One benefit of our “anything anytime anywhere” day and age is that when it comes to wedding flowers, you can pretty much have whatever you want (thanks, greenhouses and round-the-world jets!). Of course, getting what you want when you want it comes with a price—both in dollars and carbon footprint. And while I’m totally into technology and how it makes our lives easier, and in some cases, more fragrant… I also think there are serious pros to choosing seasonal wedding flowers.
When you go seasonal with your flower choices, you’re being more environmentally friendly (because no one is flying flowers from around the world). And perhaps the biggest pro: buying flowers that are in season means you can save some serious cash. (Those peonies are not flying themselves, after all.)
So with all of this in mind, here’s a guide to picking your winter flowers for your wedding bouquet—we’ve included both flowers that bloom in winter and flowers that are available all year, so you can take your pick.
winter flowers
In this bouquet: Anemones, berries | Photo by Studio 28 Photography, arrangement by JL Designs, via Bollea
Name: Anemone
Cost: $189.99 (80 stems)–$259.99 (160 stems) | Hardiness: Moderately hardy | Colors: Several | Available: Fall, winter | Affordable alternatives: Lisianthus
While typically thought of as a spring flower, fall-blooming anemones give wedding bouquets a light, dreamy look, and they’re such a gorgeous option for your autumn and winter wedding flowers—truly, it’s worth getting married in winter for these flowers alone. Anemones also vary in hue, and may retain various shades of lavender, pink, and blue.
In this bouquet: Amaryllis, orchids, berries, greenery | Photo by Angela Hubbard Photography, via SendRoo
Name: Amaryllis
Cost: $129.99 (15 stems)–$229.99 (30 stems) | Hardiness: Moderately hardy | Colors: Red, burgundy, pink | Available: February, March
Amaryllis flowers hail from southern Australia and South Africa, and the flower is part of the lily flowering family. Bonus: They’re pretty easy to grow (and can be grown indoors). And the best part? That red will set off any wedding happening on or around the holiday season.
In this bouquet: Dusty miller, anemones, white hydrangea, peonies, lisianthus, and silver brunia | Photo by Brooke Schultz Photography via Calie Rose
Name: Dusty Miller
Cost: $129.99 (100 stems)–$189.99 (200 stems) | Hardiness: Hardy | Colors: Silver-gray, green
While not technically a flower, dusty miller is a super hip accent flower in a bouquet, and its silvery-gray color is perfect for winter weddings. Dusty miller can also be paired with bold-colored bouquets or those built from softly hued flowers, since its silvery leaves complement both.
In this bouquet: Gladiolus, white hydrangea, curly willow, and rose | Photo by Lacie Hansen
NAME: GLADIOLUS
Cost: $169.99 (8 bunches)–$259.99 (12 bunches) | Hardiness: Very hardy | Colors: White, pink, red, purple, yellow, orange | Affordable alternatives: Snapdragon, hyacinth, stock, delphinium | Available: November, December
These flowers are ideal for tall flower arrangements, and come in a wide array of colors (purple is extremely popular). They are typically found in Asia, Mediterranean Europe, South Africa, and tropical Africa, and are super elegant.
In this bouquet: Lily of the valley, white lilac | Photo by Marie Labbancz via CP Bride
Name: Lily of the Valley
Cost: $142.50 (1 bunch) | Hardiness: Hardy | Colors: White | Affordable alternatives: Queen Anne’s lace, narcissus, stephanotis | Available: Late February, early March
Lily of the valley is a spot-on choice for your winter flowers—the way the flower falls even looks a little like snow. While it typically blooms in March, you can find it blooming earlier in the year during mild winters.
In this bouquet: Lisianthus | Photo by Alchemy Wedding Events via Sweet Violet Bride
Name: Lisianthus
Cost: $119.99 (5 bunches), $189.99 (10 bunches), $259.99 (20 bunches) | Hardiness: Petals are delicate, but overall hardy | Colors: White, purple, pink
Lisianthus have ruffled-shaped blooms that are often found in white, purple, and pink—which means they pair well with a variety of greenery and attire.
In this bouquet: Paperwhite narcissus, roses | Photo by Ashley Ludaescher via Botanicart Blog
NAME: PAPERWHITE NARCISSUS
Cost: $189.99 (10 bunches, or 100 stems) | Hardiness: Moderately hardy | Colors: White, yellow | Affordable alternatives: Stephanotis, daffodil | Available: December, January, February
This flower is native to the meadows and woods in southwestern Europe and North Africa, and lends an old-fashioned charm to your bouquet.
In this bouquet: Ranunculus, globe amaranth, greenery | Photo by Kate Ignatowski via My Wedding
Name: Ranunculus
Cost: $129.99 (50 stems), $169.99 (100 stems), $229.99 (200 stems) | Colors: Several | Available: September–May
There are almost no flowers these days hipper than ranunculus, and for good reason: they’re gorgeous. There are several different types of ranunculus flowers—if your winters are mild, you can generally count on the flowers to bloom in late February or early March.
In this bouquet: Scabiosa, distant drum roses, orchids, Russian olive, clematis vine | Photo by Lauren Balingit via Vogue | Flowers by Dawn Mauberret Events
Name: Scabiosa
Cost: $105 (10 bunches) | Hardiness: Moderately hardy | Colors: White, yellow, pink, lavender | Available: December, January
Scabiosas are part of the honeysuckle family—think of them as sort of giant, wild-looking jasmine. If you’re searching for that lush wildflower look in the dead of winter, this is your ticket.
In these bouquets: Silver brunia balls, roses, greenery | Photos by Off Beet Productions and Marie Papp Photography via Project Wedding
Name: Silver Brunia Balls
Cost: $329.99 (15 bunches) | Hardiness: Very hardy | Colors: White, silver, gray | Available: November, December
Silver brunia balls are my new favorite flower, because I think they’re adorable and want them on everything. The dusty gray color is gorgeous, and perfect for a winter wedding.
In this bouquet: Star of Bethlehem, hydrangea, peonies, mini callas, casa blanca lilies, and phalenopsis orchids | Photo by Ben and Molly
Name: Star of Bethlehem
Cost: $139.99 (per three-part bridal box) | Hardiness: Moderately hardy | Colors: White | Available: All winter
If you Google “winter flowers for wedding,” you’re going to get star of Bethlehem in the top three results every single time. They are kind of the winter flower… and for good reason.
Photo by Laura Ford
flowers that are available all year
Just because you’re getting married in the winter doesn’t mean you’re limited to a handful of winter flowers… or forking over boatloads of cash. There are a bunch of flowers that bloom year round, and you can use them to fill out your bouquet selections.
NAME: ALSTROEMERIA
Cost: $11–$19 per bunch | Hardiness: Vase life of 7–12 days | Colors: All except blue
Alstromeria is a variety of lily that is native to South America. It comes in many color varieties, which makes the flower DIY-friendly and an excellent filler flower in large bouquets.
NAME: CALLA LILY
Cost: $27–$48 per bunch | Hardiness: Flower has medium hardiness and holds up well in heat | Colors: White, gold, purple | Affordable alternatives: Alstromeria, tulip
Calla lilies are wildly popular (especially for weddings), and come in a range of varieties. The flower is native to cool, temperate regions in the Northern Hemisphere.
NAME: CARNATION
Cost: $9 per bunch, or $0.75–$1 per stem | Hardiness: Holds up extremely well | Colors: Basically whatever you can imagine, including colors that don’t exist in nature
This flower is used widely, and is generally purchasable by the stem. The flower hails from the Mediterranean, but is now cultivated worldwide.
NAME: CRASPEDIA (BILLY BALL)
Cost: $50 (25 stems)–$250 (300 stems) | Hardiness: Very hardy | Colors: Yellow, green, orange, red (also available tinted and airbrushed) | Available: All year
Craspedia are native to Australia and New Zealand, and are often used a filler flower for wedding bouquets. You can generally get a good deal on stems because several are required to make a big impact.
NAME: DAISY
Cost: $99.99 (12 bunches)–$159.99 (24 bunches) | Hardiness: Very hardy | Colors: White, yellow, pink, red, orange
The daisy is a spray flower that includes more than twenty-three thousand species. These are found everywhere on Earth except Antarctica and the extreme Arctic.
NAME: DAISY, Gerber
Cost: $109.99 (50 stems)–$259.99 (200 stems) | Hardiness: Very hardy | Colors: White, pink, red, purple, yellow, orange
Gerber daisies are extremely popular and are generally used as a cut flower or for decoration. The flowers are native to the tropical regions of South America, Asia, and Africa.
NAME: DELPHINIUM (LARKSPUR)
Cost: $25–$33 per bunch | Hardiness: Moderately hardy | Colors: Blue, purple, white | Affordable alternatives: Gladiolus, stock, snapdragon, lilac
Delphinium is one of the few naturally blue flowers in the world, and is native to the Northern Hemisphere and the high mountains of tropical regions in Africa.
NAME: HYDRANGEA
Cost: $7–$10 per stem | Hardiness: Moderately hardy | Colors: Any and all
Hydrangeas have been popular in gardens for years. They are native to southern and eastern Asia and the Americas, and you can find the greatest species diversity in China, Japan, and Korea.
NAME: LILY
Cost: $28–$47 per bunch | Hardiness: Very hardy | Colors: Many | Affordable alternatives: Godetia, dianthus, stock, delphinium
Lilies are native to much of Europe, and most of Asia to Japan, India, Indochina, and the Philippines, as well as southern Canada. You can also find the flowers throughout much of the United States.
NAME: LISIANTHUS
Cost: $30–$34 per bunch | Hardiness: Delicate | Colors: White, purple, light green, pink | Affordable alternatives: Godetia
The lisianthus is a delicate, delightful flower that is native to the southern United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, and northern South America. The flower is also known as eustoma.
NAME: MUM (CHRYSANTHEMUM)
Cost: $7–$23 per bunch | Hardiness: Very hardy | Colors: Many
Chrysanthemum flowers are widely used in centerpieces, and come in a variety of colors. They are native to Asia and northeast Europe, and the center of diversity is in China.
NAME: ORCHID
Cost: $18–$40 per stem, $2–$25 per bunch | Hardiness: Delicate | Colors: Many | Affordable alternatives: Iris
The richest and most diverse species are found in the tropics, but orchids are also found above the Arctic Circle and in southern Patagonia, and there are two species on Macquarie Island.
NAME: ROSE, GARDEN
Cost: $49–$65 per bunch | Hardiness: Very hardy | Colors: All except blue
Garden roses have predominantly been grown for ornamental purposes and thrive in temperate climates. The roses are known to have been grown as far back as ancient Babylon.
NAME: ROSE, LONG STEM
Cost: $170 for 200 stems | Hardiness: Very hardy | Colors: All except blue | Affordable alternatives: Lisianthus, other rose varieties
Roses are native to Asia, and smaller numbers are native to Europe, North America, and northwestern Africa.
NAME: ROSE, SPRAY
Cost: $120 for 144 stems | Hardiness: Very hardy | Colors: All except blue
Spray roses are typically smaller than other roses (but not always), and have shorter stems than those you’ll find in classic rose bouquets.
NAME: SNAPDRAGON
Cost: $28.70 per bunch | Hardiness: Moderately hardy | Colors: White, yellow, pink, lavender
Snapdragon is native to rocky areas of Europe, the United States, and northern Africa. The flowers are frequently and excellently used in table arrangements and centerpieces.
NAME: STEPHANOTIS
Cost: $2.39 per stem (for 25+ stems) | Hardiness: Moderately hardy | Color: White | Affordable alternatives: Narcissus
The most popular species of stephanotis is native to Madagascar. The flower is also known as Madagascar jasmine, waxflower, and Hawaiian wedding flower.
NAME: STOCK (GILLIFLOWER)
Cost: $22–$25 per bunch | Hardiness: Reasonably hardy | Colors: White, pink, red, yellow, purple, orange | Affordable alternatives: Snapdragon, hyacinth
Stock can be used in centerpieces and bouquets, or on its own as a green accent. The common names include night-scented stock and evening-scented stock, and the flower is also known in the United States as ten-weeks stock.
NAME: SUCCULENTS
Cost: $2–$17 each (minimum of 20 per order) | Hardiness: Extremely hardy | Colors: Green, gray, purple, black, pink
Succulents are ever-increasing in popularity, and include 60 different plant families. Most succulents come from dry areas (think steppes, semi-deserts, and deserts).
NAME: THISTLE
Cost: $20 per bunch | Hardiness: Extremely hardy | Colors: Blue, green, gray-gold
Cotton and scotch thistle hail from Europe and West Asia, and north-to-central Scandinavia. They are also cultivated widely around the world.
NAME: VERONICA (SPEEDWELL)
Cost: $160 (15 bunches)–$280 (40 bunches) | Hardiness: Moderately hardy | Colors: White, blue, purple, pink
Most species are from temperate Northern Hemisphere climates, though a few can be found in the Southern Hemisphere. There are many types of Veronica flowers available.
This post was excerpted from the #APWPlanner. For more useful advice like this, get your #APWPlanner at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, or on iTunes.
