Insider Guide to Seasonal Wedding Florals

Does seasonality even matter? In the day and age of shipping and a global economy, imported flowers tend to make many flowers available year round (or for an extended season). But - flowers are maybe the single most notorious import for environmental impact. Yes, from extreme pesticide use, to shipping in high-carbon-footprint refrigerated containers, to inhumane working conditions, imported flowers surely have their problems.

Sustainability-focused florists and floral designers know this, and thus opt to use exclusively in-season, locally grown flowers. Not only does this reduce carbon footprint, it supports local flower farms - which are often much more focused on biodiversity, regenerative agriculture, and minimal pesticides / organic practices.

So without further ado, let’s get into it! With five years of flower farming under my belt, I’ve learned all the in’s and out’s of what is growing when local to Connecticut – and I’m here to give you allll the details to demystify planning your in-season wedding flowers. Let’s begin at the start of wedding season…

(For flowers-by-the-month, scroll to the end!)

Seasonal Flowers for Spring Weddings

Here in Connecticut, the very first flowers to break ground in spring come from our fall-planted bulbs. Daffodils are the early birds of spring flowers, with blooms beginning in early to mid-April and continuing for about six weeks. These deliciously scented beauties are closely followed by tulips, which put on a beautiful show Late-April through Late-May. The ever-popular anemones and ranunculus are right behind, picking up the baton from late April all the way into early summer. Possibly the most popular spring flower of all, peonies bloom for just 2-3 short weeks starting at the tail end of May into June.

Spring is also known for gorgeous flowering branches such as cherry blossom, lilac, dogwood, and early roses. Combining the showy focal flowers of spring with these elegant arching branches creates a breathtaking combination for in-season wedding flowers.

Now let’s head into the peak of the season: Summer Wedding Flowers blooming from June 21st - September 21st…

In-Season Wedding Flowers for Summer

In mid to late June, there comes a wonderful transition from big, showy spring perennials into the impressive annuals of summer. Throughout the height of summer, more and more varieties come into bloom on a weekly basis in every color, shape, and size imaginable. The earliest cool weather annuals such as feverfew, stock, larkspur, and snapdragons begin blooming in June and continue through mid to late July. Quickly following in July are classics such as sunflowers, zinnias, and marigold. Dahlias, the stars of the show, begin blooming in Late July at the earliest. In August, you can expect dahlias, lisianthus, and flowering herbs to take over, continuing all the way into September.

Because seasonality is very temperature dependant, bloom dates can shift within a few weeks. This is one of the joys of working with nature, but it can be challenging when looking for specific flower varieties on a certain date. With my summer wedding clients, I always recommend shooting for an overall color palette and aesthetic rather than a certain flower type. With summer’s abundance of color and shape, we can meet your wedding flower goals no matter what.

Finally, my personal favorite…

Fall Wedding Flowers in Connecticut

Fall is arguably the most beautiful season in Connecticut, with the gorgeous autumn leaf color and mild weather making a winning combo for wedding scenery. This season also brings fresh flower season to a close, as cold weather, frost, and snow eventually puts the farm to sleep in the November time frame.

Sunflowers continue churning until the frost, Dahlias peek in Late September to early October, and heirloom chrysanthemums steal the show in October and November. Lovely textural elements also take over during this time, with amaranth, celosia, and seed pods available. Many cool weather annuals also get a second wind as temperatures cool down, so there is a beautiful resurgence of calendula, snapdragons and more during this time. As a previous October bride myself, fall flowers will always hold the fondest place in my heart, and I love to share that warmth with Fall wedding couples.

Seasonal Flowers for Winter Weddings

For the winter, dried everlasting flowers are not only gorgeous, they are unique and quite special when done right. In my flower farming practice I’ve cracked the code on techniques to preserve vibrant colors even in dried flowers, so there are options whether you are seeking neutral or colorful tones for a winter wedding. While I love working with preserved product, I have yet to connect with a couple interested in going for dried flowers on their big day. That said, it’s a dream of mine to create the perfect dried flower wedding for a daring couple who sees the potential in everlasting florals.

I won’t lie to you, winter is challenging for fresh, local flowers and foliage in New England. Evergreen foliage and pinecones are a beautiful option, and some northeast flower farmers are experimenting with forcing bulbs indoors during the colder months, which is amazing work - but in my personal farming practice, I’m not sure it’s for me.

CT Wedding Flowers by the Month:

April Wedding Flowers

Daffodils, Tulips, Anemones, Ranunculus, Forsythia

May Wedding Flowers

Daffodils, Tulips, Anemones, Ranunculus, flowering branches, roses, rhododendron, bleeding heart, Iris, Allium, maybe Peonies.

June Wedding Flowers

Peonies, Iris, Anemones, Ranunculus, flowering branches, roses, sage, delphinium, smoke bush

Late June Wedding Flowers

Feverfew, stock, larkspur, calendula, dill, apple of peru, snapdragons, smoke bush, sweet peas, cosmos

July Wedding Flowers

Sunflowers, feverfew, stock, larkspur, calendula, dill,apple of peru, snapdragons, cosmos, sweet peas, strawflower, gladiolus, zinnias, marigold, queen anne’s lace, maybe Dahlias

August Wedding Flowers

Dahlias, Sunflowers, hydrangea, cosmos, celosia, strawflower, zinnias, marigold, queen anne’s lace, statice, decorative grasses, lisianthus, dianthus, aster, amaranth, herbs such as basil and oregano

September Wedding Flowers

Dahlias, Sunflowers, rudbeckia, goldenrod, hydrangea, celosia, strawflower, zinnias, marigold, queen anne’s lace, statice, decorative grasses, lisianthus, dianthus, aster, amaranth, herbs

October Wedding Flowers

Dahlias, sunflower, chrysanthemum, amaranth, Celosia, gomphrena, cosmos, snapdragons, sedum, orach, grasses, zinnias, dappled autumn foliage

November Wedding Flowers

Chrysanthemums, amaranth, sedum, sage, queen anne’s lace, rosemary. Dependent on projected frost: Marigold, Dahlias, cosmos, zinnias

In-Season Wedding Florals are Endlessly Stunning.

From my years of flower farming, my number one takeaway is that there are always new flowers to discover that can be grown right here in Connecticut. The beauty of nature is that each month brings something different to the table!

If you are interested in seasonal flowers for your wedding, and want to work with a knowledgeable and approachable flower-farmer-florist, I'd love to hear from you. We’ll walk through what seasonality will look like for you, and your flower experience will include blooms personally grown from seed to bouquet.

Send an inquiry today and we can chat about bringing your wedding flower dreams to life!