We love the spectacle and beauty of wedding traditions, but when we looked into where they originated from, we got a bit of a shock. Many of our favourite traditions actually have very dark histories!

Turns out the Bride’s bouquet originated back in the times of the Plague, when people held pungent herbs and spices over their nose and mouth because they believed that would stop them catching this deadly disease. Over time, the Bridal bouquet evolved from a smelly bunch of garlic and dill to become a delightful and elegant arrangement of flowers.

Image from Gemma and John’s wedding. Photography by Mel Boulden Photography.