Where would the Bouquet Go?

In every wedding we attended and heard, the most anticipated tradition we always witness is the tossing of bridal bouquets on the group of anxious single ladies, who gathered before the bride for this ritual, in the wedding reception. Superstitious had it that, whoever catch the bouquet will have her turn to glide to the altar soon. This tradition has been around for many centuries now, this might sounds interesting to everyone, well for the sake of fun, but not for the British royal family.

Though Prince William desired to live a life in a liberated world (he and Kate had been living together several months before the announcement of their engagement in November 2010) and wanted to organize his upcoming wedding in a modern sense, there are still royal practices that is thoroughly traditional that he should abide, one of these practices is the "treatment of a bridal bouquet".

British royal protocol dictates that a bouquet of the royal bride must be placed in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier inside the Westminster Abbey right after the ceremony. The tomb, which is very symbolic to Britain, was created in 1920 to bury the unknown soldier died from World War II. It is located at the back of the Abbey on the church floor. The tradition of laying bridal bouquet on the tomb dated back in 1923 when King George VI married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. The bride, who would become the Queen Mother in 1952 laid her bouquet on her way to the Abbey. Since then all royal brides married in the Abbey imitated the gesture.

Now Kate Middleton will have her turn to do the honor to pay tribute to the British military where Prince William and Prince Harry are both officers. (Left photo: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Westminster Abbey)

Note:

Among the daughters-in-law of Queen Elizabeth II, only Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York had laid her bouquet on the tomb as her wedding to the Queen's second son, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, in July 1986 was held at Westminster Abbey. Diana and Charles were married at St. Paul's Cathedral in July 1981, the Queen's youngest son, Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex and Sophie Rhys-Jones were married at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in June 1999 while Prince Charles's church's blessing with Camilla Parker-Bowles happened also at St. George's chapel.