Let April showers bring those beautifully abundant May spring wedding flowers to create a lovely big day.
If you and your significant other adore flowers, there’s no season better than spring. When the temperatures get warmer and the soft rains fall, the earth starts to come to life. The grass becomes green and flowers start to bloom in an explosion of colors. Use this time of year to your advantage when you’re wedding planning and include a plethora of spring wedding flowers into your big day.
From bright palettes of yellows and pinks to more subtle color combinations, such as white and green, just about anything is appropriate for a spring wedding bouquet. Here’s everything you need to know about spring wedding flowers.
Of course, you can entrust a qualified floral designer for your wedding needs. Since many blooms can be locally sourced, florists can suggest which flowers will work best for your big day.
DIY brides are also in luck. Many popular seasonal wedding flowers grow outdoors in gardens and on trees all over the US. Spring brides can contact local flower farms, many of which offer arranging services. Another option is to scour local nurseries for potted blooms and replace the containers. Several online sites also provide wholesale flowers that you or an event designer can arrange into centerpieces, bride flower bouquets, boutonnieres, bridesmaid bouquets, and more.
Although spring puts just about any flower at your fingertips, some don’t bloom until later in the season. Keeping your eye on what blooms when can be easier on the budget and provide you with the freshest bouquets of flowers.
“The advantage of the flowers being in season is that, as a florist, there are more sources to purchase from, including local farms,” says Robin Weir, owner of Wild by Nature Floral Arts in Southport, North Carolina. “Pricing is usually a little bit more competitive, which means savings get passed along to the bride. Also, the quality is far superior when purchasing in season.”
There’s also a simplistic beauty of using in-season springtime wedding flowers. “As a designer, I believe that using in-season flowers allows for a more organic feel,” says Maria Maxit, president and creative director of Maxit Flower Design in Houston, Texas. “Embracing the seasons allows us to use the best quality, which in turn gives us the biggest, longest-lasting blooms. There is something that feels right when we embrace the seasons.”
Although spring technically runs from late March through late June, the weather can vary significantly. March and early April can skew towards winter temperatures, whereas June can be as sweltering as August. Maximize beauty and budget with our in-season spring flower guide below.
Again, temperatures in early springtime can fluctuate greatly. However, your florist can find these blooms easily in spring, even if they aren’t quite ready in your area.
Many of the early spring flowers may still bloom in late April, depending on the growing season. April may be rainy, but it also provides some of the most fragrant blooms for spring wedding bouquets.
As they say: April showers bring May flowers. May is also when many flowering trees bloom, which is advantageous for those who wish to forage.
As late spring approaches, so do warmer temperatures, so many early spring flowers will fade. However, that doesn’t equal a lack of options. Hardier, more stable plants come into season on summer’s horizon.
There are two considerations when finding flowers in season. "There are two kinds of in-season flowers here on the east coast—those available from the wholesaler and those that are locally-grown," says Sarah Chiffriller, owner of Petals & Twigs in Richmond, Virginia.
If you’re trying to build a particular color palette, your florist can suggest locally grown and wholesale blooms. And there are perks to both. “The advantage of purchasing in-season flowers from the wholesaler is the cost is stabilized, because there is plenty of product,” says Chiffriller. “For locally grown flowers, your choices are more limited, but the quality and color are much better.”
If you have your heart set on a bloom or you want to use colorful spring flower wedding ideas in the middle of winter, it is possible—it just may come at a cost. “When a couple wants flowers that aren’t in season, we usually suggest substitutes, or I send the request to my sales rep to see if she can find the product,” explains Chiffriller. “For example, peonies are so popular year-round, so they are grown all over the world in the climates that suit them to support the demand.”
Talk to your floral designer about the color palette for your big day. They can help you select spring flowers for wedding centerpieces that are in season and economical. If you have your heart set on an out-of-season bloom, your florist can suggest substitutions or search for that particular flower. A professional floral designer will help your colorful spring wedding dreams come to life.
Although blue flowers aren’t common, spring is the time when they are more readily available. Add tones from the sky and sea by including hyacinths and irises in your spring wedding flower bouquets. In some climates, if you’re incredibly fortunate, blue hydrangea may even be starting to bloom.
Red is often associated with winter weddings. However, spring is the perfect time to incorporate red and burgundy tones, especially when muted with other hues. Typical red flowers include roses, carnations, and tulips.
White bouquets are both traditional and beautiful. White also pairs well with any wedding color palette to lighten up centerpieces and floral arrangements. To add crisp or creamy white to your spring outdoor wedding flowers, consider roses, freesia, magnolias, lily of the valley, dogwood, viburnum, carnations, and white peonies.
Pink is one of the most perfect colors to include in a spring wedding. Whether you go with deep, fuschia tones or opt for baby pink, it’s a lovely color for your big day. Roses, peonies, sweet peas, dogwood, orchids, carnations, and tulips can all offer gorgeous pink tones.
Some burgundy blooms skew towards a deep plum, while others have authentic purple tones. Spring choices for those who adore purple are hyacinths, irises, lilacs, larkspur, clematis, and orchids. Light purple blends beautifully with other pastel spring wedding flowers for a lovely palette.
Citrusy tones of orange and yellow are also highly appropriate for spring celebrations. Roses and carnations are standards when it comes to these hues. However, don’t forget about brightly colored daffodils and soft yellow peonies.
“We’ve seen our fair share of flower walls, but they’re still very much on-trend as a must-have for many couples. However, when I do a flower installation, I like to play around with various textures and structures,” says Hansboro. “For example, instead of creating a backdrop with only roses, I’ll pair multiple florals in varying lengths and colors to give the display more dimension. The whimsical garden look makes for the perfect photo opp, and it can instantly transform your venue space.”
Potted plants can have many applications for a spring wedding. They’re economical and a fabulous way to do double duty with plants that live long past the wedding day. Use them to line your ceremony aisle and reception table. Potted plants can also take up residence on the guest book and gift tables. Another fabulous idea is to set a small plant at each place setting as a living wedding favor. Just be sure to include planting instructions to ensure the flowers stay alive.
“I absolutely love flowers outside of a church. I feel like the entrance to the reception should be covered in flowers. It’s your calling card to your reception,” says Todd. “I want flowers on the door, over the doors, something in the flanking—anything that says ‘Hey, my wedding is here. You’re in the right place!’”
“I love hair flowers—and they don’t have to be a crown. There are many more sophisticated ways to accent your hairstyle with flowers,” says Mattson. “And wherever most of your photos will be taken, adding a floral display there to last forever in your photos, I consider a top priority.” Taking the time to think about the placement of arrangements for photos is a wise idea, so that your gorgeous wedding installations can live on in images.
Adding blooms in small ways can be just as impactful as a substantial floral archway. “Tying a bouquet of spring flowers to a chair or the church pew is a wonderful way to say spring is here, a wedding is about to take place,” says Chiffriller. “Also, lay a flower or a piece of greenery, perhaps rosemary or lavender, on a napkin for a seated dinner.” When these small touches combine, they create an overall cohesive look.
Classic poppies and daisies. Captivating calla lilies, dahlias, and lisianthus. Unique breeds like foxgloves and astilbes. From anemone flowers like Anemone Coronaria de Caen (aka "the bride") to ranunculus flowers like clonis, springtime abounds with gorgeous florals.
Similarly, Zola is blooming with ideas for your big day. If your ideal wedding day takes place in spring, look no further for inspiration on creative themes, color palettes, beautiful bouquets of flowers, and thoughtful favors. From planning the proposal to curating items for your new home together, Zola can help every step of the way.