If you’re looking to save money on your wedding, you might consider growing your own backyard flowers and arranging the bouquets yourself for the big day (or getting a creative friend to help!). In this blog post, I’ll inspire you to get going and outline which flowers are best for each season.
Related: How to Start a Cut Flower Garden
Note: Since first writing this blog post, I’ve transformed my backyard cut flower hobby into a flower farming business. Some of the DIYs and links I share in this post may be from earlier in my floral arranging journey.
Want to know what blooms when in a cold climate? Check out the video below:
notes on growing trendy flowers for your wedding
Before we get to the best cut flowers for spring, summer, fall, and winter weddings, here are a few words of caution:
- The stuff you see on Pinterest doesn’t necessarily grow in the season you’re having your wedding in, especially if you’re growing in a northern region. Make sure you’re growing flowers particular to the zone you’re gardening in and the season in which you need blooms!
- Eucalyptus is extremely popular but takes a lot of growing time and patience. It will not usually be able to be harvested until September.
- It’s popular to have baby’s breath en mass for your wedding. However, perennial baby’s breath is invasive and should not be used. Annual baby’s breath is tricky because you will underestimate how much you need to grow. I’ve had a lot of trouble growing it and have struggled with stem length in previous years (except for 2022). I find saponaria easier to grow.
- Growing roses in Zone 3 is tough. Period. And stem length for Zone 3-friendly rose varieties can be a particular struggle. You’re too late if you start a rose bush the year before your wedding! You have to start rose bushes 3-5 years before you need the flowers. Lisianthus is a good alternative, but they don’t typically bloom until September.
With those nitty-gritty details out of the way, let’s learn the best flowers to grow for a backyard wedding!
Related: Growing Your Own Wedding Flowers to Save Money? Read this First!
BEST FLOWERS FOR Spring Weddings
Many of the spring bouquet stars are challenging to grow in Zone 3. For example, tulips (which should be easy to grow) are challenging to get good stem length on. You can’t grow them in raised beds, you need to water them closely, and you need to have an area to grow them in part shade. And, even after all that work, you might end up with short stubby tulips.
Daffodils are also tricky to grow here, and I know I’m not the only flower farmer that struggles with them. Peonies are easy to grow, but you must work with an already established bush that is ideally five years old or older. Ranunculus and anemones are magnificent flowers, but they require knowledge of how to pre-sprout, and the timing is tricky because if the weather gets too warm, they will die off. Ranunculus is also very susceptible to bug pressure (as I discovered in 2022 when three different bugs attacked them!)
Other stars of spring bouquets are lupin and yarrow. Ferns and hostas can also provide some greenery and are easy to grow.
Related: How To Decorate a Wedding Cake: Save Money and Get Compliments
Best Flowers for Summer Weddings
Lucky you, you have your pick of flowers! Well, only if your wedding is after July 15th. There is a dead zone between July 1st and 15th on the Canadian prairies and in other cold climates where it is difficult to get a lot of flowers. At this time, you’ll be relying heavily on existing perennials. If you don’t have perennials that are at least three years old, you won’t have enough flowers for your wedding bouquet.
Delphiniums and monkshood are readily available for blue & purple-themed weddings, and lilies are in full bloom and come in practically every colour. May I suggest Asiatic lilies and late peonies? If you’re in a rural location, many wildflowers are in full bloom and can make beautiful additions to your bouquets.
Want to learn the best flowers for a late summer wedding? Check out this video:
Best Flowers for Fall Weddings
Fall weddings can be tricky because you’re at the mercy of the last frost date. If you’re a more experienced flower farmer, you can grow varieties of flowers that will grow through the frost. You can check out my ebook Frost Proof Flower Garden for help with this, but asters and lisianthus should be high on your list. Lisianthus is a significant growing commitment because you have to start them at Christmas, and asters are tricky because they are susceptible to aster yellows. You can grow all the most beautiful asters in the world, but if they have yellows, they won’t be usable for your wedding.
Zinnias, sedum, and coneflowers all make for beautiful bouquets. You can also snag some dill or peppers from the garden for an unusual twist. Dried greenery or small flowers can add interesting textures, as well. You can still find lots of lazy susans and goldenrod if you’re in a rural area and looking in ditches for extra flowers (as long as you’re harvesting responsibly, of course!).
Related: Money Saving DIY Boutonnieres for Fall Weddings
Best Flowers for winter Weddings
If you live in a warmer climate than I do, many more flowers will be available to you throughout the seasons. I’m in Zone 3, so we only have flowers from late May (if we’re lucky) to late September.
Cold climate winter brides, don’t fret!
Though the weather outside is frightful, you can always opt for a dried flower wedding. Dried flower weddings are becoming increasingly popular. If you’re interested in these techniques, check out my dried flower content here: 25+ Best Flowers to Grow for Dried Flower Arrangements.
Related: Elegant & Easy Floral Hoop Wreath: Perfect for Weddings & Showers
If you liked this blog post, find me on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram to follow more of my farmer florist journey and join in the cut flower conversation! I also make weekly videos on my YouTube channel. You can also sign up for bouquet-making events and buy my flowers at my sister site Shifting Blooms. I hope to see you there!
ARE YOU READY TO MAKE YOUR DIY DREAM WEDDING A REALITY?
This bundle is for all you DIY brides and grooms out there! If you’ve been dreaming about growing and arranging the flowers for your wedding, these resources will help you grow and create simple wedding flowers that will look stunning. Do you want simple arrangements without complicated mechanics? Getting married between mid-July and early September? Get your DIY Wedding Bundle today!
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