If roses are the king of flowers then jasmine is surely the queen of Indian wedding flowers. Native to the tropics, jasmine comes in white, yellow and rare pink varieties. Commonly used species include Arabian, poet’s, cape Madagascar and allspice jasmine. It is used in making traditional Indian garlands, gajra, bouquet and the groom’s headdress which is used to hide his face and protect him from the evil eye. Jasmines are believed to have over 200 different species and are used because of their sturdy and durable nature.
In India it is also known as the ‘Queen of the night’ as it releases its scent only after the sun sets. The word jasmine comes from the Arabian word ‘yasmine’ which means fragrant flowers but in Persia it literally means ‘a gift from God’.
Significance
Jasmines are believed to symbolize purity, love and beauty and that is why it is used in many religious ceremonies including weddings. It is also considered lucky as it has the ability to manifest wealth and happiness.
Legend has it that once some Persian traders gave a jasmine plant to a Tuscan gardener, who kept it with great care and protected it from everybody. As the jasmine flowers bloomed in all their glory, the gardener gifted it to his lover who was so fascinated by the flowers that she agreed to marry him. And that is how jasmine flowers became a necessity in making bouquets for Tuscan brides.
Ways to use jasmine in the wedding
Garlands
Most Indian wedding garlands are made with beautiful buds of jasmine. They look perfect with roses as it is a match made in heaven. They tend to complement the outfit due to their serene and soft color. Many South Indian brides wear pure jasmine garlands as they go with their beige kanjivaram saris very well.
Cocktail table arrangements
Arrange the jasmine buds in a pomander form of floral arrangement which is nothing but a ball of flowers placed neatly and uniformly. This setup is perfect for cocktail tables but for more elegance, place the balls on tall slender vases. This looks elegant and can also be suspended from the ceiling with the help of a string of beads or a ribbon.
Jasmine curtains for partition
During a nikah ceremony, the bride side separated from the groom side with the help of a fabric sheer curtain or a tent but nowadays it is being replaced by delicate curtains made with jasmine buds. They just look magical and take the decor to a whole new level. It will look great in your wedding photos and will make them serene.
Don’t forget the chairs
The sitting area where all the guests will be seated is often neglected. So decorate them with long garlands of jasmine as they look really great on those golden colored chairs with the horizontal backrest design. They add charm and make the decor very sophisticated. Jasmine garlands look far better than usual drapes and can also be paired with strings made of beads in order to add some shimmer.
Pair them with lotus
How about a chaadar made with delicate strings of jasmine arranged in a criss-cross manner suspending some lotus buds? Sounds like a gorgeous idea to me! This phoolon ki chaadar is bound to make a statement when you walk down the aisle under it. The light pink hues of large lotus buds complement the jasmine flowers and go perfectly with them. Both flowers are extensively used in Indian wedding decorations as well.
Bridal hairstyles
Indian brides wear elaborate hairdos on their big day and jasmine is widely used in making different hairstyles. Be it a gajra, bun or jasmine strings wrapped around the braid, they all look pretty amazing. My favorite one is a simple one fully covered with jasmine strings as it looks dramatic and elegant at the same time.
Wedding favors
Jasmine in flower form is mind blowing but products made with it are equally amazing. From jasmine perfumes, fancy soaps, tea to jasmine flavored cupcakes, anything can be offered to guests as wedding favors after the ceremony. You can also prepare mini baskets of jasmine flavored goodies as it is surely going to be appreciated by your guests. Even dark chocolate bars flavored with jasmine are also available in the market and would make for a great wedding return gift.
