Wreath designed by Petals Galore.

Love at first sight! For guests, nothing feels warmer or more welcoming on a wedding day than a beautiful wreath elegantly perched or hanging on a door, window, tree, or anywhere it can dramatically meet the eye.

Wreaths are not only attractive but are incredibly symbolic. The creation of wreaths dates back to the Persian empire. Later, in ancient Rome, people used decorative wreaths as a sign of victory. As time passed, wreaths continued to symbolize even deeper meanings in other cultures and religions.

The Advent wreath originated in the cold, dark winters of Eastern Europe where worshippers gathered wreaths of evergreen and lighted fires to signal hope for a coming spring and renewed light. Christians kept these popular traditions alive and Catholics and Protestants still use these symbols to celebrate their Advent hope in Christ.

Although we typically think of wreaths as round, modern wreaths can take many different shapes and forms. Heart-shaped wreaths are a particular favorite among many brides, whether it is completely full or with an open center, it is still a beautiful first sight for arriving guests. Designing wreaths to resemble the initials of the bride and groom can also be a creative approach.

Although a lush wreath filled with flowers is breathtaking, using fruits, plants, papier-mâché, ivy, and even feathers is also very common. In fact, let your creativity take over and use almost any item to design your wedding wreaths. In addition, the bases can be as varied as the designs. Grapevine, straw, fresh foam, wire, and cardboard can also be used.

The wreath shown on this page was created with much love by Sandra Meyer from Petals Galore. Sandra used a monochromatic design arranged with a wide variety of flowers including daisies and roses. The result is quite breathtaking!

This article was contributed by Arina Lanis, Editor-In-Chief and founder of Wedding-Club.com. If you have questions or comments about this article, please feel free to e-mail her at arina@wedding-club.com