By Sarah Fiorello August 16, 2024

Our gardens and natural areas are bursting with blooms this month, which also happens to be the height of wedding season. Wearing flowers during a wedding ceremony has long been a celebrated tradition across cultures. The ancient Romans wore garlands of flowers during weddings to symbolize fertility, fidelity, and new beginnings. Carrying modern bouquets in the United States is often traced to 1840 in England, when Queen Victoria held a small spray of flowers when she married Prince Albert.
 
A short walk around Cornell Botanic Gardens in August unveils a diversity of blooms included in wedding ceremonies around the world—each culture favoring different blooms based on their beauty, symbolism, and tradition.

Hydrangea

Ninety-one different types of hydrangeas, representing eight species, are generously dispersed throughout the gardens around the Nevin Welcome Center and concentrated in the Zucker Shrub Collection within the F.R. Newman Arboretum.

Although hydrangeas are native to China, Japan, Korea, the Himalayas, Indonesia, and the Americas, they are most widely used in wedding ceremonies in the United States and Europe, symbolizing enduring love, everlasting friendship, and family bonds.

Rose

Perhaps the most iconic wedding flower, roses are cherished worldwide for their elegance and varied meanings. Different color blooms convey different sentiments—deep red for love and passion; white for purity and new beginnings; pink for admiration, gratitude, and joy; yellow for friendship and happiness.
 
Over a dozen different varieties of roses are found in the Young Flower Garden and neighboring Robison Herb Garden.

Baby’s breath

Walk to the Heasley Rock Garden to find two varieties of baby’s breath (Gypsophila repens). Often used as a delicate filler flower, it symbolizes innocence and everlasting love.

The Robison Herb Garden is a treasure trove of blooms used in weddings around the world:

Marigold

Several varieties of French marigold (Tagetes patula) are found in the “dye bed” in the herb garden. In Mexican weddings, marigolds, particularly the vibrant orange varieties, are used to celebrate life and death. Although associated with Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations, they also symbolize the beauty of life and joy.

Marigolds are also integral to Indian weddings, symbolizing purity, prosperity, and the sun. They are used in garlands and floral decorations throughout the wedding ceremony.

Lavender

On a visit to the “lavender bed” in the Robison Herb Garden, you’ll see (and smell) 15 types of lavender (Lavandula sp.). Popular in French and Spanish weddings, lavender represents devotion and love. Its calming fragrance and beautiful purple hue add a touch of elegance and romance to arrangements.

Scotch thistle

Found in the “herbs in literature” bed, thistle is thought to bring an abundance of luck and happiness. Its blooms signify overcoming adversity and personal challenges, likely due to its ability to grow in unfavorable conditions. In Celtic cultures across Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, thistle has historically been a crest of bravery, courage, and strength.

Jasmine

Found in the “tea herbs” bed, Jasmine is highly significant in Thai weddings, symbolizing purity and grace. Its sweet fragrance and delicate white blooms are used in garlands and wedding decorations.

Whether you are able to visit Cornell Botanic Gardens in person or enjoy our gardens and natural areas from afar, we invite you to explore this virtual wedding bouquet of blooms from our collections.