A Glossary of Wedding Flowers by Season

When it comes to the flowers for your nuptials, you're likely familiar with the concept of seasonality. While most floral varieties can be sourced at any time of the year, working with in-season blooms means you're getting them when they're absolute best. But know that "at their best" doesn't mean for a lower price. While "seasonal" and "cheap" have become synonymous in the world of wedding flowers, it's time to put that misconception to rest, says Jessica De Corse, the founder of Ellamah. "Seasonal flowers mean that you are getting those flowers at their best," she adds. "When you get flowers that are out of season, they are of less quality (think small heads, weak stems, etc.) and are more expensive than if you got them during their actual season. So, seasonal flowers do not cost less; they offer a better value."

Amanda Theodoropoulos, co-owner of Twisted Willow Flowers, largely echos that sentiment. However, she adds that working with local, in-season flowers can sometimes result in a small savings in an unexpected way. "When we purchase local flowers, we eliminate travel miles, which means there's less cost to ship and less time from cut to the vase," she says. Lauren Anderson and Rachel Bridgwood, the co-founders of Sweet Root Village, add that the value you gain from choosing flowers that aren't shipped from faraway locales should be an important factor to consider. "A flower being clipped from the farm into a bucket and traveling down the street to you delivered in water is going to last longer and look fresher than a bloom that is clipped at an earlier stage, cold packed, traveling all around the world, through customs, and wholesalers before being trucked all over the country in boxes," they say.

Simply put, working with as many in-season flowers on your wedding day is the best way to ensure that the quality and overall look of your floral décor is at its very best. If budget is your primary concern, Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht, the owner of Wild Bloom, suggests sharing any budget concerns with your florist early on in the process. "If you are looking to save money be sure to communicate that with your florists," he says. "A good floral designer will be able to educate and help you make thoughtful design decisions within your budget."

Curious which flowers will be at their best on the day you say "I do?" Here, we share a breakdown of which blooms to expect during each season, as well as expert-approved tips and budget details you need to know.

Spring Wedding Flowers

If flowers are your biggest wedding-day priority, consider hosting your nuptials in the spring. During this season, some of the most popular blooms —like peonies, lilacs, tulips, garden roses, and more—are most readily available. "Spring is the best," says Griffith-VanderYacht. "You basically have your pick of the most amazing bulb flowers."

Daffodil

As one of the first harbingers of spring, emerging as the ground begins to thaw at the end of each long winter, daffodils are practically must-haves for weddings taking place in late March or April. Available in yellow and white, these single-bloom stems lend a brightness to any celebration. While they can stand on their own, they also pair perfectly with other seasonal blooms, like roses and ranunculus. Just make sure to include a few of them: Legend has it that a boutonniere with one single daffodil can bring bad luck.

Tulip

Tulips signify "perfect love," making them a wonderful fit as a wedding-day flower. Available in a variety of vibrant colors—from pure white and blush pink to bright yellow and deep purple, this bloom type is incredibly versatile. In recent years, florists have taken to using tulips in even more creative ways, opening their colorful petals wide to create lush, statement accents in arrangements.

Flowering Branches and Shrubs

"One of our favorite parts about spring are the blooming branches and foliage," say Anderson and Bridgwood. "Give us all the spirea, quince, cherry blossom, and more!" If texture, height, and pops of color are important to you, work with your florist to prioritize adding cherry blossoms, forsythia, spirea (we're especially fond of the bridal path variety for weddings), quince, mock orange, and dogwood. "There is something so magical about walking into a room full of pink cherry blossoms," Griffith-VanderYacht adds.

Sweet Pea

Dainty sweet peas add texture and movement to any wedding bouquet or centerpiece. Available in shades of pink, blue, white, purple, and red, they're beautiful accent blooms; arranged en-masse, they also make a statement all on their own. Anderson and Bridgwood say you can generally expect to pay anywhere from $5 to $10 per stem for this popular floral.

Lilac

With a blink-and-you'll-miss-it growing season, lilacs are one of spring's most fleeting flowers; if your wedding date aligns with their peak season, make sure to use these fragrant blooms to their fullest potential. "Some [flower] varieties have a short window availability—I am talking about a week," says De Corse, and that's certainly true of these blooms, which come in shades of purple and white.

Lily of the Valley

If you loved Kate Middleton's wedding bouquet, then lily of the valley should be on your own big-day must-have list. While her arrangement also featured other florals, including sweet William, ivy, myrtle, and hyacinth, a posey made up of just these delicate bell-shaped blooms would also be extremely beautiful.

Peony

Fluffy, fragrant peonies have a relatively short growing season: While a single plant will have multiple buds, local varieties will only bloom once per year, right around the end of the season. As a result, make sure to take advantage of this springtime floral.. "I've seen peonies go from $2.50 to almost $25 a stem in our markets (our cost) depending on the novelty of the variety," says Theodoropoulos. Bridgwood and Anderson say $9 to $20 tends to be the average cost for a single peony.

Pieris Japonica

Also known as andromeda, pieris japonica is a shrub-like evergreen plant that flowers each spring, bursting into a colorful display of white or pale pink urn-shaped blooms. It's a great textural option that works well as filler or as a way to add body and depth to an asymmetrical arrangement.

Iris

Theodoropoulos cites irises as her favorite springtime bloom to work with, and it's easy to see why: Available in a vast array of colors, including yellow, blue, white, pink, orange, brown, and purple, these versatile springtime flowers work well with just about any color palette.

Summer Wedding Flowers

Long, warm days, glorious sunsets, balmy nights—what's not to love about summer, especially in context of planning a wedding? If you're tying the knot during late June, July, August, or early September, you'll have a plethora of flowers to choose from, but it's important to think about where they'll be used, as some flowers are more sensitive to intense heat. Anything that will be out of water (like your bouquet, boutonnière, or a ceremony backdrop) should contain stronger blooms.

Garden Rose

By the time summer rolls around, garden roses—which are commonly mistaken for peonies—are bursting with color and fresh scent. Whatever you do, don't be fooled by these flowers: It's a common misconception that garden roses are the same as standard roses, but that's absolutely not the case. Garden—or English—roses have more petals and a different overall shape. If you love the look a full, fluffy peony but aren't a fan of the out-of-season price tag, a local garden rose could be a good stand-in. While Juliet garden roses have long been a wedding bouquet favorite, other varieties have become more and more popular in recent years; consider cappuccino, distant drum, or quicksand varieties for your own arrangements.

Hydrangea

You'd be hard-pressed to name a flower more synonymous with the summer season than the hydrangea. Readily available in colors like white, blush, blue, purple, and green, these fluffy flowers take up a lot of space in arrangements, making them a solid option as a bouquet or centerpiece base. "Hydrangea is versatile and comes in many many colors," says Griffith-VanderYacht. Just remember that these big flowers love water, so they aren't always the best option for sun-soaked summer ceremonies. Anderson and Bridgwood say that hydrangeas generally cost between $8 and $12 a stem. However, because they take up a significant amount of space in an arrangement, you can get away with using fewer flowers overall.

Clematis

The buttercup-shaped flowers that define this vining plant are endlessly versatile. Have your florist let them dangle on the vine for a trailing, organic look, or keep them arranged close to the base of a bouquet or centerpiece to add color and texture to a summer-inspired mix. Available in pink, white, red, purple, blue, and even bi-color, clematis is a lovely accent in any type of arrangement.

Cosmo

Star-shaped and petite, there's something whimsical about cosmos, which is why our experts love using them in summer arrangements. Reminiscent of a daisy, they are known for their vibrant yellow centers and equally colorful petals. You can typically find them in shades of white, pink, yellow, maroon, and orange.

Delphinium

There aren't many naturally-occurring blue flowers, but delphinium (also known as larkspur) is one of them. Even if blue isn't your color of choice, don't count this tall flower out—it's also available in pink, white, and sometimes even yellow. Arranged en-masse, delphinium is the perfect addition to a long-stemmed bouquet or statement aisle decoration.

Foxglove

If height and color are what you're after, consider foxglove for your wedding day. These tall-stemmed, bells-shaped blooms are available in bold shades of red, pink, yellow, white, and purple.

Scabiosa

De Corse loves working with scabiosa in the summer, when these pincushion-centered flowers are at their peak. And since they're available in both classic (think: white, burgundy, and pink) and unexpected (think: black and deep purple) hues, they tend to pop when used in arrangements. Not that scabiosa lends a great deal of movement and texture to any arrangement, and your florist may need to stabilize the stem with wire so that the flower doesn't overwilt or break.

Sunflower

While they might not be a fit for every aesthetic, there's something undeniably cheerful about the classic sunflower, which is at its peak during the warm-weather months. If you're planning a casual or rustic wedding, these big-faced blooms will feel right at home in your arrangements.

Zinnia

Symbolizing friendship, thoughtfulness, and endurance, zinnias are a great choice for wedding floral arrangements. You can find them in a wide range of colors, like pink, burgundy, yellow, orange, and green.

Fruiting Branches

If you ask De Corse, there's nothing like working with unexpected materials in the summer, and fruiting branches are her go-to. "Fruiting branches are quintessential summer to me," she says. "I love working with fruiting branches, particularly blueberries in July." Whether you add them to bouquets, boutonnières, or centerpieces, they're guaranteed to pop.

Fall Wedding Flowers

Is there anything quite like a fall wedding? Mild temperatures, amazing foliage, epic sunsets, and a plethora of in-season flowers make this season an ideal time to say "I do."

Dahlia

Though they begin to bloom in late summer, dahlias really come into their own during autumn, which is why Theodoropoulos refers to them as "everyone's favorite fall flower." Since these blooms don't tolerate heat well, they tend to fare better during the cooler months. "Autumn is typically packed with dahlias in all their incredible shapes and colors," say Anderson and Bridgwood. You can find them in tons of colors, including burgundy, pink, yellow, and white, costing between $3 and $5 per stem.

Japanese Anemone

Though they typically start growing in late summer, Japanese anemone are at their best in the fall. Their season is fleeting, though, which is why De Corse says she loves working with this bloom "if she can catch it." While their shape is a little different than a traditional anemone, these petite flowers, which are available in white, pink, and purple are a cheerful addition to any arrangement.

Foliage

If you see the word "foliage" and immediately think "filler," you're sorely mistaken—especially during the fall. De Corse says foliage is her favorite thing to work with during autumn, and for good reason: So many varieties are readily available, and they provide tons of colors and movement to arrangements. "This season’s stars are foliage and texture, such as nandina, amaranthus, bittersweet vine, celosia, maple vine, and different grasses," she says. "Working with nature’s second-spring transitional color branches will do the trick." Anderson and Bridgwood add, "All kinds of grasses and millets tend to find their way into fall designs as well as the seasons crops start to dry out!"

Chrysanthemum

In the past, chrysanthemums (or mums) have gotten a bad reputation as grocery store flowers, but florist-quality varieties are worth considering for your big day. And since they're affordable, asking your florist to work chrysanthemums, which come in tons of colors like yellow, rust, burgundy, white, and orange, into your arrangements can help you bulk up the scale—without breaking the bank.

Hanging Amaranthus

If you've been thinking about an overhead floral installation for your reception or love the look of cascading bouquets, consider hanging amaranthus. Generally in bloom from October through December, this type of greenery, which is available in burgundy, green, and rust, can add texture and movement to your décor.

Winter Wedding Flowers

While you might not think of winter as an incredible season for wedding flowers, a number of amazing options are available to you, from colorful ranunculus and anemones to the florist-favorite hellebore.

Amaryllis

A favorite of Anderson and Bridgwood, amaryllis is a stunning option for a winter wedding, especially if you choose snow-like, all-white iterations of the star-shaped flower. If color is what you're after, though, amaryllis will help you get there: The winter bloomer is also available in red, salmon, apricot, and even bicolor blends.

Ranunculus

Theodoropoulos loves working with ranunculus during the winter months, and it's easy to see why: With so many vibrant colors to choose from, these multi-layered blooms can breathe a lot of life into the season. Anderson and Bridgwood love ranunculus, too, but caution that these flowers can be pricey. Expect to spend between $5 and $10 per stem. "There is a lot of care and handling that goes into cultivating, growing, cutting, transporting, and sustaining a quality bloom in order to make them last in their peak bloom stage for you as long as possible," they say.

Anemone

With their inky black centers and delicate, colorful petals (you can typically find these flowers in shades of white, pink, red, and purple), anemones are a study in contrast. Though small, they make a huge impact in arrangements, and we love how well they work with just about any flower and aesthetic.

Greenery

Evergreen boughs are a hallmark of the winter season, so embrace that aesthetic (and the abundance of greenery that's available during these months) on your big day. "Local is hard to come by [during the winter] aside from seasonal greenery," says Theodoropoulos, which is why it's definitely worth considering greens for your winter nuptials. Fresh-cut balsam, cedar, spruce, white pine, and holly are all beautiful, classic options, but you could also use something a bit more unexpected, like juniper or magnolia. Whatever you choose, be clear with your florist on what you want your floral décor to look like: Greenery can easily read as "holiday," and if that's not your preferred aesthetic, you'll want to avoid make it appear as such.

Hellebore

Available in a range of colors including mauve, eggplant, green, burgundy, and beige, hellebores are stunning, unexpectedly colorful options for a winter wedding. In fact, all of our experts cite this bloom as one of their favorites to using during the cooler months. "Hellebores are stunning in their simplicity and come in a wide range of entrancing colors, but—and this is a big but—they are not cheap," says Griffith-VanderYacht. "A single stem can cost retails upwards of $15."