Wedding Day Advice | Wedding Flowers

Wedding Flowers by Season – In the cooler climates of Europe and North America, specific flowers bloom in specific seasons. This means that brides must choose wedding flowers based on which are in season during spring, summer, autumn and winter. Out-of-season flowers must be flown in from elsewhere in the world, and cost a fortune.

Whimsical mixed bridal bouquet | photo courtesy of Onewed.com

Here in South Africa, seasons are not as clearly defined – we barely have a spring and autumn, for example. Not only does this mean that we enjoy a warmer climate year-round, but it means that many more wedding flowers are available to South African brides year-round, too.

Which Wedding Flowers?

Did you know that there are around 400 000 species of flowering plants in the world? Deciding which flower is just right for your wedding day suddenly got a whole lot harder! Don’t stress – The Wedding Directory has narrowed it down to this, the ultimate list of the very best wedding flowers…

Spring and Summer Weddings: September-February

Sweet Wedding Flowers

• Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria majalis) – these little bell-shaped white flowers signify the return of happiness and were featured in the wedding bouquet of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
• Peony (Paeonia) – fragrant, delicate flowers in a variety of colours, peony signifies bashfulness or shyness
• Roses (Rosa) –there are over 100 species of this, the world’s most popular wedding flower. Often recognised as a symbol of love, roses come in every conceivable colour, from white to deep purple.
• Lavender (Lavandula) –a bluish-purple flower with a pretty fragrance, dried lavender is also popular as wedding confetti
• Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) –a very delicate, bright blue flower, cornflower is used by ‘American royal family’ the Kennedys at family weddings
• Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus) –aptly named, it’s a sweet little flower with a sweet scent available in a variety of colours
• Carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus) –these express love, admiration and fascination and are available in white, red, pink and purple.

An example of a pink Peony bouquet | Photo courtesy of Weddingdaypin.com

Sassy Wedding Flowers

• Orchid(Orchidaceae) –Orchids symbolise royalty, luxury, eroticism and beauty and come in various colours, shapes and forms
• Tulip (Tulipa) –there are over 100 species of this lovely flower, in a variety of colours. To give someone a tulip is to show your undying love!
• Windflower (Anemone) – a pretty poppy-like flower, windflowers are available in a variety of bold colours, from white to red to purple
• Buttercup (Ranunculus) – simple, striking flowers available in white, yellow, orange and red.
• Dahlias (Dahlias) –beautiful and bold, and available in a variety of colours.
• Hibiscus–a brightly coloured flower, species of which are found in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world, this is a gorgeous choice for beach weddings. In Haiti, an hibiscus flower tucked behind the ear indicates readiness to marry!
• Tiger Lily (including Lilium catesbaui, Lilium columbianu andLilium superbum) – there are various species of this flower, usually featuring large, very striking deep yellow, orange and orange-red flowers.

A beautiful white Windflower (Anemone) bouquet | Photo courtesy of Bouquetweddingflower.com

South African Wedding Flowers

• Freesia– fragrant, funnel-shaped flowers, in white, yellow, pink and red
• Naked lady (Amaryllis) – large flowers in delicate colours, including white, cream and pale pink
• Calla or Arum lilies (Zantedeschia) –very showy white, yellow or pink flower (called a spathe) with a yellow spadix (finger-like protrusion poking out the centre).
• Lily-of-the-Nile (Agapanthus) – funnel-shaped flowers in blue-purple or white
• Barberton Daisy (Gerbera) –uncomplicated, happy flowers in bold colours like yellow, orange, white, pink and red.

A vibrant pink, white and orange Gerbera Daisy bouquet | photo courtesy of Flowersbyorie.wordpress.com

Autumn and Winter Weddings: March-August

Sweet Wedding Flowers

• Hyacinth(Hyacinthus orientalis) – fragrant, tubular flowers usually in a purple-blue colour, but also available in white and pink
• Sword lily (Gladiolus) – frilly, pretty flowers in pale pink, orange, peach, lilac and red
• Snapdragon (Antirrhinum) –pretty, delicate flowers which come in a wide variety of block colours and bi-colour blends

A delicate blue Hyacinth and Lavender bouquet | Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart

Sassy Wedding Flowers

• Camellia–from the East, these flowers have a typically oriental floral appearance and are available in a wide variety of colours, including white, yellow, pink and red
• Rhododendron–in author James Joyce’s classic novel, Ulysses, Leopold proposed to Molly whilst they lay amongst the rambling rhododendrons in the Irish countryside. Available in pale purple, red, pink and white.
• Daffodil (Narcissus) – given the reference to Narcissus, the astoundingly beautiful Greek boy who fell in love with his own reflection, daffodils are particularly good-looking flowers, available in a strong yellow and striking white.

A simple yet striking yellow Daffodil bouquet | photo courtesy of Elizabethannedesigns.com

South African Wedding Flowers

• Protea– these magnificent flowers have become super-trendy at weddings overseas, particularly in the United States. Popular species for wedding bouquets and table arrangements include the gigantic King Protea (Protea cynaroides) and fetching Protea Pink Ice (Protea compacta x susannae),
• Bird-of-Paradise Flower (Strelitzia) –an extravagant flower, Strelitzias make for a dramatic floral display
• Flamingo Flower (Anthurium) –similar in appearance to the arum or calla lilies, but in vivid pink and orange tones.

A single King Protea bouquet complimented with rustic orange roses | Photo courtesy of Jenlynnephotography.net

Why Do Flowers Have Latin Names?

Flowers have common names, which may differ from region to region. Assigning Latin names to flowers avoids confusion since it’s a common academic language. So, when ordering wedding flowers, using the Latin name will ensure you get exactly what you’re looking for!