Jackie Kennedy Loved This Chic Woodland Flower So Much That Carolyn Bessette Chose It for Her Wedding Bouquet
Carolyn Bessette's iconic lily of the valley bouquet paid homage to her late mother-in-law, who surrounded herself with the blooms every day.
On September 21, 1996, Carolyn Bessette walked down the aisle of the First African Baptist Church on Cumberland Island, Georgia. She wore a bias-cut ivory silk gown and carried what would become one of the most influential bridal bouquets in history, despite its simplicity. No roses. No peonies. No overflowing cascade of the usual wedding flowers. Just a small, simple cluster of lily of the valley, barely larger than her hand, and tied together with a white satin ribbon. It looked as effortless as Carolyn Bessette herself.
However, the choice of lily of the valley was no accident, and actually had more meaning than most people knew. Jackie Kennedy, the mother-in-law she would never get to meet, adored lily of the valley throughout her life. She chose it for her formal wedding portraits and regularly requested that the flowers be arranged at the White House when she became First Lady. The flowers were even placed on her breakfast tray each morning so she could wake up to their sweet scent. And, when she died, Jacqueline's mahogany casket was covered in ferns, and a white cross made up of lilies of the valley.
Carolyn, a woman who was known for being deeply thoughtful, was acutely aware of the Kennedy legacy she was marrying into. Therefore, the lily of the valley felt less like an off-the-cuff choice and more purposeful; a fragrant nod to the woman who had walked this path before her.
Ryan Murphy’s FX series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette may have reignited interest in the Kennedy family earlier this year, but Carolyn’s bouquet – and the poignant story behind it – continues to resonate far beyond the show itself. For gardeners especially, the enduring appeal of lily of the valley lies not only in its delicate beauty, but in the symbolism behind one of the most iconic bridal looks of the 1990s.
The Flower Itself
Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) has centuries of symbolism behind it. It represents purity, humility, and the return of happiness, which gives Carolyn's bouquet an almost unbearably poignant quality in retrospect.
It’s not showy, yet immediately stops you in your tracks. Lily of the valley bloom in spring, disappear quickly, and are super intense. Much like Carolyn herself, it’s not a flower that announces itself or demands attention. For the people who truly notice it and get up close, they are rewarded with its mesmerizing fragrance.
Why It Still Matters
Nearly thirty years later, the lily of the valley bouquet remains one of the most referenced and replicated bridal choices in the world. Brides who weren't born when Carolyn walked down that aisle still request it by name, especially now with the new show. Florists still cite it as a turning point – the moment the industry began to embrace the idea that less is more.
What makes Carolyn’s bouquet timeless, however, isn’t just because it was simple – plenty of minimalist trends have come and gone. What still makes it popular is the sense that every element of Carolyn’s wedding look was purposeful, even if it appeared that it wasn’t the case. She wasn’t simply choosing a bouquet; she was writing a love letter to the legacy that she was choosing to honor. The image below – captured by wedding photographer Denis Reggie and widely shared online – remains one of the clearest glimpses of the iconic arrangement.
Growing Lily of the Valley at Home
If you’ve been binge-watching the new Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette series, or just really like lily of the valley, you’re in for a treat, because they’re actually surprisingly easy to grow and don’t take much effort – you can even buy pips or roots for planting from Amazon.
It makes such a gorgeous cut flower to use in home-grown flower arrangements. The real key is planting them at the right time and in the right place. If you get those two things right, this flower will essentially look after itself.
In fact, lily of the valley is the unicorn of the gardening world, as it actually thrives under conditions where other plants would struggle. That makes it perfect for an awkward dark corner under a tree or along a north-facing fence.
However, lily of the valley does have a darker side: the plant is highly toxic, so it’s best avoided in gardens frequented by curious children or pets.
Planting Tips
Plant the pips (the small rhizomes that look a little like tiny white fingers) in the fall, ideally between October and November. They require a shaded or semi-shaded place.
The pips should be planted about an inch below the surface and roughly six inches apart, with the pointed tips facing upward. Water them thoroughly and then leave them alone (really, they don’t need all kinds of fussing-over, even in winter).
A hand dibber, like this one from Berry&Bird makes it a lot easier to plant lily of the valley pips.
A Breathtaking Fragrance
When spring arrives, those first stems will push through the soil, and within a few weeks, you’ll have the same intensely fragrant flowers loved by both Jackie and Carolyn.
If you don't have any patience or need them right away, you can get surprisingly realistic artificial lily of the valley stems, including these ones from Hanaive on Amazon. They make great wedding bouquets or home displays.
The real magic of the lily of the valley is that it spreads slowly and steadily over time. It will naturalize into wider and wider areas without any human intervention. This means that just by planting a dozen pips, you could end up with a breathtaking carpet of lily of the valley within five years.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t bloom for long (about two to three weeks at most), but the fragrance during that small window makes it absolutely worth it.
