Mer än symbolik: brudbuketter som spegling av samtidens förutsättningar

Abstract

This thesis examines which plants appear in bridal bouquets in Västra Götaland County, Sweden, between 1920 and 1960, and what the choice of plants can reveal about season, growing conditions, and availability. The study approaches the bridal bouquet as a carrier of practical and cultural knowledge, where the selection of plants reflects both established floral traditions and the material conditions of the time. The material consists of historical wedding photographs that have been analysed to identify the plants used in the bridal bouquets and, with the use of literature and digital sources, interpreted in relation to season, cultivation possibilities and access to different plant species. The results show that certain flowers, particularly roses and carnations, appear consistently throughout the period, indicating consistent floral ideals within the wedding tradition. Other plants, such as daisies and zinnias, reflect seasonal and locally cultivated flowers, while species like freesia, calla lilies, and maidenhair fern were dependent on greenhouse cultivation or import. The study also suggests that historical events, especially the World Wars, affected the availability of certain flowers. Overall, the findings demonstrate that bridal bouquets function not only as aesthetic elements but also as indicators of contemporary cultivation systems, trade conditions and cultural traditions.