Wedding Flowers by Season: A Guide to British Blooms

The flowers in season for a British wedding change through the year: tulips, narcissi, ranunculus and blossom in spring; peonies, sweet peas, garden roses and cornflowers in early summer; dahlias, chrysanthemums and rich foliage in autumn; and hellebores, evergreens, berries and dried flowers in winter. Building your flowers around what is growing naturally on your date usually means better value, fresher blooms and a lower environmental footprint.

Below you will find a season-by-season guide, colour palettes that work with each, and practical advice on briefing a florist and setting a budget.

Why seasonal and British-grown flowers make sense

Most cut flowers sold in the UK are imported. Flowers from the Farm, the network of British cut flower growers, cites DEFRA data from 2023 showing that around 80% are imported, and an SRUC factsheet puts the figure at 86%. Many of those stems are grown in heated glasshouses or flown in from overseas.

Choosing flowers that are naturally in season has three clear benefits:

• Cost: flowers at their natural peak are more plentiful, so they tend to be cheaper and easier for florists to source. Out-of-season stems often have to be imported, which adds to the price.
• Sustainability: locally grown flowers travel fewer miles and are less likely to have been grown with artificial heat. Flowers from the Farm cites research estimating that an imported bouquet can have around 20 times the carbon footprint of one from a local flower farm.
• Character: British-grown flowers often have more scent, looser shapes and wonderful variety, including garden flowers rarely seen in supermarket bunches.

Not every florist works exclusively with British flowers, and that is fine. Simply asking for seasonal, locally sourced stems where possible makes a real difference.

Spring wedding flowers (March to May)

Spring is fresh, fragrant and full of colour, with stems that feel light and joyful.

• Tulips: British-grown tulips come in an enormous range, from parrot and double varieties to slender French types.
• Narcissi and daffodils: a cheerful early-spring choice, with scented varieties beyond classic yellow.
• Ranunculus and anemones: layered, rose-like blooms and striking dark-centred anemones.
• Blossom: cherry, apple and magnolia branches are beautiful for arches and large arrangements.
• Hyacinths, muscari, fritillaries and lilac: scent and texture for bouquets and table posies.

Palettes that work: soft pastels such as blush, butter yellow and lilac; crisp white and green; or bold spring brights with orange tulips and coral ranunculus.

Flowers from the Farm notes that peonies bloom only briefly, roughly May to June, so a late-spring wedding is the moment to plan around them.

Summer wedding flowers (June to August)

Summer is peak season for British flower growers and the easiest time to have an abundant, garden-style look.

• Peonies: lavish and romantic, but only around for a few weeks in early summer.
• Garden roses: according to Flowers from the Farm, English garden roses peak in June and continue less abundantly until September.
• Sweet peas: beautifully scented and ideal for bouquets and buttonholes.
• Cornflowers, nigella, scabious and astrantia: delicate shapes for a meadow feel.
• Delphiniums, larkspur, snapdragons and foxgloves: tall spires for height and drama.
• Cosmos, lavender, phlox and herbs: scent and movement, lovely in jam jars and loose table runners.

Palettes that work: wildflower blues and whites, sorbet pinks and peaches, or rich jewel tones in late summer as dahlias begin.

Autumn wedding flowers (September to November)

Autumn brings warm, saturated colour and textural foliage, and it is a brilliant season for British-grown flowers.

• Dahlias: the star of late summer and autumn, in every colour from café au lait to deep burgundy. They flower until the first frosts.
• Chrysanthemums: far beyond the garage-forecourt kind, with spider, pompom and spoon varieties.
• Zinnias, rudbeckia and asters: bright, cheerful and long-lasting.
• Hydrangeas: late-season heads age to beautiful antique tones.
• Berries, rosehips, crab apples, seed heads and grasses: texture and depth for bouquets and installations.

Palettes that work: terracotta, rust and burnt orange; burgundy, plum and blush; or mustard and ochre with lots of foliage.

Winter wedding flowers (December to February)

Winter is the quietest season for British growers, so florists lean on foliage, forced bulbs, home-grown dried flowers and some imported stems.

• Hellebores: elegant, nodding flowers in white, blush and plum.
• Amaryllis and paperwhite narcissi: dramatic and scented, grown under cover.
• Evergreens: pine, fir, holly, ivy, eucalyptus and skimmia give structure and scent.
• Winter honeysuckle and dried honesty: both highlighted by Flowers from the Farm as January options.
• Dried and preserved flowers: grasses, statice, strawflowers and hydrangeas dried from the previous summer.

Palettes that work: deep green and white with candlelight; burgundy and gold; or frosty silvers and soft greys.

If you love roses for a winter wedding, Flowers from the Farm suggests British-grown ranunculus as an alternative to imported roses outside summer.

Seasonal flowers at a glance

Season	Key British flowers	Palette ideas
Spring	Tulips, narcissi, ranunculus, anemones, blossom, hyacinths	Pastels, white and green, spring brights
Summer	Peonies, garden roses, sweet peas, cornflowers, delphiniums, cosmos	Meadow blues, sorbet pinks, jewel tones
Autumn	Dahlias, chrysanthemums, zinnias, hydrangeas, berries, grasses	Rust and terracotta, burgundy, ochre
Winter	Hellebores, amaryllis, paperwhites, evergreens, dried flowers	Green and white, burgundy and gold, silver

Exact timings shift with the weather and from the south of England to Scotland, so treat these as a guide and let your florist advise.

What do wedding flowers cost?

Bridebook's 2026 data puts the average spend on a florist at £1,187, with most couples spending £1,000 to £1,500. Its price guide gives these typical ranges:

• Bridal bouquet: £80 to £150 or more
• Bridesmaid bouquets: £40 to £90 each
• Buttonholes: £5 to £15 each
• Corsages: £10 to £25 each
• Table centrepieces: £30 to £150 or more per table
• Ceremony arrangements: £100 to £500 or more

Large installations such as arches, hanging designs and flower walls add significantly to labour and materials. Prices are usually higher in London and the South East. To make the most of your budget, repurpose ceremony arrangements at the reception, choose fewer but larger statement pieces, and use foliage and candles generously. Track your flower costs in the budget planner when you create a free account.

How to brief your florist

A good brief saves time and gets you a more accurate quote. Before your first meeting, gather:

1. Your date and venues: florists need to know what will be in season and what the spaces look like.
2. Guest and table numbers: these drive the cost of centrepieces.
3. A list of items: bouquets, buttonholes, corsages, ceremony pieces, arch, table flowers, cake flowers.
4. Your colour palette and mood: wild and loose, structured and classic, or modern and minimal.
5. Images you love and dislike: both are equally useful.
6. Your budget: an honest figure lets the florist suggest where to spend and where to save.
7. Your outfits: a photo or fabric swatch helps the bouquet complement rather than clash.

Be flexible on exact varieties. Asking for "seasonal peach and cream flowers" rather than one specific bloom gives your florist room to choose the best stems that week. Popular florists can book up well ahead for summer Saturdays, so enquire once your venue is secured.

Find wedding florists near you, such as wedding florists in Devon, and pair them with venue dressing and styling suppliers for candles, arches and table settings. Save favourites to your shortlist and send one enquiry to several at once.

Questions couples ask

What are the cheapest wedding flowers in the UK?

The best value usually comes from whatever is abundant in season, such as tulips in spring, cosmos and sweet peas in summer, and dahlias and chrysanthemums in autumn. Foliage and gypsophila also stretch a budget. Ask your florist which stems are most plentiful for your date.

Can we have peonies for a wedding in August or September?

British peonies flower only for a short time, roughly May to June, so later in the year they would need to be imported and will cost more. Garden roses, dahlias or ranunculus can give a similar full, romantic look later in the season.

Are British-grown wedding flowers more expensive?

Not necessarily. In season, British stems can be very competitive because they have not been shipped or flown in, and they often last well because they are fresher. They can be harder to source in winter, when florists rely more on foliage, dried flowers and imports.

How much should we budget for wedding flowers?

Bridebook's 2026 data puts average florist spend at £1,187, with most couples spending £1,000 to £1,500. Your figure depends on guest numbers, the number of tables and whether you want large installations such as arches.

When should we book a wedding florist?

Many couples book their florist once the venue is confirmed and they have a sense of their colours, often nine to twelve months ahead for popular summer dates. Final details such as exact stems and quantities are usually confirmed a few weeks before the wedding.