Photography: Studio Mama's
There are just so many flowers out there, where do you begin choosing the right ones for your wedding? How about starting with some of the more well-loved blooms used in arrangements and bouquets. Here are 10 you can look into.
Rose
Poets and novelists often use the rose as a metaphor for beauty, passion and true love; no wonder it's a popular wedding staple. Available all year round, roses are far from boring because they come in all sorts of colours and gradations and pair well with other flowers. Best of all, roses are sturdier than some other blooms, so they do very well in boutonnieres, corsages and sculptured arrangements. They are prone to open in warm conditions, which is great for the creation for luscious table settings.
Tulip
Suitable for any type of wedding, casual to elegant, tulips are said to represent "consuming love" and "happy years". They come in a wide spectrum of colours from dark magenta and red to bright yellow and peach, including pure white and cream. They are usually harvested all year round, but the best ones come from the Netherlands between February and April. Note: they hold up very well in water, and may even grow a little, but they are heat sensitive and won't last all day in a hand bouquet.
Baby's breath
Once used as a "filler" flower, baby's breath is becoming a popular standalone variety especially for the bridesmaids' bouquets. The pretty white buds bunched together look sweet as a handheld piece, or displayed as chic table centrepieces. More importantly, they are budget-friendly, so go crazy and fill the venue with these pretty petals. Note: They don't smell as nice as they look, so mask it with scented candles or incense.
Carnation
Carnations are very affordable and come in a staggering amount of colours. Because of their sturdy nature, these flowers are often used to create larger floral displays like the stage backdrop, giant pomanders or arched walkways. Their ruffled edges add nice textures to vintage or rustic creations. Best of all they pair well with roses so this helps to stretch your dollar.
Chrysanthemum
We often associate yellow and orange chrysanthemums with tea, but the deep red and pink ones make beautiful wedding flowers. Best of all, they are hardy when cut and last a long time, just like true love. Also known as mums, they come in various forms and colours, which are often combined with other blooms to make the perfect hand bouquet.
Orchid
Orchids are resistant to moisture loss and heat so they make great wedding flowers for tropical weather. The unusual shape alone makes it an alluring bloom and looks gorgeous in full arrangements or minimalist-style single stems. Colours popularly used in weddings are green, purple and white – our favourite! They are available all year round, but prices are dependent on the rarity of the orchid species.
Calla lily
Also known as the arum lily, this elegant, trumpet-shaped flower symbolises "magnificent beauty" in the language of flowers. Creamy ivory is the most popular colour, but calla lilies also come in yellow, orange, mauve, pink and purple, with beautiful gradations. They are sensitive to cold temperatures and can get frost damage easily. However, they tolerate heat very well and retain moisture even without a water source – perfect for an all-day outdoor wedding.
Hydrangea
With its giant bulb of fluffy flowers and intense shades of pink, blue, burgundy, and purple, it's no wonder that the hydrangea represents "vanity" in the Victorian language of flowers. You'll often find it in large table arrangements, on its own, or combined with other flowers. Avoid using it in your hand bouquet or boutonniere; it's a thirsty bloom which needs to sit in water, else it will wilt in the heat.
Peony
Great to use alone in a hand bouquet, the peony has a large, full head, strong perfume and bright colour. But despite this outward showiness, the flower acquired the Victorian meaning "bashfulness." Let the lovely textures stand out in minimalist weddings with a nude or pale palette. A bit more expensive than most other wedding flowers, you only need a few peonies to make a gorgeous bouquet.
Ranunculus
The poor man's alternative to the rose or peony is the luscious ranunculus, a relative of the buttercup. To carry ranunculus is to tell your partner, in the Victorian language of flowers, "I am dazzled by your charms." Available in pink, peach, orange, yellow and white, you'll find this pretty flower in bridal bouquets and boutonnieres as well.
