Choosing flowers that are in season for your wedding month lowers cost, improves freshness and gives you more choice. A flower at its natural peak has travelled less, spent fewer days in a cooler and holds up better through a long wedding day. The same flower shipped out of season can cost several times more and arrive tired.
This guide covers what is at its best each month in Pennsylvania and the wider Mid-Atlantic.
Spring: March, April and May
Tulips, daffodils, hyacinth, lilac, sweet peas, ranunculus and anemones are at their peak. Peonies arrive in late May and are the most requested spring flower.
Spring weddings can be unpredictable outdoors, so choose varieties that tolerate cool mornings. Tulips continue to grow after cutting and will shift shape overnight, which is worth knowing if you want a rigid design.
Summer: June, July and August
June is the strongest month of the year for flower availability. Peonies finish early in the month, then garden roses, hydrangea, dahlias, zinnias, sunflowers and lisianthus carry through the summer.
Heat is the constraint rather than availability. Hydrangea wilts quickly in direct sun without hydration. For an outdoor July or August wedding, choose roses, orchids, lisianthus or carnations for anything sitting in the heat, and keep bouquets in water until the last possible moment.
Autumn: September, October and November
Dahlias peak, joined by chrysanthemums, amaranthus, celosia, marigolds and berried branches such as hypericum. Foliage is at its best, which means greenery does more of the work and can reduce flower count.
September and October are peak wedding months in Pennsylvania, so book early. Availability is good but florist calendars fill first.
Winter: December, January and February
Ranunculus, anemones, amaryllis, hellebores, evergreen, eucalyptus and berried branches are the strength of winter. Roses and orchids are reliable year round and often anchor winter designs.
Winter weddings suit deeper palettes and textural greenery. Costs around Valentine's Day rise sharply for roses, so if you are marrying in mid-February either build around another flower or expect a premium.
What if your favourite flower is out of season?
You have three options. Import it and accept the cost, which for peonies in autumn can be three to five times the spring price. Substitute a flower with a similar shape and colour, such as garden roses or double tulips in place of peonies. Or shift the emphasis, keeping the out-of-season bloom for the bridal bouquet alone where the quantity is small, and using seasonal flowers everywhere else.
The third approach is what most couples land on. It puts the flower you love in the arrangement that appears in the most photographs, without paying the premium across twenty centerpieces.
Which flowers are available all year?
Roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, orchids, lisianthus, baby's breath and most greenery are available year round with stable pricing. These are useful anchors: build the structure of your design from them, then add seasonal blooms for character.
Common questions
What are the cheapest wedding flowers?
Carnations, chrysanthemums, baby's breath, alstroemeria and greenery are the most affordable and are available all year at stable prices. Used well and in volume they look full rather than cheap.
What flowers are in season in June for a wedding?
June is the strongest month of the year. Peonies finish early in the month, and garden roses, hydrangea, lisianthus, delphinium and early dahlias are all at their peak.
Are peonies available in autumn?
Not from local growers. Autumn peonies are imported from the southern hemisphere and typically cost three to five times the spring price. Garden roses or double tulips give a similar look for less.
Does choosing seasonal flowers really save money?
Yes. Seasonal flowers have travelled less and are more abundant, which lowers cost and improves freshness. The saving is largest on high-quantity items such as centerpieces.
What flowers hold up best in summer heat?
Roses, orchids, carnations, lisianthus and chrysanthemums tolerate heat well. Hydrangea is the most common problem flower in summer because it wilts quickly without constant hydration.
When should I finalise my flower choices?
Book your florist eight to twelve months ahead, but finalise the specific flowers four to six weeks before the wedding, when that season's availability and quality are clear.
Planning a Bucks County wedding?
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