Picking the perfect posies presents problem for brides

Scripps Howard

Nobody said planning a wedding was simple, and selecting flowers is just one of many big decisions you’ll need to make. Fortunately, the time of year you’re getting married and the tone of your wedding can help narrow the selection.

Roses, a longtime wedding staple, are available year-round and come in a wide variety of colors. Go with yellow, pink or orange for a summer wedding, or white or burgundy for a winter affair. Another all-season flower is the orchid, which comes in several varieties and is perfect for formal weddings. Calla lilies, stephanotis, lisianthus and chrysanthemums are other blooms without an off-season.

Springlike fragrance

Marrying in the spring? Play off the fresh feel of the season with fragrant flowers like peonies and lilies of the valley. Peonies come in white, cream, peach, pink and burgundy and are great for bouquets. The oh-so-delicate lily of the valley is another strong-scented option for the spring. While this flower used to be considered an accent, more and more brides are opting for simple, small bouquets made entirely of these blooms.

If you’re heating things up in the summer, dahlias are a great choice. These bright, round blooms come in orange, pink and purple and work well in everything from your bouquets to your centerpieces. Looking for something more delicate? Hydrangeas have the fullness to fill out your arrangement, but with soft hues like white, green, purple and blue, and are a bit more understated. And then, of course, there are daisies, perfect for a casual wedding with a playful vibe.

Taste tempting

If you’re looking for something different for your fall wedding, ask your florist about chocolate cosmos. These brown blooms smell like a mix of vanilla and cocoa. If you want a flower that won’t have you trying to lick the bouquet, mums are another option. These flowers can withstand any type of weather and come in a range of colors.

If your wedding is in the winter, consider going with anemones, which have black centers surrounded by petals in white, magenta, purple, or burgundy. Having a formal wedding? The structured blooms of ranunculus might be for you. These can be used as accent flowers or on their own, and work well in round bouquets and in boutonnieres.