As Taylor Swift is the queen of easter eggs, it’s no surprise her fiance Travis Kelce made sure to incorporate stunning flowers with a symbolic meaning in his fairytale proposal.

After Kelce and Swift announced their engagement in an Aug. 26 Instagram post, PEOPLE spoke to floral experts to break down the meaning behind the blooms in the lovebirds’ “enchanted garden” proposal.

Ashley Greer — a florist and owner of the D.C.-based Atelier Ashley Flowers, who worked on the Obama White House Christmas trees — has studied flower symbolism for many years for her business. Her interpretations incorporate various cultural traditions and historical time periods, she says.

Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce

A number of lilies can be seen in Swift and Kelce’s floral arrangements, woven into the metalwork and planters behind the couple, says Greer.

She even spotted some Snake Lilies in the mix, which she notes can also be referred to as Surprise Lilies. Devoted Swifties already know that snake symbolism often has ties to the singer’s 2017 album Reputation.

Surprise Lily.

Swift incorporated the slithering reptile into a number of fashion statements, including later on during the Eras tour when she rocked her iconic one-legged bodysuit.

Lilies alone are a symbol of “purity,” adds Greer.

In addition to lilies, the floral pro spotlights the limelight hydrangeas overflowing in the two large planters. These can represent “first steps or transitions,” as well as the “release of old relationships that no longer serve you.”

Similarly, the white knockout roses used for the display can symbolize “vibrant people and calming places,” as well as the release of “any and all negativity.”

There are also Secret Garden Roses included in the arrangement, some with a lavender hue which might bring Swift’s hit song “Lavender Haze” to some fans’ minds.

The filler foliage in the display also has a symbolic meaning, including the willow branches, which Greer says represents “flexibility and adaptability.” She adds, “It is of the subconscious and a reminder to trust our own inner wisdom.”

“Willow” is also the name of a song off Swift’s 2020 album evermore.

Examining the color palette of the setup, Greer explains how “the use of pink, white and green is extremely romantic, and speaks to true love.”

This draws comparisons to some of Swift’s greatest hits, including scenes from the “Love Story” music video, in which the singer is seen running through the woods until she finally reaches her love interest. The video’s setting has a similar secret garden feel.

Kelce’s enchanting proposal spot also shared a striking resemblance to the visuals used for Swift’s 2019 album Lover, which showed the star posing in a lush garden.

UrbanStems’ floral design manager Justin Lievano says the “lush and wild” engagement flowers have a “soft coquette-ish palette” evoking a similar feeling to Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s classic painting “The Swing.”

“I think the shot of them both under the floral arch is meant to feel very intimate, like we’re getting a peek into their romantic world together,” Lievano notes.

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s engagement.

Lievano adds that the entire setup leans towards a more “airy or gestural arrangement,” which is unlike the floral aesthetic he’s seen other pro athletes use for their wedding and engagement photos.

He notes that Kelce’s arrangement speaks to a certain “luxury” that the couple has, and that the hand-designed backdrop the NFL star organized signifies both his attention to detail and desire to create the perfect “private world of blooms” for Swift.

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift on New Heights podcast.

Swift and Kelce were first linked in 2023. They met after he revealed that he tried to give the singer a friendship bracelet with his phone number on it at one of her Eras Tour concerts. He then publicly declared his interest in Swift on his New Heights podcast in July 2023, and they began seeing each other shortly afterwards.

Two years later, on August 26, 2025, the couple shared photos of Kelce getting down on one knee and hugging and holding each other with the caption, “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married 🧨” to announce the happy news of their engagement.