Picking the perfect wedding flowers can be overwhelming, especially when you’re not an expert. To simplify the process, this guide highlights the most popular wedding flowers, taking into account their blooming seasons, colors, and symbolic meanings. By considering these factors, you’ll be able to select the ideal blooms to complement your special day. Whether you’re looking for a classic romantic look or a bold statement piece, there’s something for everyone in the world of wedding florals.
Rose
When it comes to wedding flowers, garden roses are a timeless choice that never goes out of style. With numerous breeds available throughout the year, they’re an ideal selection for brides from any season. While many think of classic red, pink, or yellow roses, this iconic bloom actually comes in a vibrant array of colors depending on the florist and seasonal availability. What’s more, each color has its own unique symbolism – with love and romance being just the beginning.
Peony
Peonies have long been a favorite among brides-to-be, particularly those planning late spring or early summer weddings. The flower’s delicate, fragrant petals typically unfold in hues of pink, red, or white, making them a stunning addition to any wedding arrangement. Whether it’s the bride holding court with a peony-centric bouquet or the flowers adorning centerpieces and other decorative elements, these full-bodied blooms are sure to make a lasting impression.
With their beauty, romance, and prosperity symbolism, peonies are often seen as an omen of good fortune and happy marriage – making them an inspired choice for couples looking to infuse their special day with meaning.
Hydrangea
Hydrangeas offer versatility as the central focal point or accent flowers in any arrangement. With blooms that typically emerge during spring and summer, they also retain faded beauty throughout winter. This floral variety’s color spectrum ranges from pink to white to blue, with some rare hybrids showcasing purple or lavender undertones, making them a natural fit for diverse color palettes.
Their adaptability makes hydrangeas an attractive choice for wedding bouquets, allowing couples to seamlessly integrate them into their chosen scheme. Furthermore, these flowers have symbolic significance, often representing gratitude and heartfelt emotions.
Gardenia
The timeless allure of the gardenia makes it a perennial favorite among wedding florists. This elegant bloom’s versatility allows for breathtaking creations, such as a classic bouquet paired with lush greenery and delicate silk ribbon wrapping. The result is a stunning, sophisticated arrangement that exudes romance and refinement. Gardenias’ crisp white petals are in season from early spring to summer, and again during late summer and early fall.
This seasonality makes them an ideal choice for a pure and elegant all-white bridal bouquet or a beautiful accent flower. When paired with other blooms, gardenias add a touch of understated sophistication, making them perfect for adding a pop of color to your wedding decor. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, gardenias hold significant symbolic meaning.
They represent the virtues of purity, love (often in its most intimate and secret forms), trust, and clarity – qualities that are deeply cherished on one’s special day.
Daisy
Daisies are a perennial favorite for weddings throughout the year, effortlessly transitioning from warm to cold seasons. Their timeless appeal lies in their versatility, allowing you to create rustic, autumn-inspired bouquets or vibrant, sun-kissed arrangements that exude happiness. With numerous species to choose from, daisies come in an impressive array of colors, making them a natural fit for any floral design and color scheme.
While white daisies remain a popular choice, their hues range from soft pastels to bold statements, effortlessly complementing centerpieces and displays alike. Moreover, the daisy’s symbolic significance – representing innocence, purity, and simplicity – only adds to its charm, making it an ideal representation of joy and celebration in wedding arrangements.
Carnation
Carnations are a versatile and cost-effective option for floral arrangements, serving as both accent flowers and main attractions in bouquets. Their affordability makes them an excellent choice for those working within a budget, allowing you to add a pop of color without breaking the bank. Additionally, their year-round availability and adaptability make them a popular choice for winter weddings, where they can add a touch of warmth and elegance.
Beyond their aesthetic appeal, carnations hold symbolic meaning based on their color. While pink or purple hues are most common, these flowers also come in a range of shades, from pure white to vibrant orange, yellow, and deep red. Depending on the shade, carnations often represent love, gratitude, or admiration, making them an excellent choice for expressing sentiment.
Baby’s Breath
Baby’s Breath often takes center stage in bouquets and arrangements, offering a delicate charm and affordability that makes it an attractive option for wedding flowers. While they’re commonly used as fillers to add texture and dimension, these tiny white blooms can also be the focal point of your design. Their availability year-round only adds to their appeal, making them a versatile choice for wedding planners.
Incorporating Baby’s Breath into your wedding florals can add a touch of whimsy and romance, whether you use it as an accent to punctuate pops of white or let it take over as the main attraction in a lush bouquet. The flower’s symbolic meaning – representing long-lasting love, purity, and innocence – only adds to its allure.
Whether you choose to wrap it in silk ribbon, like our example above, or let it stand on its own, Baby’s Breath is sure to bring a touch of elegance and charm to your wedding decor.
Sweet Pea
Sweet peas, a beloved choice for brides-to-be, add a touch of whimsy and romance to any wedding arrangement. Their vibrant colors and intoxicating aroma make them an ideal addition to bouquets, centerpieces, or mixed flower arrangements. With their wide range of hues, sweet peas can seamlessly blend into various springtime wedding themes, available from the start of spring through mid-summer depending on your location.
As a symbol of delicate pleasure, they beautifully capture the essence of a joyous and carefree celebration.
Orchid
Orchids are renowned for their exotic charm and refined beauty, making them a sought-after addition to wedding flower arrangements. The flowers’ unique bloom ensures they remain a stunning focal point all year round, regardless of the breed or season. While purple orchids are the most common, ranging from grayish-purple to deep red hues, other colors do exist.
White orchids, in particular, have gained popularity for weddings due to their elegance and sophistication, although they can be quite pricey. To add an extra layer of charm without breaking the bank, consider incorporating a single-stem orchid or using them as accent pieces in bouquets and table arrangements. The orchid’s symbolic significance reinforces its allure – representing love, beauty, strength, and refinement.
Calla Lily
Calla lilies exude a sense of sophistication and refinement, making them an ideal choice for any wedding. The unique trumpet-shaped petals are a hallmark of this elegant flower. While they’re often associated with classic white hues, calla lilies also come in a range of vibrant colors, including yellow, orange, pink, and deep purple. This versatility allows couples to add a touch of whimsy or modernity to their wedding decor.
With a growing period that spans early spring to early summer, these flowers are a popular choice for seasonal weddings. However, with proper care, calla lilies can be cultivated year-round indoors, ensuring they remain a stunning centerpiece for any celebration. As a symbol of purity, faith, and magnificent beauty, the calla lily is the perfect representation of the love and commitment shared on one’s special day.
Dahlia
In recent years, the dahlia has become a go-to choice for wedding flowers due to its affordability and dramatic impact on floral arrangements. With blooms ranging from petite to large, dahlias offer endless opportunities to add visual interest to your bouquets, centerpieces, and more. Their vibrant colors – including pink, peach, orange, white, yellow, lavender, and beyond – make them a versatile option for wedding decor.
As they bloom from mid-summer through the fall season, dahlias are particularly popular for winter weddings. But their appeal goes beyond aesthetics; in Victorian times, dahlias were believed to represent lifelong commitment, making them an even more poignant choice for wedding arrangements. Today, they’re often associated with elegance, strength, creativity, and dignity, qualities that make them a fitting symbol of love and devotion.