Flower Ceremony

This song is more than a song; it's a little ceremony. At our wedding, we had six bridesmaids and six ushers. As the soloist sang about the traditional symbolism of each flower, a bridesmaid would step forward, holding that flower; in the musical interlude, she would place it into a vase that the bride and groom were holding together. All of this built up to the surprise ending in the final verse.

Read along, and you'll get the idea.

Music and lyrics by David Pogue, ©1995. Orchestrations: Steven M. Alper. Soloist: George Dvorsky.

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Soloist

Marriage is a garden:
You reap the seeds you sow.
And if marriage is a garden,
Then love will make it grow.

(The first bridesmaid steps forward, holding a sprig of sage.)

Sage to soothe the sorrows of the past
May they fade from memory at last.

(She places the sage into the vase being held by the bride and groom. The second bridesmaid steps forward, holding juniper.)

Juniper for protection
From woe that lies ahead;
May its shelter bless you
With happiness instead.

(Second bridesmaid places the juniper into the vase. The third bridesmaid steps forward, holding a bouquet of marigolds.)

Marigolds are faithful, strong, and true
May they bring that constancy to you.

(She adds the marigolds to the vase. The fourth bridesmaid displays a sprig of myrtle.)

Myrtle is the fertile charm,
May your family soon increase.

(The myrtle goes into the vase. The fifth bridesmaid steps forward, holding rosemary.)

Rosemary brings those who marry
Harmony and peace.

(The rosemary goes into the vase. The final bridesmaid steps forward, holding a single long-stemmed red rose.)

And roses, perfect roses
Are the love that you will know.
May your lives be full of roses…

(ALL ELEVEN of the other bridesmades and ushers reveal the single red roses they've been hiding. They descend on the vase, filling it to overflowing with the dozen roses.)

And may your garden grow!