Massachusetts Wedding Guide

Wedding Planning

Popular Wedding Flowers
Contributing editor: Jeri Solomon, Owner, Jeri Solomon Floral Designs

Some brides select their wedding flowers by what they symbolize. Below is a list of the most popular wedding flowers, when they are in season, brief description and their meanings.


Photo by Beacon Hill Photography

Calla Lily: Graceful, trumpet shaped flowers with elegant, sleek, light green stems. The full sized variety comes in white and green. The miniature variety comes in a variety of colors such as white, shades of yellow, orange, pink, red and purple. Best used in bouquets, boutonnieres and centerpieces.

In season: Miniature available year round. The large white are best October - May.
Meaning: Magnificent beauty

Carnation: These ruffle-edged, spice scented flowers come in a standard and miniature variety. Their colors range the entire spectrum with the exception of blue. Though once considered common, they are making a comeback in style, especially when they are massed together for a burst of color. Best used in bouquets, boutonnieres and arrangements

In season: Year round
Meaning: Love, devotion

Chrysanthemum: Mums come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. The "button poms" can be a small as a nickel while "football mum" are as large as a softball (not quite as big as a football!) Like the carnation, the mum has experienced a revival of sorts .It is a great flower for autumn weddings used in a large quantity for splashes of color. Best used in bouquets and arrangements.

In season: Year round
Meaning: Wealth, abundance, truth

Dahlia: This classic summer, garden, flower is bursting with chrysanthemum like petals. The blooms range in size from 3" to 10" in diameter. They are available in many colors including white, pink, purple, yellow orange. The are best used in arrangements and bouquets. 

In season: Late July - Mid October
Meaning: Elegance and dignity


Delphinium: Delphinium are tall flowers with small blossoms rising up the stem. This flower comes in its standard variety in a deep cobalt blue, light periwinkle blue and white. The impressive hybrid varieties are much taller and come in shades of blue, lavender, purple and white. Best used in arrangements and bouquets.

In season: Year round, Best in summer
Meaning: Swiftness, lightness

Gardenia: This round, white flower is a classic for weddings. It has a very sweet smell and is used for bouquets, corsages and as an elegant accent for garlands and topiary trees.

In season: Year round
Meaning: Grace

Hydrangea:A multitude of small, clover shaped blossoms cluster together to form a great globe often up to 8” in diameter. Hydrangea comes in white and green and many shades of blue, pink, burgundy and purple. Best used in arrangements. When used in bouquets they should have a water source. They are very thirsty flowers!

In season: Year round
Meaning: Gratefulness

Gerbera Daisy: This happy, daisy-like flower comes in a standard size (4" in diameter) and miniature size (2" in diameter). Gerbera come in shades of red, pink, orange, peach, yellow and white. Best used in bouquets and arrangements.

In season: Year round
Meaning: Beauty

Ivy: This trailing vine is a classic foliage used for weddings. Long tendrils can be used in arrangements and centerpieces and single leaves can be used to accent boutonnieres, corsages and bouquets.

In season: Year round
Meaning: Fidelity, friendship, marriage

Lily: This is a large, impressive, star-shaped flower. Each stem can have two to five blossoms. The different varieties range in size from 4 to 8 inches in diameter. The color selection include shades of pink, yellow, orange, white. Best used in bouquets and arrangements.

In season: Year round
Meaning: Majesty, truth, honor

Lily of the Valley: This is a classic and traditional flower for weddings. Its' small, bell-shaped blossoms grow along a delicate arching stem. It comes in white and very rarely blush pink and has a gentle sweet fragrance. Best used in bouquets and small arrangements

In season: May. Available year round, but very expensive.
Meaning: Happiness

Orchid: This flower can be found in many varieties. Most orchids will have a number of blossoms on a single stem. The size of the blossom can be as small as half an inch or as large as 5 inches in diameter. The color spectrum is as varied as the size and shape of this romantic, tropical flower. Colors include white, pink, yellow, orange, red, green, purple and lavender. Can be used in large arrangements, centerpieces and personal flowers.

In season: Year round
Meaning: Love, beauty

Peony: Nothing is more romantic than the soft abundance of petals and the subdued fragrance of the peony. This spherical flower, about the size of a baseball or softball is perfect for the June bride and comes in shades of white, pink, red and coral. Best used in bouquets and arrangements.

In season: Late April- Early July. Some availability in November and December.
Meaning: Good fortune. Happy marriage.

Ranunculus: These happy little flowers have layers and layers of petals in dense concentric circles. Ranunculus come in many colors including white, yellow, pink, red, and orange.Best used in small arrangements and bouquets.

In season: October – May
Meaning: Radiant Charm.

Rose: The rose is one of the most versatile flowers because of its variety of sizes, shapes and colors. This is a traditional wedding flower used in full bloom or buds. It can be used for large arrangements, centerpieces and personal flowers.

In season: Year round
Meaning: Love, joy, beauty

Stephanotis: This is also a traditional bridal flower. They are star-shaped blossoms that come only in pure white and have a subtle jasmine-like fragrance. Best used in personal flowers such as bouquets, boutonnieres and corsages.

In season: Year round
Meaning: Marital happiness

Stock: This tall flower has a multitude of ruffled blossoms arranged vertically on the stem. It has a light spicy fragrance and comes in shades of white, yellow, pink, red, purple and peach. Best used as in arrangements and bouquets.

In season: Year round. Best in summer
Meaning: Lasting beauty

Sunflower: Nothing says "summer" better than the sunflower. The perfect flower for a casual summer event like a tent wedding, picnic or clambake. Most people think of the bright yellow flower with the big brown center, but sunflowers come in light shades of yellow and even brown! There is also a miniature variety for smaller arrangements and boutonnieres. Sunflowers work best for arrangements and bouquets. 

In season: Year round
Meaning: Warmth and adoration

Sweet Pea: This small delicate flower has three or four blossoms arranged vertically on a thin stem. It has a soft appearance and fragrance and comes in shades of white, pink, purple, peach and cream. Best used in small arrangements and bouquets.

In season: Late spring and early summer.
Meaning: Lasting pleasure

Tulip: This simple sleek flower comes in several sizes and varieties. They come in every color of the rainbow except blue. Best used in arrangements and bouquets.

In season: November through May
Meaning: Love, passion

 
Below are a few bouquets assembled by Jeri Solomon display current trends:
 
Summer Wedding Flower Trends
Peony,
Calla Lilies,
Rose
  Summer Wedding bouquets - Massachusetts florist   Summer Wedding Flowers for Massachusetts weddings   Roses, Hydrangea, Orchids
Calla Lilies, Orchids   Summer Bouquet for Massachusetts Weddings   summer wedding centerpieces   Roses, Orchids,
Lily
 
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