rebloom

did you know the wedding flowers you pick are connected to cultural and historical practices? we loved reading about the different and interesting floral-related traditions in the knot today! 

In Thailand, the mothers of the bride and groom walk to the altar to drape puang malai -- flower garlands -- around the couple's shoulders to wish them good fortune in their life together.

Swedish and Danish grooms sew small pockets of strong-smelling herbs like garlic, chives, and rosemary into their clothes for good luck.

The Indian groom's brother sprinkles flower petals over the couple at the end of the ceremony to protect them from evil.

Ancient Greek brides often carried ivy at their weddings as a symbol of their never-ending love for their sweeties.

Ancient Roman brides carried bunches of herbs to symbolize fidelity and fertility -- and to scare off evil spirits.

The Victorians, who were fascinated by the meanings of different blooms, popularized the wedding rose, which represents true love.

Also in Victorian ages, the bride originally tossed her bouquet to a friend as she left the festivities to keep that friend safe (by warding off evil spirits, of course) and to offer her luck; this came to mean that the single woman who caught the bouquet would marry next.

In a Greek Orthodox wedding, crowns of orange blossoms were traditionally made for the bride and groom -- they even matched the delicate embroidery on the bride's dress. The blossoms symbolize virginity and purity because they are white and fragile, and they emit a sweet, delicate scent.

In Tudor England, brides carried marigolds dipped in rosewater and ate them afterward, since they were thought to be aphrodisiacs!

According to Italian tradition, the front grill of the Italian getaway car is decorated with flowers, paving the road to a happy marriage.

In the Middle East, the bitter herb artemisia is incorporated into bridal bouquets to ensure that marriages will survive bitterness as well as sweetness.

According to Indian tradition, both the bride and the groom sport a floral headpiece.

via the knot.

if you're anything like us, you hate waste and want to keep your flowers looking fresh as long as possible! here are some tips that work for us via apartment therapy:

put freshly picked flowers in water immediately and leave them for at least 5 hours before arranging them, a process calling conditioning. 

if your flowers come from your garden and not from the florist, make your own preservative, like this one from one good thing by jillee.  

alternatively, add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar to the water and stir. The vinegar will help prevent the growth of bacteria.

if you have a favorite flower you use often, look online for a flower-specific tips. for example, hydrangeas last longer if you gently smash the end of each stem and immerse them in ice water before arranging. hollow-stemmed flowers like delphiniums do well if you turn the flowers upside down, fill the stems with water, and seal them with a wet cotton ball before arranging. poppies, and other flowers that ooze sap, last longer if you first immerse the bottom 2 inches of their stems in boiling water for 10 seconds.  

have a gunky, narrow-necked vase that's hard to clean? try this tip from real simple: fill it with crushed shells from hardboiled eggs, a drop of dishwashing soap, and warm water, and swirl. rinse thoroughly with hot water, and the next arrangement you put in will last a bit longer. 

so excited to be on tumblr! ever go to a wedding or event and wonder what happens to the flowers after the event is over? we work with event holders and florists to conveniently distribute their premium floral arrangements after an event. our customers are able to purchase stunning arrangements for a fraction of their price while allowing event holders and florists to reclaim this value, often donating their proceeds to charity. if you live in the nyc or boston areas, check out our site to learn more about how it all works!