Wedding Flower Glossary: Know Your Blooms
Your Wedding Flower Glossary: A Guide to Popular Blooms
When you're planning your wedding flowers, it helps to know your options. After four decades of creating custom floral designs in El Paso, we've worked with hundreds of flower varieties—from classic roses to exotic orchids. This glossary introduces you to some of the most popular wedding flowers, their characteristics, and how we love to use them.
Understanding Flower Availability
Before we dive into specific blooms, here's an important note: we design with seasonal availability in mind. This approach ensures you receive the freshest, most beautiful flowers while staying within budget. Some flowers are available year-round, while others have specific peak seasons. During your consultation, we'll discuss which blooms will be at their best for your wedding date.
THE CLASSICS
Roses Available: Year-round Colors: Nearly every color imaginable Best for: Everything—bouquets, boutonnieres, centerpieces, installations
Roses are the backbone of wedding floral design for good reason. They're versatile, beautiful, and available in countless varieties. From tight garden roses to fully opened spray roses, each type offers a different aesthetic. We love using roses as focal flowers or layering multiple varieties for depth and texture.
Popular varieties we use: Café au lait (peach), Quicksand (mauve), O'Hara (white), Black Baccara (deep burgundy), Free Spirit (pink)
Peonies Available: Late spring through early summer (peak: May-June) Colors: White, pink, coral, burgundy Best for: Bridal bouquets, centerpieces, romantic garden-style designs
Peonies are beloved for their lush, romantic blooms and delicate fragrance. They're a premium flower with a limited season, but absolutely worth it for spring and early summer weddings. Their full, ruffled petals create instant romance.
Design note: Peonies are seasonal and premium-priced. We can suggest year-round alternatives if your heart is set on the peony look but you're getting married outside their season.
Hydrangeas Available: Year-round (peak: summer) Colors: White, blue, pink, green, purple Best for: Creating volume in centerpieces, ceremony installations, dramatic arrangements
Hydrangeas give you incredible impact for your investment. One or two stems can fill significant space, making them perfect for large centerpieces or ceremony backdrops. We love mixing them with roses and greenery for a lush, garden-inspired look.
Calla Lilies Available: Year-round Colors: White, cream, pink, burgundy, purple, yellow Best for: Modern designs, minimalist bouquets, elegant centerpieces
With their sleek, sculptural form, calla lilies bring sophistication and modern elegance to any design. They work beautifully in both minimal arrangements and more elaborate designs.
ROMANTIC & WHIMSICAL
Ranunculus Available: Winter through spring Colors: White, cream, pink, coral, yellow, burgundy, orange Best for: Textured bouquets, romantic centerpieces, garden-style designs
Ranunculus are like roses' delicate, ruffled cousins. Their layers of paper-thin petals create incredible texture and romantic appeal. They're a favorite for spring weddings and pair beautifully with garden roses and anemones.
Anemones Available: Fall through spring Colors: White, pink, burgundy, purple (often with dark centers) Best for: Adding dramatic focal points, whimsical bouquets, garden-inspired designs
The dark center of an anemone creates a striking contrast against delicate petals. These flowers add a touch of the unexpected and work beautifully in both bohemian and classic designs.
Lisianthus Available: Year-round Colors: White, cream, pink, purple, lavender Best for: Budget-friendly alternative to peonies and garden roses, textured arrangements
Lisianthus offers the romantic, ruffled look of more expensive blooms at a more accessible price point. They're incredibly versatile and long-lasting.
Sweet Peas Available: Winter through spring Colors: Pastels including pink, lavender, white, peach Best for: Delicate bouquets, boutonnieres, adding fragrance and whimsy
Sweet peas bring delicate beauty and wonderful fragrance. Their wispy, romantic nature makes them perfect for spring weddings and garden-inspired designs.
BOLD & DRAMATIC
Dahlias Available: Summer through fall (peak: late summer) Colors: Nearly every color, often in stunning gradient combinations Best for: Statement blooms, textured centerpieces, bold bouquets
Dahlias range from tiny pompoms to dinner-plate sized blooms. They're a seasonal treasure that brings incredible color and drama to late summer and fall weddings.
Design note: Dahlias are extremely seasonal. If you love them, plan a late summer or fall wedding to enjoy them at their peak.
Orchids Available: Year-round Colors: White, purple, pink, green, burgundy Best for: Tropical elegance, modern designs, exotic bouquets
Orchids instantly elevate any design with their exotic elegance. Phalaenopsis (moth orchids) and cymbidium orchids are most common in wedding work. They're surprisingly hardy and perfect for destination or tropical-themed weddings.
Protea Available: Year-round (peak: fall/winter) Colors: Pink, cream, burgundy Best for: Bohemian designs, tropical weddings, dramatic focal flowers
Proteas bring architectural drama and exotic beauty. Their bold, sculptural form makes them perfect for couples seeking something truly unique.
GREENERY & FILLER FLOWERS
Eucalyptus Available: Year-round Varieties: Seeded, silver dollar, baby blue, Italian ruscus Best for: Adding movement, texture, and organic feel to any arrangement
Eucalyptus is our go-to greenery for creating flowing, organic designs. Its silvery-green color palette complements nearly every wedding color scheme.
Stock Available: Winter through spring Colors: White, pink, lavender, purple, coral Best for: Adding height, fragrance, and volume to arrangements
Stock brings delicate fragrance and vertical interest. It's perfect for creating movement and filling out bouquets and centerpieces.
Baby's Breath (Gypsophila) Available: Year-round Colors: White Best for: Romantic, airy designs, creating cloud-like installations
Once relegated to filler status, baby's breath has experienced a major comeback. Used en masse, it creates dreamy, ethereal designs that are both budget-friendly and breathtaking.
Scabiosa Available: Spring through fall Colors: White, pink, burgundy, dark purple Best for: Adding texture and whimsy, garden-style bouquets
Also called pincushion flowers, scabiosa adds delicate texture and movement. The dark burgundy varieties are particularly stunning in moody, romantic designs.
What If I Don't Know What I Want?
That's completely normal! Most couples come to their consultation with inspiration photos but aren't sure of specific flower names—and that's perfectly fine. During your free consultation, we'll look at your inspiration together and identify which blooms will achieve the look you love.
Our approach is collaborative and educational. We'll explain which flowers will be at their peak during your wedding season, suggest alternatives if needed, and work within your budget to create designs that exceed your expectations.
Ready to Explore Flowers for Your Wedding?
Whether you're dreaming of romantic peonies, dramatic dahlias, or timeless roses, we'd love to help bring your vision to life with custom wedding flowers designed just for you.
Schedule your free consultation to start the conversation.
