You might think you know all about popular wedding culture. Contemporary trends are marketed on magazine covers, and extravagantly creative proposals are posted online for the world to enjoy. Modern society is certainly changing the face of traditional marriage ceremonies, but there are still timeless wedding traditions that have never lost their allure over the centuries.

Proposals are most often inspired by the element of surprise and awe. From choosing the perfect ring, to deciding where the engagement will take place, a lot of planning and preparation goes into making the proposal truly unique. Proposing to that special someone has not always been so creative, however – and one tradition was particularly strange. In medieval times, a man simply took a hawthorn branch, left it outside the door of his intended bride and waited for her answer. If she removed the branch and replaced it with a cauliflower, the proposal was considered declined. If the woman left the branch at the door, she was professing her love and acceptance of the proposal. Of course, many cultures dismissed a proposal altogether, as parents arranged marriages long before their children even understood the tradition.

Do you believe in good luck and bad luck? Throughout history, these beliefs were taken very seriously as superstition often permeated the culture. Signs that would symbolize a successful marriage included seeing a rainbow or a black cat on the way to the ceremony; encountering a chimney sweep on the day of your wedding was also a positive omen. Although these beliefs may seem frivolous to us today, there are still traditions that we hold close even in modern times. For instance, many still believe it bad luck for the groom to see his bride in her gown before the ceremony; and others consider “something borrowed , something blue” to be an indispensable way to ward off bad luck.

Of course, no wedding is complete without flowers. Traditions include bridal bouquets, centerpieces, altar flowers and rose petals – and each holds an important place regardless of what style of wedding you choose. At Gainan’s Flowers, our floral arrangers are passionate about assisting Billings couples in making their wedding dreams come true – with the help of beautiful and unique flowers.

For those planning a 2016 wedding, there are plenty of places from which to draw inspiration. Wedding experts are weighing in on the popular trends, from dresses to venues, and couples have a myriad of sources to help them determine what they like. Across the board, muted color schemes – such as blush pinks and gray blues – are replacing bright colors and neons in ceremonies, while soft ambient illumination, such as from candles or twinkling lights, continues to be the lighting of choice.

Flowers tend to follow trends as well. This year, one such floral trend showing up at thousands of weddings is the tall centerpiece – from contemporary to traditional weddings, these soaring arrangements are well suited; they can be designed in any number of styles, to match any venue.

The high centerpiece is visually impressive, but also is being chosen for more practical and functional reasons. For instance, a tall arrangement makes for a gorgeous focal point in photographs, rising gracefully above place settings. These centerpieces also deliver an additional benefit as your family and friends gather – large centerpieces at weddings can make it nearly impossible to see across the table to the other guests. The simple act of raising the centerpiece overhead allows for more natural interaction.

Tall centerpieces are appropriate in any locale and with any theme; but they are especially effective to fill large open spaces – a venue with cathedral ceilings, for instance, looks amazing when bouquets are positioned on tall central pillars. Open air weddings are also a great opportunity to utilize a graceful tall centerpiece, generally comprised of wildflowers and other natural elements. When it comes time to choose your flowers for your Billings area wedding, Gainan’s floral professionals will meet with you to hear your vision and ascertain your desired outcome; then recommend flowers and arrangements to make it all come to life. Whether you are someone who follows the trend or not, the bouquets and centerpieces for your 2016 wedding are destined to be memorable when you work with Gainan’s Flowers.