Kate Middleton carries bouquet representing love, happiness
(CBS) On her wedding day, Catherine Middleton blossomed as she carried a variety of flowers that would brighten up an garden.
Royal wedding florist Shane Connolly designed a shield-shaped wired bouquet of myrtle, ivy, lily-of-the-valley, sweet William and hyacinth. Each flower has different meanings.
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The lily-of-valley represents the return of happiness; sweet William means gallantry; hyacinth is for the constancy of love. Both ivy and myrtle represent both love and marriage. In fact, myrtle is the emblem of marriage.
The bouquet has historical elements, too. According to the Royal Wedding website, the myrtle stems were planted by Queen Victoria herself in 1845 at the Osborne House, Isle of Wight. The Osborne House was bought by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert as a retreat and a sprig from the posy planted against the terrace walls continues to thrive.
Carrying myrtle has been the ongoing tradition since Queen Victoria was given an arrangement of flowers with myrtle by Prince Albert's grandmother during a visit to Germany.
The myrtle was first carried by Queen Victoria's eldest daughter, Princess Victoria, when she married in 1858. This also signified the traditional innocence of a bride.
Connolly has designed flower arrangements for other royal events.
Middleton is wearing a wedding dress designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director for Alexander McQueen.
