Real brides’ bouquets from our archives to inspire your day! There’s loads more wedding flower ideas on our Pinterest…

The loveliest spring wedding flowers

Peonies flower from late April / early May into June in the UK. The fact that our peony season is so short makes these blooms all the more special!

Buying wedding flowers in season is really important. Many flowers are imported (supermarkets are a major culprit here) and carry a huge carbon footprint. We love to hear about couples choosing flowers which are home grown, pesticide and peat-free and all the more beautiful for it!

Peonies are a big favourite, but if your wedding isn’t in May or June, ask your florist’s advice on other big statement blooms. You might fall in love with a café au last dahlia or a statement rose instead!

Foliage is absolutely key to bringing a natural look to your wedding bouquet. These eucalytus leaves set off the pale ivory and peach blooms beautifully for an early spring bouquet.

Late spring / early summer wedding flowers

Foxgloves and calla lilies flower in late spring and early summer time. In this gorgeous coral and peach bouquet they’re teamed with fragrant eucalyptus sprigs and roses.

The best way to get amazing wedding flowers is to find a florist whose style and approach you love. Check them out on social media – read what they say, how approachable and experienced they sound, and browse their bouquets and arrangements by season.

Then ask all your questions! Book an appointment, chat through your ideas and listen, listen, listen to their advice.

Stunning blooms for summer wedding bouquets

Delphiniums are in flower in June and July. These pale blues and peach tones are glorious for a pastel toned summer wedding. Every English country garden wedding will have a delphinium or two!

Whatever your wedding colour palette, there’ll be flowers to match in every season. Rich reds and orange tones are often associated with autumn, but they can add a stunning colour pop in spring time (anemones). White and green bouquets can look wintry with a hint of gold, or fresh and summery with a dash of pastel pink or peach. This delicate bouquet in shades of purple has lovely early summer vibes, but with different blooms (hellebores, ranunculus and roses) could be just as effective for a winter wedding.

In the height of summer, the world is your oyster for wedding blooms! This white wedding bouquet pairs astilbe with sweet pea, ranunculus, foxglove stems and lilac for a delicate and feminine look.

Bold summer wedding bouquets

Lilies flower from mid summer depending on the variety. They can be intensely fragrant – a little goes a very long way! Having a spray of lilies as a statement flower looks stunning. Here the buds are used to keep the bouquet looking modern, alongside gypsophila (baby’s breath) and eucalyptus sprigs.

Two of my favourite summer bouquet styles are country garden and wildflower meadow.

Country (or cottage) garden wedding flowers tend to include more formal blooms like roses, delphiniums, cosmos and hydrangeas.

Wildflower bouquets include more vibrant colours and tendrils of foliage, with flowers including poppies and cornflowers, daisies and foxgloves.

There’s something wonderful about trusting your florist to gather a colourful mix of summer blooms. Sunflowers and daisies, cornflowers and verbena all have a little role in this stunner of a late summer bouquet.

Cosmos and cow parsley featured in so many stunning wedding bouquets last summer. We adore the combination of country garden and hedgerow vibes!

Dahlias for late summer bouquets

Dahlias appear in late summer and autumn and have been super popular for weddings in recent years. There are loads of varieties in all kinds of colours – they’re fabulous here teamed with autumn leaves for a stunning bridal bouquet.

Wedding bouquet ideas for autumn

Dried flowers are available all year round, and you can mix them with fresh blooms or use them as standalone statement flowers for your bouquet. This vibrant colour palette is perfect for a late summer wedding.

As the evenings turn golden, autumn flowers in shades of coral, copper, and rust are at their best. This incredible bouquet has poppies and roses with plenty of foliage to catch the sunlight.

The structure of your bouquet is just as important as the flowers themselves. A loose bouquet can make a real statement. A chic, tidy bouquet might be more in keeping with a city wedding venue – and will be lighter to hold!

Winter wedding flower inspiration

Dark pinks are a lovely alternative for flowers in the cooler months of the year. We love this bouquet which teams textures of eucalyptus and willow, delicate fern fronds and carnations.

White and green is a classic winter wedding colour palette. You may have to import some of your blooms, and this of course has an effect on price and the carbon footprint of your wedding.

Opt for plenty of foliage and a handful of statement blooms – and always get the advice of a friendly wedding florist!

It’s very easy to be swept away by all the wonderful pictures of wedding flowers online – but the more blooms you have, the higher the cost will be. And those weddings and floral arrangements you see online might cost thousands. So think of what you can reasonably afford for your flowers, and consider your colour palette first of all.

Anything else: table arrangements, bridesmaid bouquets, buttonholes and other floral arrangements around your venue will depend on your budget.

Our top tip – choose sustainable flowers (and never with floral foam) – and opt for a little of what you love, rather than huge quantities.

More wedding bouquet inspiration and advice

Where to start with styling your wedding flowers – 9 amazing ideas to suit your outfits and venue

4 reasons to choose artificial flowers instead of fresh for your wedding decorations

How to find a wedding florist

How Using Locally Grown Flowers Can Help Reduce The Environmental Footprint Of Your Wedding Day