Flowers

Best Buds

A guide to the blossoms that will bring your wedding into bloom.

Amy Hattersley

---

Want to make a dramatic statement on your wedding day? One way to wow your guests is with some stunning floral arrangements. It’s no wonder flowers are one of the most important details brides consider when planning their big event. But with so many beautiful blooms, how is a bride to choose?

We asked some of the area’s best floral designers to recommend their favorite flowers for your wedding day. Whether you’re planning an intimate event or a grand formal affair, the following guide includes blooming beauties that will likely fit the bill, leaving you a little more time to smell the roses (or tulips or lilacs).

Stephanotis

With a meaning like “marital happiness,” the dainty white stephanotis is an obvious choice when tying the knot. According to Celeste Mackey, KMF, owner of Fassler Florist in Covington, the stephanotis is also a popular wedding flower because of its versatility. They can be tucked into bouquets and worn on boutonnieres and corsages. Due to its fragility and high cost, the stephanotis typically accompanies other arrangement favorites such as roses and lilies.

 

Rose

Writers and romantic poets have long used the rose as a metaphor for emotion and true love. What better bloom, then, to incorporate into a wedding ceremony. Many florists have also favored the rose as an always-stylish flower that will add elegance to any arrangement. “They come in many shades that work well with any theme,” says Kevin Ford, owner of Ford-Ellington Wedding and Event Design in Fort Thomas. In addition, the durability of the rose means it’s sure to hold up all day.

While the experts agree that roses look great in bouquets of nearly all shapes and combinations, Ford suggests mixing same-color roses of varying shades and sizes for a classic and romantic look. For a mixed variety, he often pairs roses with hydrangeas, stephanotises, or peonies.

 

Calla Lily

This elegant, trumpet-shaped flower symbolizes magnificent beauty in the Victorian language of beautiful blooms. Like some other prized wedding flowers, it also can carry a high price tag. “The calla lily is expensive, but worth the cost,” says John O’Neill, wedding designer at Lutz Flowers in Covedale. He describes the calla lily as an elegant flower that is capable of being used by itself as a single stem, but adaptable enough that it can be used in a simple bouquet. To offset the cost, he recommends combining the flower with other classic varieties. For much less cost and twice as many flowers, he suggests pairing calla lilies with roses or gerberas.

 

Hydrangea

Hydrangeas are big and bold in brilliant shades of blue, green, pink, and white. It’s no wonder they have become a favorite bloom of brides everywhere. The flower’s weighted, ruffled head and multiple blooms make it look sturdy, but it actually requires a good deal of special care. Floral designers suggest that brides use them with caution. “Hydrangeas are slightly more risky,” says Robert Lee, event specialist at Jones the Florist in Blue Ash. “If their stems aren’t kept in water, they will collapse faster than other flowers.” Lee suggests mainly using hydrangeas in centerpieces, or during cooler months when they are more likely to stay fresh all day.

Hydrangeas may fair best when left stationary, but that doesn’t mean they have to be dull. Combine the flowers with greenery, such as heather and eucalyptus, for a textured look that will make guests want to reach out and touch.

 

Tulip

If you want to adorn your wedding decor with a bloom that signifies spring, tulips are the way to go. The precious flower represents consuming love and happy years, which makes it a meaningful choice for a wedding. They are also affordable, available during much of the year and in a wide range of colors, from white and cream to pastels like pink and peach to vibrant shades such as magenta.

Experts advise couples to carefully consider the way in which they use tulips during their wedding. “Tulips don’t work for corsages or boutonnieres because by nature they are very fragile,” says O’Neill. “They can easily be shattered and don’t hold up through the wedding day.” For all of the personality without the drama, limit tulips strictly to bouquets, centerpieces, decorations, and aisle markers.

 

Lilac

A symbol of new love in the language of flowers, the lilac’s delicate pastel blooms look stunning in spring and outdoor weddings. Because its flowers are hard to keep fresh once cut, Mackey suggests using lilacs only if they can be kept in water. “They can be temperamental, but if they are used in an open-stem bouquet, they can be kept hydrated to prevent browning,” she says. She often pairs them with other springtime favorites such as hydrangeas or roses to best complement their unique shape.

 

Peony

The peony is perfect for the romance inherent in a wedding ceremony. The sweet springtime flower has a full head, strong fragrance, and bold, bright color. Peonies come in shades of pink, magenta, and burgundy, but are only available in the spring, making them an expensive and sometimes impractical choice.

Since there are only a few months in which fresh peonies can be used, Lee encourages brides to be realistic when choosing out-of-season flowers. “For fall weddings I would recommend other flowers with a similar look,” he says. He suggests that brides who have their heart set on using peonies for a fall wedding choose a garden rose or a standard white chrysanthemum, because they have the same color and shape as the peony.

 

Orchids

A classic flower available in dozens of colors and varieties, the orchid is known for its exotic beauty. While they are hearty flowers suitable for any arrangement, they can be rather expensive. Mackey insists that orchids are worth the hefty price. “For what you’re getting, they’re not that expensive because they can be used limitlessly,” she says. She emphasizes the importance of working with a florist who buys their orchids ahead of time, directly from the grower, so you get the quality you are paying for. Orchids can also be combined with less expensive staple flowers such as roses, lilies, and calla lilies to create a textured look at a more affordable price.