Orange blossom, zagara in Italian, the white flower of citrus trees, was worn by brides in their hair and bouquets as a wish for purity and fertility. That is where the Italian phrase fiori d'arancio (orange blossoms) comes from: it still means "a wedding" in everyday Italian, and you will hear it often.
Today it is more a symbol than a flower for styling: it blooms mainly in spring, is strongly scented and does not last long once cut. That is why designs more often use potted citrus trees, in flower or in fruit, as you see in Sicily, on the Amalfi Coast and around Lake Garda. The guide to the meaning of flowers tells the story behind the tradition; the one on flowers and Italian wedding traditions explains it for couples from abroad; the one on lemons, oranges and olive shows how to use citrus.
What to ask: whether citrus will be in flower on your date, whether a potted tree would work better than cut branches.
