Kale, broccoli and cabbage replace traditional flowers as brides opt for vegetable wedding bouquets

Florists say fruit and vegetables are becoming increasingly popular in nuptial flower arrangements, with carrots, leeks and citrus fruits all being picked over the more traditional choices of roses and peonies.

Herbs are also becoming fashionable addition to bouquets, often chosen for their symbolic value. Thyme is said to represent courage while lavender stands for devotion and undying love.

Head florist at Waitrose, Chris Wood said: “Over the past few years there has been a definite move away from prim and proper posies, with brides opting for looser and more asymmetric arrangements.

“Wild and whimsical bouquets are popular, with a heady mix of flowers, foliage, herbs, and fruit and vegetables.

“Brides are looking for seasonal arrangements and the trend lends itself to locally sourced products.”

The trend follows on from the growing farm-to-fork movement, as people become more concerned with the provenance of their food.

Brides often choose locally sourced produce when constructing their ideal bouquet.

For Louise Thomas, from Penzance, Cornwall, kale, globe artichokes and broccoli formed the centrepiece of her bouquet when she married her husband John.

Drawing inspiration from her own vegetable box delivery business, she picked out a range of her own home-grown produce to create a bouquet made exclusively of vegetables with a purple and green colour scheme.

For the bride, the bouquet had personal significance.

“It tied in with what I did,” she said. “I’m a farmer’s daughter and now I’m a farmer’s wife, and I have always grown up around vegetables and it was nice to include them in the day.”

However, the happy couple did not consume their edible bouquet after the big day.

“My regret is not making a big bowl of soup out of it,” Mrs Thomas joked.