Everything You Need to Know About Winter Wedding Flowers

Winter is such a festive season, and many couples try to capitalize on that feeling as the holidays approach. Then, January comes, and some duos take advantage of discounts and specials as vendors long to book weddings during what is considered the off-season. However, as venues, photographers, and caterers offer deals to entice folks, one set has to stick to (and possibly raise) their prices: florists.

As temperatures reach freezing and below, many blooms become scarce. A limited selection means that your floral designer may have to order flowers from more temperate climates for your perfect winter wedding day. A budget-friendly option is to utilize in-season flowers and holiday greenery to accent your winter wedding bouquets. Cold-weather weddings are gorgeous and ethereal, and here’s everything you need to know about choosing the perfect winter wedding flowers.

Part 1: A Guide to Winter Wedding Flowers by Color

Part 2: Trust Your Floral Designer With Your Winter

Part 3: Pros and Cons of Using Holiday Winter Wedding Florals

Part 4: Creative Ways to Use Winter Wedding Flowers

What Are the Best Flowers for Winter Weddings?

Selecting wedding flowers in winter partly depends on what you want as a couple. As a result, there are many things to consider beyond a list of the best winter wedding flowers. First, decide whether want to include the holidays and traditional winter color palettes on your big day.

However, just because you’re having a winter wedding doesn’t mean you must include the season into your special day. For example, a pastel palette of pink and yellow is stunning against the stark whites of winter. Another popular choice is to go formal with a palette of black, gold, and white. Whatever you decide, be sure to look at your budget, as seasonal winter wedding flowers can be cost-prohibitive. Your florist can help you decide on a color scheme and determine the best florals for your wedding—whether you need insights on which seasonal blooms to include in your beautiful bouquets of flowers or which types of winter greenery you should use to flesh out your centerpieces.

A Guide to Winter Wedding Flowers by Color

Like other seasons, any color you desire is available—if you’re willing to Like other seasons, any color you desire is available—if you’re willing to special order your winter wedding flowers. Blue and white is a popular color combination for winter wonderland weddings. Other couples wish to have a more muted palette of blush and green. However, a whole world of color schemes are possible, none of which are dependent on the season.

Of course, florists have their favorite blooms in several color palettes. “Garden roses are a big favorite, and we love them in alabaster white, Darcey red, and vitality ivory to give a classic winter look,” says Joan Wyndrum, co-founder of Blooms by the Box in Watchung, New Jersey. “Calla lilies are another popular favorite, along with hybrid delphinium, tuberose, tulips, ranunculus, and anemones.”

Many of these blooms are available in various colors throughout the winter. Bron Hansboro, owner of The Flower Guy Bron in Richmond, Virginia, offers additional suggestions for winter wedding bouquet flowers, like holly, snow flurry camellias, sweet azaleas, and winter jasmine.

Hansboro also proposes dying blooms to get the desired hues. “Couples can also play around with preserved florals and pampas grasses to mimic the meaning of the season’s hibernation and rebirth,” he suggests. “Dying your blooms is a perfect way to achieve the color palette you desire, even if the seasonal florals don’t naturally grow in the hues you want.” In addition, altering a flower’s original color is a creative way to have what you desire on a budget. Whatever your color scheme, here’s what blooms you can find during wintertime.

White Winter Wedding Flowers

No matter the season, white wedding flowers are popular. Not only are they the perfect complement to any color palette, but white has long been associated with weddings. The poinsettia is a classic for December wedding flowers (especially for Christmas weddings!) and can make quite a statement when incorporated into winter wedding flower bouquets and arrangements (for example, by pairing white roses with a striking red poinsettia.)

Other lovely, readily available options include camellia, sweet pea, calla lily, gerbera daisy, orchid, white anemones, carnation, rose, stephanotis, lily, and amaryllis. When their bulbs are forced, paperwhite narcissus also makes a beautiful addition to bouquets and boutonnieres. Finally, if the growing conditions are ideal, you can secure gardenia and early season tulips in shades of white.

Burgundy Winter Wedding Flowers

Burgundy is a trendy color for winter weddings. When paired with foraged greenery, it can take on a holiday tone. However, burgundy can also add a striking element to a monochromatic palette of red and pink tones. Some of the most beloved blooms, such as carnations, roses, and mums, are available in burgundy. Other flower options include anemone, astrantia, and snapdragons. Eucalyptus also comes in burgundy for a dried element, which will add an extra dimension to your winter wedding venue flowers.

Winter Wedding Flowers Blue

Blue flowers are more of a rarity no matter the season, especially in winter. However, their scarcity doesn’t discourage couples who love the idea of showcasing icy winter wedding flowers in shades of blue. A few options for blue-toned winter flowers are anemone, blue thistle, and some shades of grape hyacinth. Using quality silk flowers and dying white flowers blue are both viable options when you can’t find blue flowers in winter. Non-floral options include juniper boughs, dusty miller, silver brunia, and viburnum berries.

Yellow Winter Wedding Flowers

Bright, sunny yellow is an unexpected hue to use in cold weather. As a result, the color can add an element of surprise to a winter wedding palette. Classic flowers—such as roses, carnations, tulip, alstroemeria, freesia, and ranunculus—come in yellow tones. However, those aren’t your only options, as hypericum berries, gloriosa, acacia, and craspedia are lesser known, but still worthy yellow elements to use as winter wedding bouquet flowers. Solidago is used as filler, which is a lovely way to add details of yellow to your winter flower arrangements.

Plum Winter Wedding Flowers

Plum, a deep purple, is another popular winter color that isn’t necessarily associated with the holidays. The hue blends perfectly with lighter tones of lavender, but it also adds richness to a jewel-toned palette. Anemone, amaryllis, tulip, daisy, orchid, liatris, freesia, lisianthus, sweet pea, stock, gladiolus, and veronica are all available in regal purple tones for your winter wedding.

Red Winter Wedding Flowers

Nothing says Christmas more than a combination of red and green. Additionally, if your wedding is around Valentine’s Day, you may be pondering a palette that includes red. On the other hand, maybe you don’t want to focus on a holiday theme for your winter wedding—and red is one of your favorite colors. No matter your reasoning, there are plenty of elegant winter wedding flowers for you to include in your bouquets.

Red roses are always a favorite, although you may also consider including amaryllis, tulips, anemones, and ranunculus for a pop of red. Carnations are readily available, and for a holiday feel, incorporate poinsettias. There are also several berries, such as hypericum and holly, that can subtly add clusters of red to your arrangements.

Greenery for Winter Wedding Flower Arrangements

Greenery is easily foraged, which means that it’s cost-effective. Greens also add texture and dimension when placed alongside winter flowers for wedding centerpieces. “I’m personally fond of utilizing greenery in your bouquets and arrangements during the winter to complement your flowers,” says Hansboro, who also believes that they can help shape winter wedding bouquets. “Cascading bouquets are still wildly popular, which foraged greenery can play a huge role in.”

Wyndrum also has her favorite greens. “We love opting for greenery, like dusty miller for a soft texture and silver dollar eucalyptus,” she says. “If you want a holiday vibe, then balsam, cedar, juniper, and boxwood are all great additions as well.” Placing greens in winter wedding bouquets with pine cones is also a lovely way to add holiday flair.

For couples who enjoy the color green but don’t want their event to be wintery, think about using more trendy options. “Boho couples will be eager to know that succulents and air plants are readily available during the colder months since they are very hearty,” says Wyndrum. Mini potted succulents also make adorable winter wedding favors when added to each place setting.

Additionally, large, waxy magnolia leaves are stately and add color to winter wedding arrangements. “While magnolia blooms aren’t in season, magnolia greenery is available and quite popular,” says CeCe Todd, owner of CeCe Designs in Birmingham, Alabama. Magnolia leaves are green on one side and brown on the other, so your florist can use them to add either color to your winter flower arrangements.

23 Winter Wedding Flowers

Want to know which flowers will be available for your winter wedding? Here are 23 flowers that are available during the winter months that would make the perfect addition to your wedding floral arrangements—whether that's the bride flower bouquet, bouquets of flowers for your bridesmaids, or your floral centerpieces:

1. Amaryllis
2. Anemones
3. Calla Lily
4. Camellia
5. Carnation
6. Dahlia
7. Gardenia
8. Gerbera Daisy
9. Hellebore
10. Hydrangeas
11. Hypericum Berries
12. Lilac
13. Orchid
14. Peony
15. Poinsettia
16. Ranunculus
17. Roses
18. Silver Brunia
19. Star of Bethlehem
20. Stephanotis
21. Sweet Pea
22. Thistle
23. Tulip

Pros and Cons of Using Holiday Winter Wedding Florals

If you’re getting married around the holidays, you may be undecided about incorporating traditional December wedding flowers. On the one hand, using greenery and holly berries is a gorgeous combination. On the other hand, a holiday palette may not be your first choice. For those undecided about their winter wedding flowers during this festive time of year, here are a few things to consider.

Pro: Holiday Winter Wedding Flowers Are Naturally Festive

No matter what celebrations you encounter during the winter, seeing seasonal decor puts everyone in the holiday spirit. Plus, the chances are that your venue—especially if you have a church wedding—is already decked out with festive decorations. Being able to rely on existing decor will help you be able to stretch your budget. As a result, you may be able to afford those luxury flowers for your winter wedding flower arrangements after all.

Con: Going With Holiday Wedding Decor May Stifle Creativity

Folks are used to seeing holiday decor year after year. Therefore, you may lack creative ideas for making your winter wedding flowers stand out from other decorations. That’s where your florist can help. Your floral designer can make an unexpected winter wedding bridal bouquet or create an incredible hanging installation.

5 Creative Ways to Use Winter Wedding Flowers and Greens

1. Order Flowers for Winter Wedding Cakes

Natural greenery and blooms can dress up a wedding cake. If you love to DIY, order a plain cake in white or cream, and add the flowers. However, your florist or cake artist is also fully capable of placing blooms on your cake.

2. Put Wreaths on Entry Doors

Whether you opt for a holiday wreath or take a less seasonal approach, decorate your entry doors with wreaths. A plus is that wreaths can double as gifts for your parents or other loved ones after the wedding.

3. Place Seasonal Greens at Each Seat

Tuck greenery into the fold of a napkin or lay it on each plate. These are beautiful ways to welcome guests to your winter wedding reception. Using greens in small applications is the perfect way to carry through with your floral theme.

4. Hang a Sprig of Mistletoe Above Your Seats

Everyone wants to see you kiss at the reception—cue the clinking of glass—so, give your guests what they want. Hang a sprig of mistletoe right above your seats. It’s a fun way to include the holidays, even if you don’t have a holiday-themed wedding.

5. Place Foraged Items in Unexpected Places

Collect pine cones, cut evergreens, and scour yards for holly berries (with permission, of course!). All of these are ways to add decor to just about any area of your wedding ceremony and reception. Fill baskets with pine cones, and lay berry-laden holly branches down the length of your farm #tables. Instead of centerpieces, use small vessels of varying heights to hold greenery and berries. Then, use pieces from your wedding florist as the final touches for a gorgeous winter wedding day.

Zola: The Destination for Winter Wedding Flower Ideas

Whether you need to formulate your budget or crave color palette inspiration, Zola is your destination for all things wedding. If you’re not sure about having a winter wedding, Zola can help you determine what season is right for you. From your first impression—save the dates—to leaving your wedding, Zola can help you plan every step of the way. With a library of articles just waiting to help you plan, partner with Zola to make your wedding day dreams come true.