An invention of the Victorians, the language of flowers, sometimes called floriography, is all about communicating via flowers. Flowers and floral arrangements were used to send coded messages, allowing individuals to express feelings which otherwise could not be spoken. Whilst this is not really paramount in today's weddings some of the meanings are particularly nice. For example, sprigs of rosemary (remembrance) or lavender (devotion) in your place servings or on your napkins can be very pretty. Other meanings are a little bizarre and we feel the colour yellow gets a bit of a bad press so our tip is to look at the list below but don't get too hung up about it!
| Flower | Meaning |  |
| A | ||
| Acacia | Secret love | |
| Acanthus | Art | |
| Agrimony | Thankfulness | |
| Allspice | Compassion | |
| Almond | Promise | |
| Ambrosia | Love returned | |
| Amaryllis | Pride; Timidity | |
| Amaranth (globe) | Immortal love | |
| Anemone | Unfading love | |
| Angelica | Inspiration | |
| Arbutis | Only love | |
| Apple | Preference | |
| Aster | Love; daintiness | |
| Azalea | Take care of yourself for me; fragile passion; Chinese symbol of womanhood |  |
| B | ||
| Basil | Best Wishes, Love | |
| Bay Leaf | Strength | |
| Bee Orchid | Industry | |
| Belles Of Ireland | Good luck; Ireland | |
| Bird Of Paradise | Magnificence | |
| Bluebell | Humility; constancy, everlasting love; Scotland | |
| Borage | Courage | |
| Box | Constancy | |
| C | ||
| Calendula | Joy | |
| Camellia | Admiration; perfection; good luck gift to a man | |
| Campanula | Gratitude | |
| Cantebury Bells | Gratitude | |
| Carnation (in general) | Bonds of affection; health and energy; fascination; woman love |  |
| Carnation (pink) | I'll never forget you; a woman's love | |
| Carnation (purple) | Capriciousness; whimsical; changeable | |
| Carnation (red) | My heart aches for you; admiration Carnation (solid color) -Yes | |
| Carnation (striped) | No; refusal; sorry I can't be with you; wish I could be with you | |
| Carnation (white) | Sweet and lovely; innocence; pure love; woman's good luck gift | |
| Carnation (yellow) | Rejection; disdain | |
| Celandine | Joys to come | |
| Chamomile | Patience ; attracts wealth | |
| Cherry Blossom | A good education Transience of life (Japanese interpretation) Feminine Beauty (Chinese interpretation) |
|
| Chrysanthemum (in general) | Cheerfulness; You're a wonderful friend | |
| Chrysanthemum (red) | I love | |
| Chrysanthemum (white) | Truth | |
| Chrysanthemum (yellow) | Slighted love | |
| Coreopsis | Always cheerful | |
| Coriander | Lust |  |
| Cowslip | Pensiveness; winning grace | |
| Crocus | Cheerfulness; abuse not | |
| Cyclamen | Resignation and goodbye | |
| Clover | Good luck; Ireland | |
| D | ||
| Daffodil | Respect; Wales | |
| Daisy | Sharing; innocence | |
| Dahlia | Elegance and dignity | |
| E | ||
| Elderflower | Compassion | |
| Eucalyptus | Protection | |
| F | ||
| Fennel | Worthy of all praise | |
| Fern | Sincerity | |
| Fern (Magic) | Fascination; confidence and shelter |  |
| Fern (Maidenhair) | Secret bond of love | |
| Feverfew | Protection | |
| Fir | Time | |
| Flax | Domestic symbol; fate | |
| Flowering Almond | Hope | |
| Forget-me-not | True love; memories | |
| Forsythia | Anticipation | |
| G | ||
| Gardenia | You're lovely; secret love | |
| Geranium (general) | Gentility | |
| Geranium (Scented) | Preference | |
| Gladiolus | Love at first sight | |
| H | ||
| Heather (lavender) | Admiration; solitude; Scotland | |
| Heather (white) | Protection; wishes will come true; Scotland |  |
| Heliotrope | Devotion | |
| Hibiscus | Delicate beauty | |
| Holly | Good will, defense; domestic happiness; foresight | |
| Hollyhock | Ambition | |
| Honeysuckle | Generous and devoted affection; bonds of love | |
| Hyacinth (general) | Games and sports; rashness; flower dedicated to Apollo | |
| Hyacinth (blue) | Constancy | |
| Hyacinth ( purple) | I'm sorry; please forgive me; sorrow | |
| Hyacinth (red or pink) | Play | |
| Hyacinth (white) | Loveliness; I'll pray for you | |
| Hyacinth (yellow) | Jealousy | |
| Hydrangea | Thank you for understanding; frigidity; heartlessness | |
| Hyssop | Wards away evil spirits | |
| I | ||
| Iris | Faith; hope; wisdom and valour |  |
| Ivy | Fidelity and friendship; dependence | |
| J | ||
| Japonica | Loveliness | |
| Jasmine | Amiability; attracts wealth | |
| Jonquil | Love me; affection returned; desire; sympathy; desire for a return of affection | |
| Juniper | Protection | |
| K | ||
| We couldn't find any! | ||
| L | ||
| Larkspur (pink) | Fickleness | |
| Lavender | Devotion | |
| Lemon | Zest | |
| Lemon Balm | Brings love | |
| Lemon verbena | Attracts opposite sex | |
| Lilac (purple) | first emotion of love |  |
| Lilac (white) | Youthful innocence | |
| Lily (general) | Keeps unwanted visitors away | |
| Lily (calla) | Beauty | |
| Lily (day) | Coquetry | |
| Lily (eucharis) | Maiden charms | |
| Lily (orange) | Hatred | |
| Lily (tiger) | Wealth; pride | |
| Lily (white) | Virginity; purity; majesty; it's heavenly to be with you | |
| Lily (yellow) | I'm walking on air; false and gay | |
| Lily of the valley | Sweetness; return to happiness; humility | |
| Lotus | Purity, chastity, and eloquence | |
| Love lies bleeding (amaranthus) | Hopelessness | |
| M | ||
| Magnolia | Sweetness; beauty; love of nature | |
| Marigold | Comforts the heart |  |
| Mimosa | Sensitivity | |
| Mint | Protection from illness; warmth of feeling | |
| Marjoram (sweet) | Joy and happiness | |
| Mistletoe | Kiss me; affection; to surmount difficulties; sacred plant of India | |
| Myrtle | Love; Hebrew emblem of marriage | |
| N | ||
| Narcissus | Egotism; formality; stay as sweet as you are | |
| Nasturtium | Conquest; victory in battle; maternal love; charity; patriotism | |
| O | ||
| Oak | Strength | |
| Oleander | Caution; beware | |
| Olive | Peace | |
| Orange | Generosity | |
| Orange Blossom | Brings wisdom; purity | |
| Orchid | Love; beauty; refinement; beautiful lady; Chinese symbol for many children |  |
| Orchid (cattleya) | Mature charm | |
| P | ||
| Palm leaves | Victory and success | |
| Pansy | Thoughts; love | |
| Peach | Longevity | |
| Peach Blossom | Captive | |
| Pear Blossom | Lasting friendship | |
| Peony | Aphrodisiac | |
| Petunia | Resentment; anger; your presence soothes me | |
| Pine | Hope; pity | |
| Poppy (general) | Eternal sleep ; oblivion; imagination | |
| Poppy (red) | Pleasure; consolation | |
| Poppy (white) | Consolation; sleep | |
| Poppy( yellow) | Wealth; success | |
| Primrose | I can't live without you; early youth |  |
| Primrose(evening) | Inconstancy | |
| Q | ||
| We couldn't find any! | ||
| R | ||
| Rose (general)(Red) | Love; I love you | |
| Rose (white) | Eternal Love; innocence; heavenly; secrecy and silence | |
| Rose (pink) | Perfect happiness; grace | |
| Rose (Yellow) | Friendship; jealousy | |
| Rose (red and white) | Together; unity | |
| Rose (thornless) | Love at first sight | |
| Rose (single, full bloom) | I love you; I still love you | |
| Rose bud | Beauty and youth; a heart innocent of love | |
| Rose bud (red) | Pure and lovely | |
| Rose bud (white) | Girlhood | |
| Rosebud (moss) | Confessions of love |  |
| Rose (tea) | I'll always remember | |
| Rose (cabbage) | Ambassador of love | |
| Rose (Christmas) | Relieve me of anxiety | |
| Rose (damask) | Brilliant complexion | |
| Rose (hibiscus) | Delicate beauty | |
| Rosemary | Remembrance | |
| S | ||
| Sage | Wisdom - long life | |
| Salvia - (blue) | I think of you | |
| Smilax | Loveliness | |
| Snapdragon | Deception; gracious lady; presumption | |
| Snowdrop | Hope | |
| Stephanotis | Happiness in marriage; desire to travel | |
| Stock | Lasting beauty | |
| Sunflower | Loyalty; wishes |  |
| Sweetpea | Goodbye; departure; blissful pleasure | |
| T | ||
| Thistle | Nobility; Scotland | |
| Thyme | Strength and courage | |
| Tulip (general) | Fame; charity; perfect lover | |
| Tulip (red) | Believe me; declaration of love | |
| Tulip (variegated) | Beautiful eyes | |
| Tulip (yellow) | Hopeless love | |
| U | ||
| We couldn't find any! | ||
| V | ||
| Veronica | Fidelity | |
| Violet (general) | Modesty; calms temper | |
| Violet (blue) | Watchfulness; faithfulness; I'll always be true | |
| Violet (white) | Modesty; happiness |  |
| W | ||
| Wheat | Wealth and prosperity | |
| Woodruff | Sweet humility | |
| X | ||
| We couldn't find any! | ||
| Y | ||
| Yarrow | Health; healing | |
| Z | ||
| Zinnia | Thoughts of friends | |
| Zinnia (magenta) | Lasting affection | |
| Zinnia (mixed) | Thinking of an absent friend | |
| Zinnia (scarlet) | Constancy | |
| Zinnia (white) | Goodness | |
| Zinnia (yellow) | Daily remembrance | |
