Blog Migration

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What are the Significances of Wedding Flowers?

From Erik Michaels and June Hoffman of Megasound

For instance, why does the groom wear a boutonniere? Why do the bride and her bridesmaids carry bouquets?

Historically, flowers represent fertility, purity, new life, and never-ending love. Therefore, they are perfect for a wedding! Originally, bouquets included herbs and spices along with the flowers. These additions helped cover up offensive body odors and also were used to ward off evil spirits, bad luck, and ill health. Strong spices and herbs were believed to scare these bad spirits and other problems away and in many instances, the spices and herbs were eaten afterwards to promote fertility and desire. Dill weed, garlic, chives, and orange blossoms were most frequently used, but which flowers, spices, and herbs were used had to do with local traditions. During Roman times, both the Bride and Groom wore garlands of flowers, much like the Hawaiian lei in today's world. A Groom’s boutonnière also reflects a more chivalrous time when a knight would wear his lady’s colors into battle.



During Victorian times, flowers took on specific meanings between lovers or two people who could not otherwise express their communication in words or written letters or notes. These meanings came to be used for the Bride's flowers, as their meaning could be easily seen by all attending the wedding. Most everyone is familiar with the meanings of roses with red meaning true love or romantic love, yellow meaning friendship, and white meaning purity, reverence, and virtue. However, many of the meanings of flowers have been lost with time. The language of flowers, called “floriography”, has a fairly large online presence. I also found it interesting that there were even differences of meanings and slight nuances between colors and types of flowers.

While the Bride's flowers were generally white, nowadays flowers can be almost any color to augment the colors of her wedding. Megasound has worked with many florists over the years and we will be happy to recommend qualified professional florists who will be happy to help you pick the right flowers for YOUR wedding. We also take the time at the rehearsal to go over placement of flowers and bouquets for the best logistics and photo options. Should you like to know more, just give us a call at 260.484.2460.

Are You “Tying the Knot”?

from Erik Michaels and June Hoffman of Megasound

Most people are familiar with the phrase "tying the knot" although relatively few know the origins of the saying. For much of history, rope has been the most powerful way of connecting things and people. “Hand-fasting” is an ancient custom of binding together the hands of the bride and groom during the wedding ceremony, and a special knot was used for this. As such, the expression of "tying the knot" supposedly came from this tradition according to some historians.

Another story about how this expression came to be actually dates back to Roman Times when the bride wore a girdle secured by a knot. After all the festivities of their wedding night, the groom had the honor of "untying the knot." The couple's lives were then "tied together."

Other stories of ritual binding were also popular in ancient Carthage where the couple's thumbs were laced together with a strip of leather. In India, the Hindu groom knotted a ribbon around his bride's neck, and once tied, the marriage was legal and binding.

Get the inside scoop about other wedding traditions and ways for less stressful wedding planning by contacting Megasound. Don’t wait too long as there is limited availability on many key wedding dates in 2010!

What Does “Honeymoon” Really Mean?

from Erik Michaels and June Hoffman of Megasound

Many stories surround the origins of the tradition of the honeymoon. As we wrote about previously, in ancient times, many of the first marriages were by capture, not choice. When early man felt it was time to take a bride, he would often carry off an unwilling woman to a secret place where her relatives wouldn't find them. While the moon went through all its phases (about a month), they hid from the searchers and drank a brew made from honey. Hence, we get the word, “honeymoon”. This is a rather literal translation of how the practice began.

Another similar story explains how the Teutonic people began the practice of the honeymoon. Teutonic weddings were only held under the full moon. Afterwards, the bride and groom would drink honey wine for thirty days. Therefore, the period immediately following the wedding became known as the honeymoon. While the name survived, the purpose and timeframe of the honeymoon changed. After the wedding, newlyweds would leave their family and friends to go and do what newlyweds are supposed to do. Nowadays, while the purpose survives, a romantic destination (like a vacation) is instead used.

Another literal translation of this tradition comes from the dictionary. The word "honeymoon" first appears in the 16th century. The honey is a reference to the sweetness of a new marriage. The moon is not a reference to the lunar-based month, but rather a bitter acknowledgment that this sweetness, like a full moon, would quickly fade.

While there are probably other stories as to how honeymoons got started, one practical reason shows that the term 'honeymoon' comes from the tradition of the bride drinking honey mead for one month after the wedding to encourage fertility. A male child was particularly desirable, and it was thought back then that the drinking of honey mead by the bride would increase the chances of this happening.

At Megasound, we work with many other Fort Wayne wedding professionals who specialize in planning honeymoons. We are more than happy to share those vendor references with our brides and grooms so they can plan their honeymoon.