A tussie-mussie is a miniature nosegay (small bouquet) of flowers that dates back hundreds of years (hint: “nosegay” alludes to the fact that it was often packed with fragrant herbs to be held to the nose when regrettably confronted with the odious stench of life among Europe’s less-privileged classes).
However, it reached its height of popularity in England during the Victorian era, when an entire courtship could be based on the “messages” conveyed by the type of flowers and leaves in the corsage-sized bouquet–not that it had to be a romantic message, as women sent them to female friends and relatives as well, rather like greeting cards today. There were (and are) entire dictionaries of floriography, devoted to spelling out specific (and sometimes conflicting) meanings assigned not only to specific flowers, but different meanings for the varying colors of that flower; as well as leaves, herbs, berries, or other components of the colorful little “floragrams.”
The practice of sending and receiving tussie-mussies became so common in this highly-ornamented period, that a lady of polite society came to have among her accessories a small, beautifully-detailed metal cone, or holder, into which she could slip her baby bouquet, packing wet moss in the bottom to keep the blooms fresh longer, and providing a “handle” so that as she took her daily stroll, everyone could see that she had received a token of someone’s esteem.
It is this presentation–in the holder–that has become the tussie-mussie of today’s aficionados of Victoriana, and which shows itself in vintage-inspired romantic wedding ceremonies.
Although modest in size, the richness of the little “holder” makes this a perfect choice for a sentimental bride to give her bridesmaids. The holders are most often made in ornate silverplate, with a chain holding a tag to be engraved with the bridesmaid’s name or initials and the wedding date from which it came, and the small body of flowers can later easily air-dry into a permanent keepsake of the occasion. (If silks are used, of course, the tiny bouquet will “bloom” indefinitely.)
Although I keep reading on a variety of wedding websites that tussie-mussies are becoming a popular substitute in place of corsages for the Mothers of the Bride and the Groom, I have yet to see it done in practice. However, if using them for the bridesmaids, surprising the Mothers with their own tussie-mussie just before departure would include them in receiving a coveted memento of the day.
So, for weddings, tussie-mussie bouquets are uniquely different–they appear very modest, but upon closer inspection are not merely bridesmaids’ bouquets, but substantial and beautiful keepsake reminders of participating in the wedding of someone dear. They’re a perfect touch for a traditional and/or old-fashioned, romantic wedding ceremony.
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