The Guide to Wedding Flowers by Season

Planning your wedding day is like baking a great chocolate cake. You want to use a tried-and-true recipe, the best ingredients for the most flavor, and all the right tools for a glorious, rich dessert that looks and tastes like a million bucks-but without breaking the bank.

One of the most important decisions you will make about your wedding day is what flowers you will use for your wedding bouquet, bridesmaids bouquets, wedding centerpieces, boutonnieres, flower girl flowers and pew flowers. Nothing sets the mood for a wedding like flowers.

As the second most expensive item you'll choose (next to the wedding gown), it's important to choose wisely so that you get the most for your money and the atmosphere you desire. Just as in preparing a delicious meal, buying seasonal and local ingredients gives you the best results, both in expense and flavor. The same is true for flowers. Most flowers are distinctive to the seasons, so if you can take advantage of their ready availability, you will not only save money, but also have the best seasonal "ingredients" for your wedding day.

Keep in mind that it's not necessary to use all the same flowers for all your wedding needs. Using a variety of flowers, colors and designs is the trend for today's weddings. According to leading floral expert, Rebecca Cole, "Wedding flowers follow fashion trends, and today, individuality, rather than convention is in style."

While most flowers bloom in a particular season, there are several that bloom year-round. Roses, anthuriums, orchids, tropical flowers, lilies and gerbera daisies are available anytime of the year. Read the rest of Seasonal Wedding Flower Guide »