilacs, lilies and orchids. It is not uncommon for a number of these flowers to be combined together in order to give an intricate design that makes a statement.

Often it can be quite difficult to strike a balance between keeping the wedding corsages unique and a reflection of the wearer's personality but also keeping them in context with the rest of the wedding flowers. If they stand out to much they may detract from the bride herself but if they blend in then they don't designate the wearer as a special family member as they are designed to do.

Other Things to Consider

As well as providing wedding corsages for the mother and grandmother and any other special relatives, it is important to remember that the bride herself needs a going-away corsage. This can often be created as part of the bridal bouquet and is simply removed from the centre and pinned to the going-away outfit. By using this corsage form, the flowers can be returned to the bouquet, providing they are made from silk or another artificial material, after the honeymoon finishes and the bride can retain her wedding flowers forevermore. Alternatively, the bride may opt for a wrist corsage as these often compliment the going-away outfit without detracting from its beauty.

Using silk flowers instead of fresh stems means that all of the wedding flowers, including the corsages can be kept as keepsakes and they will not wilt or suffer damage throughout the course of the special day. Plus, silk flowers are often available in a much wider range of colours and types than fresh stems meaning that even a winter wedding can have perfect and even exotic flower arrangements.

Finally, wedding corsages need to finish an outfit without swamping it. If the mother of the bride is planning to wear a simple straight dress then an intricate design of corsage using bold colourful flowers will overpower the outfit and it may even make the individual feel uncomfortable wearing it. Ideally the bride should ask the members of the family that she is planning to give a corsage to what kind of outfit they intend to wear so that she doesn't design something that is going to spoil the overall look.

Conclusion

Wedding corsages will always be an important aspect with regards to the wedding flowers and some thought should go in to choosing a design and flower combination that complements the personality and outfit of the recipient. It is considered to be much nicer if the bride chooses the arrangements herself rather than having the same basic corsage made up for all of the special family members that she wants to give them to. A traditional wedding can be made unique with a little imagination and by having a variety of corsage forms, including those that fix around the wrist; the female members of the wedding party can look as perfect and elegant as the bride herself.
 

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