Beyond being the season of weddings, summer is about abundance, growth, and, of course, verdant greenery. And if you’re planning a celebration during this time of year, you’re likely taking inspiration from these concepts when designing your own centerpieces. You may find yourself gravitating toward wildflower bundles, arrangements that appear to grow out of tabletops, bright blooms, and whimsical flowers reminiscent of a meadow. Yet, florals aren't the only aspect to consider incorporating into a summer centerpiece: Strawberries and limes work beautifully for a vibrant, colorful wedding, while mushrooms, artichokes, and moss play into earth-toned palettes.
Ultimately, regardless of the elements you choose to incorporate into a centerpiece, let the season guide your decision-making process. Think about the colors, textures, and plants that remind you of the warm weather months. Maybe you have found memories of blooming hydrangeas—or love the smell of cut grass. Consider incorporating these concepts into your summer centerpieces, drawing on the blooms that speak the most to you—and your unique style.
Below, we’ve rounded up 19 of our favorite summer centerpieces from real weddings to give you inspiration for your own décor. Whether you’re partial to dahlias or zinnias (or prefer a flowerless arrangement), we’re sure you’ll fall in love with at least one of these seasonal arrangements. Read on for more.
01 of 19
Soft-Hued Centerpieces With Taper Candles
Photo by Calen Rose
Even amidst the bright colors, summer can still be chic and moody. For nighttime weddings, consider pairing short arrangements with tall taper candles for the perfect romantic atmosphere. For their New York wedding, this bride and groom asked designer Colin Cowie to do just that, positioning taper and tea candles next to arrangements full of soft yellow, orange, pink, and red blooms.
02 of 19
Simple Centerpieces On Top of Patterned Tablecloths
Photo by Oliver Fly
At their destination wedding in Portugal, this couple made their simple centerpieces—full of hydrangeas, roses, craspedia, and ferns—pop by pairing them with patterned linens. The arrangements, which were created by The Crachá, perfectly complemented the blue-hued tablecloths, which were inspired by Portuguese tiles.
03 of 19
Classic Greenery With White Accents
Photo by Vicki Grafton
Greenery paired with white accents will never go out of style for classic weddings. While this timeless palette can be rendered in so many different ways, at this couple’s early summer wedding, Floral and Bloom used all-white florals, including peonies, roses, and ranunculus, in low centerpieces to create a look that felt both fresh and traditional.
04 of 19
Bright Florals With Citrus Fruits
Photo by Olivia Marshall
At their San Francisco wedding, this couple proved that arrangements can include more than just flowers. For their nuptials, Amanda Vidmar mixed small citrus fruits, like lemons and limes, into the low pink-and-peach centerpieces. This type of arrangement was the perfect choice to complement their neutral linens and gold chargers.
05 of 19
White, Peach, and Pink Blooms
Photo by Stephanie Vegliante
Soft colors—think pink, blue, sage, peach, and ivory—are the ideal summer palette. At this couple’s Cape Cod wedding, they integrated such hues into their celebration, which was inspired by a grandmillennial beach cottage, with custom floral linens and mismatched vessels. Beach Plum Floral paired arrangements of hydrangeas, roses, ranunculus, and tweedia with taper candles and low votives to illuminate the beachside venue.
06 of 19
Exposed Stems With Pops of White
Photo by Perry Vaile
Sometimes it isn’t the flowers themselves that speak the loudest—but their stems. Leaning into such a garden-style arrangement lends itself well to sustainable weddings, like Katie Wachowiak proved with this couple’s summer nuptials in Michigan. When designing a similar centerpiece, opt for shallow bowls or baskets to make the green truly pop.
07 of 19
Tropical-Inspired Orchids Paired With Garlands
Photo by Les Loups
Roses and ranunculus will always be beautiful wedding florals, but some of the most unique summer centerpieces incorporate less well-known blooms. For this wedding in the British Virgin Islands, Bows and Arrows topped the outdoor tables with cymbidium orchids and tropical-inspired garlands—both of which matched the bride’s cascading bouquet.
08 of 19
White Mushrooms With Feathers and Seed Pods
Photo by Valorie Darling Collective
For her Montecito wedding, this bride wanted her summer centerpieces to be particularly unique. “I encouraged our florist, Katie, of Going Steady Studios, to make them as wild as she could and to incorporate as many different textures as possible,” she said. “She used things like ginger, mushrooms, seed pods, feathers, and ruffled fabric to change it up while staying within our color scheme.”
09 of 19
A Monochromatic Centerpiece With a Unique Twist
Photo by Maria Hibbs
Many summer centerpieces revolve around a mix of vibrant colors, but there’s also a time and a place for monochromatic looks. To do just that, take inspiration from the arrangement at this intimate elopement in Mallorca, designed by Orto Cantar, which included green florals, as well as bunches of grapes and strategically-placed pears.
10 of 19
Contrasting Blue and White Delphiniums
Photo by Janna Brown
For this Malibu wedding, Rouge and Fox Floral drew on the venue’s surroundings when designing the summer centerpieces. Cool blue, ocean-inspired tones were juxtaposed with bright whites at the center of the reception tables. However, by keeping the bundles to just one bloom, it gave the arrangements a feeling of artful cohesion.
11 of 19
Wildflowers in a Ceramic Bowl
Photo by Adonye Jaja
In addition to your selected florals, consider the vessels they’re displayed in. While it’s often a smaller detail—and easy to miss in the planning process, it can have a huge impact on the overall aesthetic. At this coastal wedding, ceramic bowls added to the summer- and earth-inspired feel of the décor, which was curated by Found Floral.
12 of 19
Dramatic Florals Inspired by a French Chateau
Photo by Samuel Lippke Studios
Maximalism is officially in. Rather than individual arrangements, Celio Design ran florals all the way down the table at this Bel Air wedding. Taking inspiration from a chateau in Provence, the blooms were accented with artichokes, and the flowers wrapped around taper candles, creating a one-of-a-kind tablescape. Lace linens, antique silver, and tall candelabras completed the dramatic look.
13 of 19
A Mix of Low and High Arrangements
Photo by Liz Fogarty Photography
Even with low centerpieces currently trending, tall arrangements have their place and purpose. These sky-high bouquets are perfect for facilitating conversation between guests—and ensuring no one’s view is blocked by a bloom. At this Virginia wedding, Distinctive Event Design mixed the two types of arrangements, adding visual interest into the reception space.
14 of 19
White Florals Paired With Cool-Toned Dishware
Photo by Megan Kay Photography
At this beachside soirée, Cristina G Florals took inspiration from the white sand and blue waters, crafting low arrangements of neutral-hued blooms, which were accented with tinted goblets and cool-toned napkins. To recreate a similar look, make sure to consider all of the elements of your tablescape when planning your centerpieces: Chargers, glassware and tablecloths can all reflect your chosen colors—and make your blooms shine.
15 of 19
Whimsical—Yet Sophisticated—Arrangements With Bright Colors
Photo by Kir Tuben
It’s one of the biggest trends in florals right now: Stems that twist and wind in a Seussian way, and centerpieces that seem to grow straight from the table. These colorful centerpieces by Sophie Felts Floral Design did just that, giving an overgrown-garden feel to this couple’s summer nuptials in a train station. By keeping the arrangements low, they maintained the elevated—yet bright—feeling of the fête.
17 of 19
Orchids Enclosed in a Fishbowl
Photo by Carlos Hernandez
For a unique take on summer centerpieces, enclose florals in glass. At this Portland wedding, Haute Flowers arranged orchids in fishbowls. However, at your own nuptials, you could also use cloches, tall hurricanes, or smoky glass vases for a similar effect.
18 of 19
An Overgrown Arrangement With Moss, Strawberries, and Mushrooms
Photo by Nirav Patel Photography
Wildflower bouquets and overgrown arrangements are perfect for summer. Embrace such a look by blanketing your tables in moss, like Ampersand did at this couple’s California wedding. Drawing on the forest that surrounded the ceremony and reception, they also incorporated strawberries and mushrooms into the nature-inspired centerpieces.
19 of 19
Dramatic Red Roses
Photo by Oliver Fly
At her Lake Como nuptials, this bride used bold shades of red to honor her Chinese heritage, tapping Riccardo Ciceri to outfit the gilded space with roses in the same rue. Even though you may assume the dramatic floral isn’t fit for a summer soirée, these arrangements proved otherwise, bringing a sophisticated and elevated feeling to the celebration.
