Vintage Wedding Ideas

Back in the 18th and 19th centuries, orange blossom wedding wreaths were all the rage. Orange blossoms symbolize innocence and purity for the bride as well as a fertility good luck charm. Finding fresh orange blossoms were hard to come by so orange blossoms were either waxed (dipped in wax to be preserved) or made out of wax- "wax orange blossoms". Preserved antique waxed orange blossoms wreaths are a rarity and they usually sell at a high price. Here is a beautiful wreath from French Garden House:

Back in the Victorian era it was very popular for suitors to vocalize their feelings by sending messages to their intended through the giving of a small bouquet of flowers. The art of sending messages through flowers, or Floriography, spawned countless of books and dictionaries on the meaning of flowers. Poesy holders, or tussie mussie holders became all the rage and they are usually handcrafted with lovely patterns out of silver or bronze and sometimes even semi-precious or precious jewels. These are highly collectible items on the antique market. They would also be a wonderful ornamentation to the bridal bouquet and a keepsake for generations to come. Here's a poesy from The Three Graces:

Poesy rings were given as a sign of love and affection and usually had a phrase of endearment, a poem or name etched into the inner band intended to be only read by the receiver. This antique 17th century gold poesy ring from The Three Graces has inscribed, "In thee I finde content of mind".