By Sally Hughes, Melbourne Marriage Celebrant
Rose petals are making a comeback, folks! And it’s thanks to pictures like these that couples are opting to bring back the tradition.
The tradition of showering newlyweds with small objects dates back centuries. It’s widely believed that rice and grains, precursors to petals, were thrown as a way of symbolising rain; a sign of prosperity, fertility and good fortune (i’ll be sure to mention that to couples when downpours are imminent!). Coloured paper confetti then became all the rage until dresses became stained and venue operators became tired of cleaning it up. Petals came next, but like all trends, their popularity declined somewhat. Again, venue operators played a role here because, like paper confetti, coloured petals stain carpets and tiles too. However I have noticed that some venue operators will now allow white or freeze dried petals.
Anyhow, enough of the history lesson. Petals have made a comeback! When thrown well, they look great in photos and they inject a little fun into the recessional. EVERY couple laughs while their friends take aim - and these photos prove my point.
A few tips for rose petal recessionals:
1. Have your Celebrant instruct guests to throw petals above you, not at you. While it is rather funny watching a couple cop a face full of blooms, it won’t be the most pleasurable experience for them. And the photography and footage will suffer.
2. Ditch petal cones. Guests don’t want to balance a cone of petals on their laps during the ceremony. And those in the standing section should be hands-free so they can applaud your extremely witty and hilarious Celebrant and wipe their tears during a sentimental exchange of vows. A bowl or basket of petals is all you’ll need.
3. Distribute petals during the signing of the certificates. No one wants to hold a handful of petals for more than a few minutes. As per point 2, guests should be hands-free during the ceremony, so just ask a friend to walk up and down the aisle to distribute during the signing.
4. If petals aren’t your thing, consider glitter cannons, sparklers (provided fire bans aren’t in place), pom poms, leaves or bubbles.
JESS + SIMON / Jerome Cole Photography / The Prince Deck / Lulu Bird
MEL + ANTON / Corey Wright Photography / Immerse / Sugar Bee Flowers
AMY + PHIL / Gerard Assi Photography / The Riverstone Estate / Edward & I
ZOE + DAN / Katie Harmsworth Photography / Coombe Yarra Valley / Tori Allen Events
AMANDA + MATT / Lost In Love Photography / Zonzo Estate / Sugar Bee Flowers
FIONA + PAUL / Stewart Leishman Photography / Immerse / Debbie O’Neill Flowers
TAYLA + TODD / Sigrid Petersen / Coombe Yarra Valley / Sugar Bee Flowers
AMI + MATT / Michael Briggs Photography / Zonzo Estate, Yarra Glen / Sugar Bee Flowers
AMELIA + WILL / Blossom Daisy Creative / The George Ballroom / Floretta By Grace
ANNALIECE + ALEKS / Michael Lean Photography / Dayne Robinson
CAROLYNE + MARTY / Robert Hock Photography / Coombe Yarra Valley / Sugar Bee Flowers
EMILY + CAM / Warren Photography / Stones of the Yarra Valley / Red Earth Flowers
JEN + JARMON / Shot From The Heart / Lyrebird Falls / Sassafras Flower Design
MELISSA + JED / Aria Photography / Zonzo Estate / Silver Suede Flowers
BETH + JUSTIN / Dijana Risteska Photography / Zonzo Estate / Sugar Bee Flowers
LIV + NATHAN / Beck Rocchi Photography / Coombe Yarra Valley / Sugar Bee Flowers
KATE + STEVE / Katie Harmsworth Photography / Stones of the Yarra Valley / Sugar Bee Flowers
ANIKA + ANDY / Fifteen Photography / Yering Station / Sugar Bee Flowers
EMILY + HAYDEN / PiXray Photography / Quat Quatta / Victoria Whitelaw Flowers