Having trouble choosing your blooms with so many options? Start with these tried-and-true favorites.
Picture yourself walking through a glorious garden with every flower at its peak. Which flowers would you go with for your wedding: something classic or trendy? Colorful or neutral? Large or minimal? If you're answer is something along the lines of, "I don't even know where to start," we'll help you narrow down your flower options before you meet with your florist. Begin with the basics, aka the top 10 most beautiful, timeless and popular wedding flowers.
Roses
Long considered a symbol of beauty and love, roses figure into many myths and fairy tales. Romantic writers and poets have used the flower as a metaphor for emotion, beauty, passion and true love. An all-star in the world of weddings, the rose is far from boring, particularly when it comes to color—roses are available in solid hues and bicolor varieties—there are even striped and tipped roses as well. More than 3,000 varieties of roses are grown commercially, and many are available year-round and are surprisingly affordable. And though roses are associated with luxurious fragrance, not every rose is scented. Three main types of roses are most popular for wedding flowers: hybrid tea roses (the classic, uniformly shaped commercial roses generally seen at your local florist), spray roses (a rose with five to ten small heads on each stem and a "natural, garden-grown" look) and garden roses (expensive, old-fashioned varieties with bushy, open heads and delicious scents).
Tulips
Although tulips are most often associated with the Netherlands, this flower is actually a native of Persia. Representing "consuming love" and "happy years," the tulip can be a meaningful wedding choice. This flower is grown in a wide range of hues, including white and cream, pastels (pink, yellow and peach) and vibrant shades (magenta, red, orange and purple). Available during much of the year, the most common tulips are very affordable, though rare varieties can be expensive. The versatile tulip can enhance both elegant wedding settings and more casual venues, and work well in almost any detail at a wedding—from bouquets and boutonnieres to table arrangements. Three main varieties are commonly used: Dutch tulips (typically seen at neighborhood florist shops and in gardens), French tulips (expensive and elegant, with extra-long stems and large tapered blooms) and parrot tulips (noted for their ruffled, striped petals in intense colors).
Calla Lilies
Also known as the arum lily, this elegant, trumpet-shaped blossom originated in Africa and symbolizes "magnificent beauty" in the language of flowers. The calla lily's distinctive form has been depicted in art nouveau and art deco works, in addition to 20th-century photography. Two types are commonly available: a large-headed variety with a long, smooth stem suitable for tall arrangements or presentation-style bouquets, and a miniature version ideal for small arrangments and boutonnieres. Creamy ivory is the most popular color, but calla lilies also come in yellow, orange, mauve pink and dark purple (a stunning choice for a slightly edgier or cold-weather wedding bouquet).
