What wedding flowers
THE PERFECT SEASONAL FLOWERS
A bride said to me today, “I don’t know anything about flowers or what they’re called.”
It got me thinking. Do you feel overwhelmed picking your perfect wedding flowers?
There’s so much choice ... from fragrant and romantic peonies, to luxurious orchids or vibrant calla lilies.
It can be difficult to figure out what flowers will be readily available on your wedding day.
SHOULD I CHOOSE?
Why choose seasonal flowers?
Flowers bloom naturally at different times of the year; certain flowers will be readily available in certain months, and will be at their best quality in their natural growing season. So Peonies, for example, are best in May.
It is possible to source flowers through the year from specialist international growers; from Holland to Ecuador. These passionate growers are continuing to look at ways to improve the quality whilst reducing their environmental impact.
Here at Jacqui O, I offer my ‘Bee friendly’ collection grown between May and October and are perfect for those couples who are conscious of their carbon footprint. These artisan flowers are grown, not flown, and have already provided food and habitat to a huge variety of butterflies, bugs, and bees in rural Cheshire and the UK.
Of course, you don’t need to be an expert in flowers - that’s what we’re here for - but we’ve compiled this short glossary for some of the most popular wedding flowers (and some that you may not have thought of) in their seasons, to help you find the best value and quality blooms for the time of year you are getting married.
Spring:
White calla lilies represent beauty and innocence. These sturdy flowers come in many other colours too, from yellow and pink to lavender and dark maroon. With their long stems, they are perfect for glamorous, spring-time weddings.
One of the most popular wedding flowers, peonies symbolise romance, prosperity and good fortune. However, they have a very short season, from May to June, so if you love these blooms but are saying ‘I do’ at another time of the year, we recommend ranunculus, which has a similar, ruffled-petal look.
Signifying the declaration of love, these delicate tulips come in many different colours and shades to match your wedding colour scheme.
Perfect for an April wedding, the small, bell-shaped lily of the valley is a favourite of the Royal Family and is said to represent rebirth, humility and purity.
Summer:
The romantic sweet pea traditionally blooms on Midsummer’s Day, so is ideal for June weddings. It symbolises kind-heartedness and peace and will add a wonderful scent to your bouquet.
Symbolising gratitude, grace and beauty, hydrangeas are full and round flowers that make a wonderful statement centrepiece, but also create an impactful bouquet.
The official birth flower for July, delphiniums represent cheerfulness and fun, lending an elegant and luxurious look to July weddings. Although they come in many shades of blue, they are also available in red, white, pink, purple and yellow.
The garden rose has long been associated with love and romance. Its heart-shaped petals signify love and trust, while its thorns are a reminder that love can hurt. Roses come in so many varieties - both new and old - and colours that there will always be something to suit your theme, scheme and budget. They can also make a wonderful substitution for peonies, and are easier on the purse.
Our flowers were absolutely stunning and got lots of compliments from our guests. We didn’t know anything about flowers but Jacqui O guided us through and helped us to realise our vision, and the end result was even more beautiful than we could ever have imagined.
Jennifer & KaRL
Crewe Hall
Autumn:
The traditional carnation has seen a comeback in recent years, and is popular as a buttonhole flower at weddings. Symbolising passion, longing and romance, it dates back to the Romans, who made wreaths and perfume from its petals. It comes in many shades and colours, and can be a good substitute for ranunculus when the latter isn’t in season.
A little goes a long way with Dahlias, another autumnal flower, whose size and brightness means you only need a few to dazzle in any bouquet. They represent abundance, strength and love and come in an amazing variety of colours and shapes.
Tall, bright gladioli make striking centrepieces as well as impactful wedding bouquets. The name derives from the Latin “gladius”, meaning sword, and represents strength, victory and pride. Its flowers bloom on both sides of the stem and come in many bright colours.
A symbol of boldness, celosia has a distinctive curly shape and fiery colours, including purple, dark red and burnt orange, making it ideal for an autumnal wedding.
Need help with your wedding flowers? Enquire with us today
Winter:
The velvety petals of Amaryllis add a touch of elegance and luxury to a winter wedding and symbolise pride and enchanting beauty. The name comes from the Greek ‘to sparkle’, and its vibrant colours make the perfect bloom for both a Christmas and January wedding.
The elegant orchid represents pure friendship as well as exotic beauty and charm, and with many different colours and shapes to choose from, orchids make for an eye-catching and popular choice for a winter wedding bouquet.
Large, striking anemones symbolise anticipation, consideration and honesty and come in a range of colours and shades, from purple to ivory.
Representing fidelity, joy, optimism and long life, chrysanthemums are a popular choice for winter wedding bouquets. Available in a range of bright colours, they look similar to dahlias, but are inclined to be a bit easier on the purse.
Whether you consider yourself a bit of a floral connoisseur, or know nothing at all about flowers, here at Jacqui O we’re ready to listen and advise you on the perfect seasonal flowers for your wedding day.
