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Flowers, Always and Always B Y H ELEN H ERNDON F LOWERS WITH THEIR DELICACY , BEAUTY AND SWEET AROMAS HAVE LONG BEEN THE INSPIRATION FOR ARTISTS AND BEEN USED AS TOKENS OF LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP . T HE FAMOUS IMPRESSIONIST C LAUDE M ONET SAID , “I MUST HAVE FLOWERS . A LWAYS AND ALWAYS .” eloved First Lady, “Lady Bird” Johnson said, “Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” That is a sweet sentiment and compelling reason to adorn a wedding day — a day filled with promise and hope as a couple officially begin their new life together — with flowers. Flowers have been an important part of the wedding tradition for centuries and should be a vital part of a brides budget and careful consideration. In ancient Rome brides wore or carried flowers to signify purity and the hope for fertility. In the Middle Ages flowers were generally thought to ward off evil spirits, bring good health and additionally were used for the important task of masking body odor. In Greek mythology, myrtle in particular, with its small creamy- white fragrant blossoms, represented the goddess Aphrodite and adorned the Three Graces, her attendants who represented the graces of femininity. Women of both ancient Roman and Greek cultures bathed in myrtle-scented water in preparation for their wedding. Myrtle was also prized by the Hebrews and was their symbol for marriage. In Wales, brides once gave a sprig of myrtle to each bridesmaid to plant. It was believed if the sprig survived and flourished the bridesmaid would soon wed. Myrtle was also a Victorian symbol of fidelity in marriage. Queen Victoria significantly popularized the wedding bouquet. She sweetly incorporated snowdrops, which were Prince Albert’s favorite bloom, as well as myrtle — perhaps knowing its significance and tradition in history. The use of myrtle in her wedding bouquet is thought to have been repeated in every royal wedding since, in- cluding most recently that of Catherine Middleton and Prince William in 2011 and that of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in May 2018. While a flower’s meaning can be easily researched, most modern brides choose flowers based on their visual appeal, to complement their color scheme, or the season and their availability at the time of the wedding. No matter the motivation, flowers are an integral part of a bride’s wedding budget. Jenny Loughridge, owner and designer of Jenny Noland Designs, offers brides-to-be an important insight for wedding flowers: “My number one tip is plan a budget for your wedding flowers!” According to Jenny, for quality and impact, the budget for the flowers should be close or equal to the budget for the venue or photographer. “Respectfully,” says Jenny, “if you rent a venue for $6,000 do not expect to be able to decorate it for $1,000.” It stands to reason, as well, that beautiful floral arrangements will improve the quality of the wedding photos so do not lose sight of the big picture. The budget, says Jenny, will be dictated by the bride’s main focus for her wedding flowers. “For instance, I like to create a focal point in the venue. Maybe a ‘wow’ factor on a baptistery ledge at the church or at the altar area of the venue. But, during the pan- demic, perhaps a bride would like to spend more money on table centerpieces where guests will be seated longer for an intimate gathering or dinner, giving guests something beautiful from every angle of the table.” Another important impact on the floral budget is the wedding venue — particularly if the wedding and reception are not in the same location. When choosing a venue it is important to ask if there are restrictions on approved floral designers, time and access 18 AL/ Metro 360 www.almetro360.com INSIDE OUT ........................................................................................................................................ Jenny Loughridge of Jenny Noland Designs. Photograph courtesy of Jessie Barksdale Photography. B