10 Best Flowers For a Beach Wedding

Planning a wedding by the beach already has an idyllic, built-in atmosphere, but a few special touches can take your surroundings to new heights. When choosing the right wedding flowers to accommodate your dream celebration, consider a beach wedding bouquet that will be able to withstand warmer temperatures and wind, all while looking beautiful against an ocean backdrop.

The best choice is to keep the arrangements and greenery simple. Also, if you’ve chosen to have a destination wedding, ask for recommendations from your local florist and floral designer regarding the types of flowers that are native to (and in season) for the location.

Certain flowers that may be expensive or unavailable in your hometown may be abundant and less costly when planning a ceremony by the beach (See our guide on how to do wedding flowers cheap). Here are a few of the best beach wedding flowers to consider for your big day.

1. Calla Lilies

Calla lilies are elegant and timeless. Better yet, they can stand up to the tropical temperatures that are part of most beach weddings. With their feminine, curved blooms, a calla lily is striking on its own. A small wedding bouquet looks equal parts simplistic and stunning, or for brides who want to incorporate the flowers in a bigger way, they work well with greenery and baby’s breath.

Calla lilies pair well with the romantic glow of candlelight for wedding receptions, standing regally with their long, thick stems to double as table decorations. There are various color options, such as deep purple or even black, to put a dramatic spin on a longtime wedding flower favorite.

2. Roses

Roses are the champion of flowers for any style of wedding. You can never go wrong with roses. They are available in every color imaginable and can be the star of the show or sit beautifully in the background. When incorporating roses into a beach wedding bouquet, consider using hues that echo the shades of the sunset: vibrant reds, warm oranges, and flecks of yellow. They’ll pop against the serene backdrop of white sand and blue ocean water.

Whether you go for a single color or mix it up with a variety of hues, roses complement any ceremony nicely, plus are readily available nearly everywhere you go. As a centerpiece idea, cut full rose blooms and let them float in shallow water bowls, sprinkle rose petals down the length of a table in place of a fabric runner, or simply let your wedding party’s bouquets double as decoration by placing them in vases at the reception. There are endless ways to incorporate roses into your celebration, which is why they make an appearance at most weddings.

3. Daisies

Like roses, daisies have a timeless appeal and are able to adapt to any situation. They are sweet floral design additions to a bridal bouquet, especially if you are planning an ultra laid-back wedding celebration on the beach. Carrying a handful of white daisies tied with a simple ribbon is classic in its simplicity. They, too, are a good flower choice for flower crowns or other wedding adornments and decorations.

Daisies may not be the first flower you think of when planning a beach wedding, but they do fit in quite nicely. There’s no rule that says you have to stick with only exotic flowers when planning your beach wedding.

4. Anthurium

The waxy, leaf-like blooms of the anthurium flower make it a steady choice to stand up to saltwater, sand, and other natural elements that may weigh heavy on your floral arrangements. Although they are less common, these flowers have a distinctive flair that embodies the airy, ethereal aspect of a beach wedding. They can be used in wedding party bouquets and are a good choice for table decorations when accompanied by other greenery or pops of color.

5. Plumeria

Warm regions, such as Hawaii, are known for their breathtaking beaches where plumeria trees thrive. Their star-like quality and alluring color make it one of the best beach wedding flowers to use. They won’t wilt easily under the sun and offer their own natural brightness to any bouquet. Plumeria is a wonderful choice to create flower crowns and corsages and add to archways.

Use them to drape over the back of chairs, the tops of tables, and other areas of your reception. Plumeria instantly creates a happy vibe for your celebration and adds a subtly sweet smell to engage the senses in a different way. Embrace this warm-weather popular wedding flower and add a tropical punch to your decorations.

6. Orchids

Orchids are sometimes known to be a finicky flower, but all they need is plenty of water to thrive. Their pretty petals and rich colors are an ideal choice for a beach wedding flower. Make sure to leave them in water until it’s time to carry them down the aisle, and they’ll hold up nicely throughout the ceremony.

Small jars of orchids at the wedding reception are an elegant touch. Also, strings of orchids hanging from your ceremony archway have a unique and exotic appeal. No matter how you use them, one thing’s for sure: Orchids add a truly special touch.

7. Poppies

Poppies are an unexpected, but welcome choice for a beach wedding flower. They are vibrant and can stand up to hot temperatures, plus come in an array of pretty colors. They look great paired with other varietals and can stand on their own among a bed of greenery. When using as part of reception decor, they offer a modern, artistic touch to a wedding’s aesthetic.

8. Peonies

Peonies are another wedding floral favorite, adaptable to various themes and locations. However, with their peak season running from late May to mid-June, they're especially ideal for late spring and summer weddings. With a complex layering of delicate petals, they can add a look and feel of luxury to beachside ceremonies and receptions. If your budget allows, consider splurging on a bridal bouquet and bridesmaid bouquets consisting strictly of lush peonies. That being said, they're just as beautiful when used as an accent flower.

The fickle thing about peonies is that they have a short blooming period (approximately 7-10 days). Moreover, this isn't entirely consistent across the board. While they'll bloom earlier in warmer areas, opposingly, their blooming period will last longer in cooler areas. If you desire these stunning blooms at your beach wedding, we highly suggest communicating with a professional florists to see which varieties may work best in your location.

9. Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas resemble peonies in their fullness and variety of colors (including whites, greens, pinks, and blues). However, rather than being made up of large and delicate petals, they consist of many star-shaped florets. This gives them a less opulent and more whimsical appearance, perfect for bride's bouquets, boutonnieres, and beachy wedding decorations at casual to semi-formal beach weddings.

Luckily, these flowers are in-season from mid-spring through late summer (and, sometimes, early fall), making them a great choice for warm weather weddings. Go with all-white hydrangeas for a sleek and chic look or take inspiration from the views around you and select pinks or blues reminiscent of sunsets and ocean waves.

10. King Proteas

A striking flower, king proteas (also called protea cynaroides) will without a doubt catch the eye of every one of your guests. With large heads and pointed peachy pink petals, they look tropical and a touch prehistoric. They're large enough in size to be carried alone—in fact, we love the look of each of your bridesmaids carrying one, while you carry a larger bouquet of them—but also look great when accented with smaller, less assuming flowers or greenery. They're in season from May/June through winter, meaning you can include them in your bouquets and centerpieces almost all year-round.

What to Consider When Choosing Your Beach Wedding Flowers

• First, ensure your flowers will be able to stand up in the changing weather conditions, such as high winds, scorching sun, and possible rain. If you have your heart set on a type of flower that’s not as beach-friendly, ask your florist if there's a similar counterpart that won’t fall apart as soon as the ceremony starts.
• Another thing to think about is maintaining simplicity with the number of flowers you use. Your view will fulfill the need for large floral arrangements placed outside. Instead, consider a row of flower petals lining the aisle or smaller bouquets of flowers held in place at the end of each row of chairs.
• Additionally, consider looking for flower options outside of your wedding venue. You can find cheap wedding flowers with more customization options when working with outside vendors. Give your wedding coordinator or flower vendor an idea of what you’re looking for by identifying certain colors and visuals you’d like to see. The same goes for the types of flowers you’re drawn to and the ones you could do without.
• It’s helpful if you share images that visualize the aesthetic you’re trying to achieve. This gives your florist a good starting point and allows them to approach you with ideas. However, if you already have your exact flower and color scheme picked out, even better. You can discuss if this is doable based on the location and season you plan to say “I do.”

Make the Most of Your Beach Wedding Flowers

Beach wedding ceremonies are magical. Go with the less is more approach when deciding on your beach bouquet, and use the landscape to your advantage. Your flowers will only add to what’s already a gorgeous setup.

For more resources on finding the best wedding flowers, see our other guides:

• How Much Should Wedding Flowers Cost?
• Wedding Flower Checklist
• How to Find an Affordable Wedding Florist

Enjoy every little moment of planning your wedding! Whether it’s selecting a cake flavor or creating a wedding registry, the experts at Zola will help you love every second.