Flowers are a major part of most wedding decor, but choosing the right bloom for the occasion can be challenging. You may think that you want roses, but then your wedding florist will start asking questions about varietals and compositions, and it can quickly become completely overwhelming. American wedding traditions often associate certain flowers with particular seasons, which makes some people wonder if the flower they’ve chosen is somehow “wrong”.
Your wedding is your own, and you should choose the flowers that you love; there are no “right” or “wrong” options for your bouquet. However, staying with the most popular wedding flowers can simplify your choices while letting you tailor your wedding and reception to your style.
1. Roses
While they are the most popular wedding flowers around, roses are a deceptively simple choice. They come in a massive array of sizes, colors, and scents.
Roses fall into two main categories: garden roses and standard roses. Standard roses have the classic tight shape, while garden roses tend to be looser and have a higher petal count than standard roses. The dense petal count leads to garden roses having a fuller, more romantic look, and since they’re usually more fragrant, they’re the perfect choice for centerpieces and your bouquet.
Roses are the popular choice for spring and summer weddings, and many varieties grow year-round, making roses the perfect option no matter when your wedding day is.
2. Peonies
Peonies are the quintessential wedding flower due to their romantic colors and ruffled petals. However, the fact that they are the most popular wedding flowers means that they’re also the most expensive option since they only grow in the spring, and demand is extremely high.
One way you can get the wow factor of peonies without breaking the bank is to set aside most of the budget for a show-stopper bouquet and then mix a few peonies with other seasonal flowers as part of the wedding and reception decor.
3. Anemones
Anemones are the ultimate choice if you’re having a black-and-white wedding theme. The delicate white petals with a bold, jet-black center create a striking and appealing contrast. They bloom from winter into early summer, and their delicate nature and sensitivity to heat mean they’re best suited to fall, winter, and spring weddings.
If you don’t like the traditional black-and-white look, you can also find anemones in a host of other colors, including deep purple, cherry red, bright blue, and burgundy.
4. Dahlias
Dahlias are one of the most popular wedding flowers for autumn weddings due to their variety in size and color. You can get massive show-stopper dahlias or smaller ones to serve as accents in a larger composition. No matter what your wedding theme is, you’re sure to find a dahlia variety that fits right in.
5. Lilacs
Lilacs are more subdued than traditional wedding flowers but offer a certain charm that’s hard to beat. Their delicate shades of purple and white, small flowers, and drapey nature make them incredibly romantic, and their sweet scent is hard to forget.
You can use lilacs on their own as a simple yet elegant bouquet, as part of table decorations, or as part of a larger centerpiece. These flexible blooms work well in almost any situation, but their delicate nature means they work best for weddings taking place in the cooler months.
6. Ranunculuses
Ranunculuses look strikingly similar to peonies, with their tight blooms, delicate petals, and stunning colors. Despite their fragility, ranunculuses are hardy plants and can withstand a lot of handling and squashing, making them ideal for boutonnieres and bouquets.
What makes ranunculuses a great option is that they come in almost any color imaginable, so if you have a wild wedding theme and need flowers to fit the theme, ranunculus is the way to go.
7. Sweet Peas
Sweet peas combine a lovely fragrance with delicate, unique flowers, making them ideal for bouquets and centerpieces. You can tie several sweet pea blooms with a silk ribbon for a simple bouquet or have single sweet pea stems in glass vases as a classy and elegant table accent.
Despite their fragile looks, sweet peas are fairly robust and come in many colors, giving you plenty of options to play around with. They mainly bloom in spring and are best for spring and early summer weddings.
8. Hydrangeas
With their iconic, fluffy cloud-like shape, hydrangeas are a wedding day staple. You can stick to mono-colored varieties for a traditional, sleek look or use heirloom varieties that have variegated multi-colored leaves for a more vintage feel.
Try mixing hydrangeas with roses, orchids, or fresh greenery to elevate the bouquet to the next level. Since hydrangeas bloom year-round, it’s easy to find a variety that will suit your wedding day.
9. Calla Lilies
These flowers are the pinnacle of simplicity and elegance. Calla lilies’ pristine white petals and sleek shape are perfect for minimalist weddings or adding a touch of class. Calla lilies work well as a bouquet but really shine as table pieces, where a long-stemmed calla lily can have a dramatic impact that’s hard to forget.
While you may expect calla lilies to be fragile, they’re one of the hardier wedding flowers, and you can find them year-round.
10. Hellebore
You may not often see hellebores as part of wedding celebrations, but they’re a firm favorite amongst florists for their moody colors and strong impact. Hellebores come in various shades of ivory, mauve, and black and are ideal for adding contrast to traditional wedding flowers. They hold up quite well and are robust enough to serve as boutonnieres, hair flowers, and bouquet centerpieces.
If you want more advice on which of the most popular wedding flowers to use in your wedding or ideas for your dream city hall wedding in San Francisco, City Hall Weddings is here to help. Sign up for our newsletter for tips and planning ideas to make your dream day a reality.