Many Irish brides through the years have carried a bunch of wild flowers or worn a wildflower wreath instead of a tiara.  

It depends on the season but nowadays you can get a very wide selection of flowers at any times of year whether you want to work with a florist or go it alone.  

Here’s how to add a touch of Irish to your wedding flowers:

Grow your Own!

Grow your own bouquet. There are a large proportion of weddings during July and August as many brides and grooms relish getting married in the sunshine – although in Ireland that is never guaranteed! Is there anything more romantic than growing your own flowers for your bouquet? It is something that you can do together or even do it as a surprise for your bride or groom. A bunch of seasonal Irish-grown flowers really gives your wedding an authentic Irish touch and a beautiful way to approach the day.


Lavender for Love

Throughout Celtic times and beyond, lavender was the scent of choice at weddings and its beautiful purple hues appeared in the hands of many brides or as part of the decorations in the church or wedding venue. Lavender was chosen to represent love and devotion and also for its particularly sweet smell which added another sensory layer to the proceedings.


Wreath of Wildflowers

Irish wildflowers are part of the unique character of the island and it’s not just the Burren that comes to life with wildflowers in Ireland every year in spring. There are wildflower meadows now springing up all over the country, particularly to encourage pollination. If you like the look of a soft, natural wildflower wreath instead of a more formal veil – go for it and choose the flowers that suit your own personal style. Traditionally, the bride often carried a bouquet of flowers and herbs to match.

Ivy or Shamrock

A sprig of shamrock tucked in to a bouquet of Irish flowers is considered lucky on a wedding day. Ivy is another great choice as a background plant as it is also said to represent fidelity and dependence. It provides a good basis for then creating more elaborate arrangements around and gives a great shade of green as a base.

From Bells of Ireland to Baby’s Breath

Depending on the theme of your wedding or the color schemes or whether or not you are planning a very traditional-looking event or a more modern pared-back event, using flowers with particular meanings will create a lovely story for your big day. When creating your own particular bouquets, including some Bells of Ireland will bring luck; Baby’s breath are said to represent innocence and the simple Forget-me-Not – which unlike its name - is often forgotten – is said to represent true love.

Add a touch of Irish color and scent and may you enjoy your new life – Go maire sibh bhur saol nua!