Choosing wedding flowers is not always easy. With so many types of blooms to choose from, where to begin? Luckily, pinpointing a color palette for the big day can help narrow down those options. But now you may be wondering if hydrangeas come in pink (they do!), or if creamy white orchids can be found year-round (they can!).
Compiling your dream wedding arrangement is part inspiration, part knowledge, and we've got them both covered in this comprehensive guide to wedding flowers by color. From the most popular of blooms (garden roses and ranunculi aplenty) to rising stars like succulents, we’ve got the lowdown on exactly which buds flower in which shades and when.
And our research wouldn’t be complete if we stopped at blooms. We’ve polished off this compilation by adding noteworthy additions such as flowering branches, graceful grasses, showstopping leaves, and herbaceous blends. Plus, we've included tons of additional industry tidbits, like which types of flowers will be the most budget-friendly (mums and carnations) and which will be in season for your holiday nuptials (amaryllis and anemones).
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Blues and Purples
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Delphinium
This flower is often used in large ceremony arrangements. It also comes in white, mauve, peach, and other blue shades.
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Hydrangea
You need just a handful of these big, bountiful blooms to create an abundant centerpiece or bouquet. Hydrangeas also come in white, green, blue, and assorted pinks.
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Blue Thistle
Despite its name, there's nothing prickly about the blue thistle. In fact, it makes an excellent boutonniere flower.
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Tweedia
Besides hydrangea, tweedia is the only flower that comes in this shade of sky blue. It also comes in white.
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Pansy
Pansies are ideal for DIY centerpieces. It comes in many color combinations and is an affordable flower option.
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Muscari
Muscari—also known as grape hyacinths—makes for a chic and feminine bouquet. The flower also comes in white.
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Water Lily
This aquatic flower is a good focal bloom for a tropical centerpiece. It also comes in white, blue, hot pink, and yellow.
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Anthurium
Anthurium is an accent flower for a stylish bouquet. It also comes in green, red, blush, orange, white, red and green, and red and white.
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Stock
This inexpensive filler is available year-round, and also comes in dusty peach, dusty pink, white, and lavender.
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Clematis
This graceful, star-shaped flower is ideal for an airy, garden-inspired bouquet. It comes in a handful of colors—from purple to magenta to a striped white—and is a great accent flower. It pairs well with sweet peas, garden roses, and peonies.
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Hyacinthus
This flower is hyper-scented, so don't use it on your reception tables as it could overwhelm your guests. It comes in pink, green, white, blue, peach, and soft yellow.
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Blackberry
Mix this berry with garden roses for an English-cottage floral look.
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Lilac
This classic bloom is most affordable in spring when it's abundant. It's highly fragrant, but isn't as hardy and doesn't do well without water, making it better for centerpieces than bouquets. It also comes in two shades of white and mauve.
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Phalaenopsis Orchid
This contemporary flower, also called moth orchids, is available all year, comes in an array of colors, and is quite pricey. It's ideal for a bride who wants a formal, luxurious aesthetic. Nothing cascades better than an orchid—so if you want a tumbling, oversized teardrop bouquet, look no further.
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Leucocoryne
Leucocoryne looks sweet grouped into a colorful posy. Its flowers range in color from white to pink to deep purple.
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Pinks and Reds
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Blossoming Oregano
Are you a foodie? Tuck a spring into the napkin at each place setting.
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Rose
This flower is available year-round and pairs well with everything under the sun. A rose can work in any genre—it looks rustic with sunflowers and refined with lily of the valley.
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Sharry Baby Orchid
This flower, which only blooms twice per year, often has a faint vanilla scent. It would make an interesting addition to your table centerpieces.
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Parrot Tulip
Perfect for a spring wedding, parrot tulips come in a huge range of colors, from the softest pink to the brightest coral to the deepest blackened eggplant.
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Anemone
This modern-looking flower also comes in white, blue, red, plum, and blush. On their own, anemone flowers feel modern, festive, and cheerful.
Anemones close naturally when it's dark, and open when it's bright. If your venue is dimly lit, put them in warm water and they'll unfold fast.
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Nerine
This quirky flower also comes in white, fuchsia, and salmon. It looks playful in a corsage.
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Dendrobium Orchid
Arrange this orchid variety en masse for an extravagant centerpiece. It also comes in white, purple, green, and magenta.
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Queen Protea
This statement flower also comes in white. Consider this showstopper if you love the look of a single flower in lieu of a bouquet.
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Double Tulip
This flower is only available in winter and spring. "Double" implies that it has a fatter head size and more densely layered petals than other tulips.
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Scabiosa
These flowers also come in white, lavender, blue, burgundy, and black. They're a great substitute for wildflowers if you're marrying in their off-season (generally winter and spring).
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Bromeliad
This rare, tropical flower is perfect for a beach wedding, but could also be an unexpected touch in a gallery or loft setting.
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Garden Rose
A garden rose gives off a Victorian vibe and is available in every color except blue. It is also one of the more fragrant roses and is pricier than the average rose—but still more affordable than a peony.
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Mokara Orchid
This orchid variety also comes in orange, yellow, cream with pink dots, green, and lavender. It's the most budget-conscious orchid.
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Lepto
This is an affordable filler flower with a romantic vibe. Lepto also comes in white.
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Quince
This flowering branch also comes in white and blush. It is only available in winter and spring.
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Amaryllis
This winter flower is expensive, but you get a lot of return for your investment because the amaryllis is simply stunning. It's ideal for a holiday-inspired wedding.
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Gloriosa Lily
This flower—also known as a flame lily—also comes in yellow and orange-and-yellow. Some have long, delicate stems with bright, curly leaves.
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Camellia
This glossy-leafed branch blossoms in winter and spring only. It also comes in pink, blush, and white.
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Gerbera Daisy
The flirty, youthful daisy is for the playful bride on a budget. It comes in fun colors (including pastels) and is scent-free.
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Ginger
This long-stemmed flower, which also comes in pink, is striking in tall arrangements.
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Mini Cymbidium
These make great boutonnieres as they're structured, hold up well without water, and have no fragrance.
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Croton Leaf
This leaf also comes in orange, yellow, and green. This exuberant foliage is available all year long.
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Chocolate Cosmos
These also come in deep burgundy. They smell like—you guessed it—chocolate.
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Sweet Pea
Sweet Peas come in magnificent colors, give off a very light fragrance, and add a lot of texture to a bouquet.
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Lisianthus
This flower also comes in white, green, cream, mauve, lavender, purple, white with purple, and white with mauve. It's a ballroom-friendly filler.
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Godetia
This farmer's market find adds a vibrant pop of neon pink. It also comes in soft pink, lavender, white, and salmon.
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Peony
This popular wedding flower is also available in white, magenta, deep red, burgundy, and soft yellow. For the ultimate feminine arrangement, splurge on an all-peony bouquet.
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Cherry Blossom
A flowering branch that also comes in white. Cherry blossoms are only available for springtime wedding nuptials.
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Snapdragon
This field flower is great for a loose arrangement. It also comes in red, orange, white, yellow, pink, and lavender.
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Icelandic Poppy
Poppies are a graphic flower that can also be found in shades of orange, peach, yellow, cream, and white. Artsy brides love its paper-thin petals and curvy stem.
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Oriental Lily
This flower also comes in hot pink, white, and yellow. Ask your florist to remove its pollen or it may stain your dress.
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Spray Rose
Use this sweet-looking bud as a ringbearer's boutonniere. Cluster a few in silver julep cups, or do single-stems in stemless Champagne flutes.
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Whites
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Agapanthus
Agapanthuscan also be found in blue. It holds up well in hot weather because it doesn't need a lot of water to survive.
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Daffodil
While the bloom comes in yellow, orange, and peach, the white variety is an elegant, unexpected choice for a black-tie reception.
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Chrysanthemum
In the hands of the right florist, mums can look quite lovely in centerpieces. This sturdy bloom also comes in white, lavender, yellow, and mauve. Bonus: It looks more expensive than it actually is and is available year-round.
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Gardenia
Work this blossom into a chignon for a retro-glam touch. It's also available in yellow and pink.
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Tuberose
Brides love this flower's feminine fragrance, making it a popular bouquet choice.
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Calla Lily
Some mass-grown varieties of these flowers stay closed, so ask your florist for "big and open" stems. They're also available in pink, yellow, and deep purple.
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Ranunculus
Ranunculi flowers come in every color except blue. It's one of the most versatile wedding flowers, available in a vast array of sizes, shapes, and price points.
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Spirea
If you love flowering branches, but are planning summer nuptials when they aren't in season, spirea is a great alternative.
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Chinch
This chic, playful blossom is tailor-made for a black-and-white-themed party.
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Stephanotis
An elegant white bloom often seen on the lapel of a tuxedo.
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Fritillaria
The dainty bloom also appears in plum, green, light green, yellow-brown, and black. Take note, however, it is available only in spring.
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Veronica
This stem also comes in blue and pink. Use it as filler if you want a hand-picked look.
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Helleborus
Helleborus blooms in the snow, making it a fitting choice for a winter nosegay. It also comes in burgundy, chartreuse, white, soft yellow, and cream.
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Queen Anne's Lace
This blossom also comes in white and green. It lends extra texture to a wildflower bouquet.
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Oranges and Yellows
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Freesia
This lightly perfumed bloom also comes in white, yellow, and lavender. It often appears in traditional bouquets.
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Pincushion Protea
Offset the quirkiness of this flower, which also comes in yellow, by pairing it with roses.
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Kumquat
Unlike other fruits, this tiny citrus won't weigh down your bouquet and would also look cheerful in centerpieces.
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Mini Calla Lily
This petite flower also comes in white, cream, blush, pink, lavender, burgundy, and black. It's the perfect size for a boutonniere.
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Mini Gerbera Daisy
This joyful bloom comes in every color except blue and purple. It appeals to minimalists and bohemians alike.
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Ruffled Tulip
These come in wonderful colors and look very modern. The ruffled tulip is definitely a flower with a big presence.
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Heliconia
Looking for something stark and sculptural? Voilà! This flower also comes in red.
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French Parrot Tulip
This is the largest and most artful member of the tulip family.
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Carnation
Carnations are cost-effective and come in beautiful colors. Don't mix them with other flowers so they'll look even chicer.
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Cymbidium
This silky bud also comes in green, cream, mauve, burgundy, and brown. The flower works equally well at a beach party or an urban soirée.
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Dahlia
This popular flower comes in every color except blue. Dahlias can be tricky to find in spring and winter.
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Florida Beauty
This tropical speckled leaf has graphic appeal. Use it as a filler in bouquets and centerpieces.
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Yarrow
This bloom is perfect for extreme cold or hot weddings. It is pretty much wiltproof and looks great dried.
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Oncidium Orchid
Getting married in the tropics? Weave these into garlands or floral arches.
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Craspedia
Also known as billy balls, they look darling in bud vases or as bouquet accents.
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Witch Hazel
This blooming branch, which also comes in orange, makes for deliciously scented centerpieces.
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Mimosa
The mimosa makes a good addition to add some sweet aroma to your bouquet.
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Sunflower
This iconic bloom also comes in yellow-and-black, burgundy, and cream. Cluster a few together for a sunny arrangement.
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Greens
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Snake Grass
This stalk also comes in dark green. Loop it around blooms for a modern bouquet.
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Eucalyptus
This plant also comes in gray and pink-gray. It's a fragrant filler for classic arrangements.
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Lotus Pod
A lotus pod also comes in brown (dried). Use it to inject exotic flavor into any arrangement.
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Brunia
This coral-like plant also comes in green. It adds whimsy to a boutonniere.
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Jasmine
Shown here with a fiddlehead fern, jasmine also comes in white. Use just a few sprigs and your bouquet will smell divine.
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Fiddlehead Fern
It's a go-to for woodland-wedding boutonnieres.
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Anthurium Leaf
This forest-green leaf has destination wedding written all over it.
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Bird's Nest Fern
It's perfect for a summery, super-colorful centerpiece.
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Dusty Miller
This gray foliage is a chic choice if green clashes with your palette.
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Succulent
Succulents are great for brides who don't like traditional greenery. The tiny ones make great boutonnieres.
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Viburnum
Seen here in the green version, this also comes in white. For an English-countryside vibe, match this pom-pom with peonies or garden roses.