Iconic Wedding Bouquets Through History: A Guide to the Most Famous Florals
Weddings are remembered not only for their gowns and glittering jewels but also for the flowers that brides carry down the aisle. A bouquet is more than an accessory—it can symbolize love, tradition, and even political alliances. Here’s an Ellermann Florist guide to the most famous wedding bouquets in history, and the stories behind them.
Queen Victoria (1840)
Flowers: Orange blossoms
Why it matters: Queen Victoria set the standard for modern bridal fashion with her white gown, and her choice of orange blossoms—symbolizing purity and fertility—launched a craze across Europe. Brides soon saw these fragrant blooms as the ultimate token of virtue.
Grace Kelly (1956)
Flowers: Lilies of the valley
Why it matters: When the Hollywood actress married Prince Rainier of Monaco, she carried a dainty yet regal bouquet of lilies of the valley. Its understated elegance perfectly complemented her now-legendary lace gown.
Princess Diana (1981)
Flowers: A cascading bouquet of gardenias, stephanotis, orchids, freesias, lily of the valley, and Earl Mountbatten roses
Why it matters: Diana’s bouquet was a grand, trailing arrangement nearly three feet long. It captured the extravagance of her fairytale wedding to Prince Charles and became one of the most photographed bouquets in history.
Kate Middleton (2011)
Flowers: Lily of the valley, hyacinths, myrtle, and sweet William
Why it matters: Catherine, Princess of Wales, honored tradition by including sprigs of myrtle from Queen Victoria’s garden—a royal custom since 1845. The inclusion of “sweet William” was a sweet nod to her groom.
Meghan Markle (2018)
Flowers: Forget-me-nots, sweet peas, jasmine, lily of the valley, and myrtle
Why it matters: Meghan’s bouquet was deeply personal. Forget-me-nots were Princess Diana’s favorite flower, and Prince Harry handpicked some blooms himself from Kensington Palace gardens. The bouquet symbolized remembrance, romance, and continuity.
Jackie Kennedy (1953)
Flowers: Gardenias and orchids
Why it matters: When Jacqueline Bouvier wed John F. Kennedy, her bouquet of elegant orchids and fragrant gardenias mirrored the sophistication that would later define her style as First Lady.
Elizabeth Taylor (Multiple Weddings, 1950–1991)
Flowers: Varying—from lilies of the valley to cascading orchids
Why it matters: Married eight times, Taylor’s evolving bouquets tell a story of shifting fashion trends across decades, from traditional 1950s styles to more dramatic, glamorous arrangements later on.
The Legacy of Bridal Blooms
From royal gardens to Hollywood ceremonies, these famous bouquets remind us that flowers are more than decoration—they’re storytellers. Each choice, whether understated or extravagant, reflects the bride’s personality, heritage, and love story.
