“Some people choose the flowers at the wedding on the basis of their symbolic meaning. For example orange blossom has always been associated with weddings because it signifies purity and chastity. Peonies are avoided by some as they represent shame; azaleas represent temperance: roses symbolise love and snowdrops represent hope.
A combination of red and white flowers is avoided by the superstitious because they stand for blood and bandages…..The groom often chooses a flower for his buttonhole which also occurs in the bride’s bouquet. This is a vestige of the time when a Knight would wear his Lady’s colours to display his love.“
Who makes these things up? Why would paeonies represent shame? If they do my garden illustrates that I am a shameless hussy.
I do remember my Ma not liking to put red and white blooms in a vase together, unless there was another colour there as well, and many nurses (from the era when nurses would do the flowers at visiting time for their patients) would not put red and white together.
Anyway it will be interesting to see what flowers will be in the Royal Bouquet – any guesses?
Flowers likely to be in season are; Allium, Anenome, Antirrhinum, Bluebell, Calla Lilies, Columbine, Cow Parsley, Delphinium, Eucalyptus, Freesia, Fritillaries, Hyacinth, Iris, Larkspur, Lilies, Lily of the Valley, Magnolia, Narcissi, Ranunculus, Rosemary, Scabious, Sweet Peas, Tulips, veronica, Viburnum and Violets.
Boadicea's Chariot 
My mother would never have white lilies in the house – she says that they remind her of funerals.
I know others that feel the same. My objection is after they have fully opened; then the perfume gets to heavy for me. Rather heady and verging on the nauseating.
My mother disliked the Arum Lily in the house, because it was deemed a funeral flower, daft really, they are a beautiful flower, if good enough to send the dead on their way, surely a place in the home mustn’t be a problem. Superstitions are man made, and silly, mother nature is beautiful.
Too right Val!
I would opt for some freesias, Pseu, but not cow parsley, I think.
A bunch of oak leaves if their heraldry has anything to do with it.
I feel exactly the same about white lilies.
In fact I said this to the florist when I went to choose the flowers for my mother’s funeral! Oops, but we had a laugh about it.
The flowers were beautiful.
Freesias are lovely, Sheona.