A fragrant white spring garden bouquet with ranunculus, garden roses, hyacinth, paper whites, agpanthus, fringe tulip, lilac, stock, and sweet pea. Image credit: Rylee Hitchner via Once Wed.
They say that scents evoke the strongest memories, which is a wonderful reason in my book to choose wedding flowers with a pleasing fragrance. And of course white flowers are always traditional for a bride. Scented blossoms are best used in bouquets or for small arrangements; it is not advisable to use highly fragrant flowers in the centerpieces or anywhere that food is served. These are some of the most fragrant white wedding flowers…
A gorgeous gardenia bridal bouquet. Image credit: Eric Berry via the Knot.
The most important consideration when selecting scented flowers for your wedding is to make sure that you absolutely love their fragrance. I personally find the scent of gardenias (shown above) to be truly heavenly, however I know that my mother cannot stand them. Which brings us to the next tip: if you are considering using a fragrant blossom in bouquets for bridesmaids, boutonierres, or corsages, make sure that the scent will not bother anyone or cause an allegric reaction! A classic round gardenia nosegay would be wonderful with any of the 1950s inspired wedding dresses that are so popular these days. I imagine them with a wedding dress with a full tulle skirt and timeless pearl jewelry for the bride.
Small jasmine flowers add a sweet perfume to a mixed bouquet. Credit: Saipua.
If you enjoy sweet scents, you might wish to add some sprays of jasmine to your bouquet. The small white flowers are ideal for including in a mixed bouquet with a loose garden feel. The petite star shaped blossoms can also be used to create boutonierres and flower girl wreaths.
A lovely bouquet of white tuberose, seeded eucalyptus, and oregonia. Credit: Louisville Wedding Blog.
Tuberose is another white wedding flower with a divine scent. It has a marvelous fragrance that is used in perfumes, including the legendary Fracas and Michael by Michael Kors. As with any powerful fragrance, you will either love or hate the heady scent of tuberose. It is available all year round; the lovely tuberose bouquet above was created for a winter wedding.
A full Casablanca lily bridal bouquet. Image via the Knot.
If you want a very fragrant white flower that is just as showy as it is scented, look no further than the Casablanca lily. These large blooms have a major wow factor, and need no other kind of blossom to make a statement. They would be a suitable choice to carry with a big time ball gown worn with lots of crystal accessories. Because of their tropical origins, lilies also work well for beach weddings. Always be sure that the orange pollen is removed from the center of any lily used in a bouquet or floral arrangement, because it stains terribly if it falls from inside the blossom. Casablanca lilies have a very powerful and distinctive scent, and therefore fall into the love ‘em or hate ‘em category. As much as I find the scent of gardenias to be intoxicating, my personal opinion of the scent of lilies is exactly the opposite. However, many people love the way Casablanca lilies smell, and they sure do look incredible.
