Tulips or Not Tulips, That is the Question

For every color dress worn in a modern wedding, you will also find a flower to match.  Fortunately one particular flower has managed to withstand the constantly changing trends while making it nearly effortless to find a flower in just the precise color needed.  

Tulips come in a large variety of interesting shapes, vibrant colors, and variable sizes. Readily available in the springtime, tulips make the perfect flowers for use in any wedding ceremony.  For nearly every bride, there is a tulip available that will meet her specifications of size, shape, and color.  Tulips are indeed the closest thing to being a “one size fits all” type of flower.

The tulip is native to a variety of countries from two different continents and began to be brought west during the mid 1500s.  Most tulips today are imported from the Netherlands. There are at least one hundred species of tulips and can be found striped, multicolored, or uniform. Tulips were once considered so valuable, they were used as currency.

Some tulips bear striking similarities to roses.  They bear the same shapes, the same colors, and the same feel.  Tulips however are without thorn and do not pose the same threats as roses.  Tulips do not snag clothing, nor can they lead to pricked fingers.  Tulips can be more expensive than roses, but have the potential to last much longer.  Tulips have the ability to hold moisture, which keeps them looking beautiful long after other flowers have begun to wilt.  

Tulips found their way into the wedding tradition when flowers began to be used to express feelings.  Tulips are the floral symbol for The Perfect Lover.  This meaning comes from an ancient story in which an attractive Turkish prince was deeply in love with a young woman.  Upon hearing that his true love had been killed, the prince lighted upon his beloved horse and rode off a cliff, committing suicide.  As legend would have it, scarlet tulips sprang up from the pools of blood, causing the tulip to grow into a symbol of pure, endless, and perfect love.

Each color of tulip symbolizes a different meaning of love.  For instance, red tulips are a declaration of love, while cream colored tulips say that you will be forever bound to your partner.  Yellow tulips express not only your love, but also that you are deeply in love with your mate.  As with roses, it is the color of the flower that sends the message, not just the variety of flower.  Tulips, which also carry the meaning of fresh starts and new beginnings, are especially befitting to weddings.  They are a wonderful way to show the wedding couple how pleased you are and that you wish them well.

Tulips make a lovely addition to bridal bouquets, boutonnieres, centerpieces, hair pieces and any where flowers are needed for your ceremony.  Tulips are a soft, easy enhancement.

There are some things to note when deciding whether to use tulips in your flower arrangements. Tulips require frequent watering to keep them looking healthy.  When used in a bridal, tulips should be kept in water until just before the ceremony.  During the reception, measures should be taken to keep them in moisture until time for the bouquet to be thrown.  Also, tulips should not be placed in the same arrangement as daffodils since the two do not cohabitate well together. 

Tulips can be a fragrant flower, which should be considered due to the potential of conflicting with soaps, perfumes, or deodorants.  Tulips are also best for use in spring weddings; for a wedding taking place in the summer or fall, the better varieties will be unavailable and the vibrancy of the tulips will be compromised.

For that special day when your new beginning will take place, shout it to the world with tulips.  You will be announcing your perfect love to all who come to share in the festivities.  There are many variations to choose from and there is bound to be one that strikes your fancy.  As you shop around for floral arrangement ideas, the question you should be asking yourself is “Tulip, or not tulip?”