What’s Blooming in London? {Lily of the Valley}

 

Welcome to a special post of “What’s Blooming?,” the Royal Wedding edition!  Amid all the pomp and circumstance of this international celebration, the flowers of the day were refreshingly understated and natural in shades of green and white.  The star flower of the day: Lily of the Valley.

The white bell-shaped blooms symbolize purity and happiness; a wonderful choice for such an occasion. Botanical name Convallaria majalis,  Lily of the Valley flowers are popular in wedding bouquets (soon to become even more so!), and also used to celebrate May Day in Europe.

Live Maple trees, with their newly sprouted leaves, lined the grand aisle of famed Westminster Abbey, giving the somewhat imposing space the feel of a more intimate springtime garden.  Planted at their bases were beds of ferns and Lily of the Valley.  It was the first hint of what was to come.

The second sign?  Maid of Honor, Pippa Middleton, had springs of the spring flower tucked into her hair .  A perfect compliment to her elegant white attire.  She was also flanked by the young maids carrying posies with sprigs of Lily of the Valley.

And then there was the Princess bride.  Stunning in her Alexander McQueen gown and carrying a teardrop bouquet of the fragrant flower, spilling gracefully over her hand.  Royal bouquets are traditionally all white and this was no exception.  Also, if tradition reigns, a spring of myrtle will be hidden somewhere in the bouquet, as every royal wedding bouquet has since Queen Victoria's wedding in 1840.

Shane Connelly, a London based designer who has a history of working with the Royal family, was tasked with the floral design for the big event.  The themes of the day: seasonal British blooms.  “I suggested right from the beginning that we would use things from the royal estates because her [Kate] whole ethos has been that it had to be British, which would be mine as well, and that it had to be seasonal and as organic to the place as possible,” Connelly said. Going further to ensure a green element to the day, William and Kate have requested that much of the plant materials be replanted at Highgrove Estate or donated to charities.

Today the world took in this beautiful event that will certainly set trends for years to come.  My predictions for flowers trends going forward, some of which were already on their way into the mainstream:  A return to simplicity, white or soft colored flowers, smaller teardrop bouquets, and nods to nature through the use of plants and trees indoors.