Romantic and the epitome of springtime, peonies are among the top trending flowers for weddings. Brides love the fluffy ruffled look and full size. Peonies’ versatility allows them to be a flawless choice for almost any wedding theme including vintage, whimsical, and garden style.
Typically a peony’s bloom spans 4-6 inches wide, making it the perfect focal flower for any bridal design. They are grown in a variety of shades ranging from white, a blush-toned white, light pink, dark pink, red, coral, and even burgundy. These versatile flowers have a vase life of up to 7 days and are a reasonably hardy flower – making them pretty easy to work with for the DIY bride.
The one bad (sad?) thing about our wedding flower favorite peonies? Availability! The seasonality of peonies can be very confusing, and each variety has a fairly short growing season compared to other flowers. While roses, hydrangea, and other popular wedding blooms are cultivated in controlled greenhouses in warm climates, peonies are field grown. They are at the mercy of weather patterns and seasonal changes, not to mention floods, droughts, and other catastrophes. And another twist – white peonies come into season first in a locale, and then colors follow behind.
If peonies are your dream wedding flower, take a glanceat when you can look forward to seeing them.
When are Peonies in Available in North America?
Not all months are the same… Read on for some month-by-month details about peony availability!
Peonies in Season: December, January, and February
Peonies are grown in South America during December, January, and February, where they are enjoying summer while we in the north are chilling. This is good news for brides who have planned “Winter Wonderland” weddings during and after the holiday season. Be aware that peonyprices tend to increase this time of year to cover the import costs.
Peonies in Season: March and April
Peonies are not grown in the Western Hemisphere during March and April – so those of us in the Americas have to turn to Israeli farms during these months. However, there are drawbacks: Often their stems are thin, and their bloom size can be compared to the size of a marble. On top of that, they are quite expensive during March and April. It may be wise to avoid peonies during March and April and perhaps substitute them with garden roses or football mums.
Peonies in Season: May and June
Peony lovers in the U.S. – THESE are your months! Peonies are grown across the country from May through early July, starting in the sunbelt and working their way up to northern fields as temperatures rise. You’ll see the lowest prices, best variety and largest blooms of any time of year!
Peonies in Season: July and August
July heat starts to end the North American peony season. The end of summer finds peonies very scarce, except for some limited supplies from Alaska. Like the early spring Israeli imports, though, these will be pretty pricey and not near the quality of the early summer varieties.
Peonies in Season: September, October, and November
Sadly, we have come to a time when peonies are unavailable in North America. Although peony season is in full swing in Australia, they’re not typically shipped to the US. If you had your heart set on peonies, consider some gorgeous garden roses and ranunculus to achieve that beautiful look.
Wedding Flower Favorite Inspirations: Peony Bouquets and Arrangements
Coral Bouquet
This gorgeous bouquet has coral charm peonies mixed with succulents, silver dollar eucalyptus, and poppies. We swoon for this bouquet because it is not only romantic but whimsical.
Pretty in Pink Peony Wedding Cake
Check out this wedding cake that is decked out in pink and white peonies. This is great for any garden themed event!
Luscious Red Peony Centerpiece
This simple yet sophisticated centerpiece showcases lovely red peonies, blush roses, berries, baby blue eucalyptus, and other greenery. We love the softness of the peonies up against the texture of the fillers. This is perfect for a winter wedding event.
Fabulous Peony Floral Crown
This young lady’s significant other surprised her with a beautiful proposal and floral crown to celebrate the occasion. This statement piece features large pink peonies and fern. We love its bohemian feel and massive blooms!
Here is another amazing way to incorporate peonies into your wedding. Now, show us your peony style!
Emily Davis
Emily uses her extensive knowledge of flowers and floral design to plan and develop new product offerings for BloomsByTheBox.com. She offers her pro insights to Blooms brides and has been quoted by publications sharing floral design trends and advice.
FAQs
Peonies. Another favourite with brides, peonies are sweet and sentimental, and when it comes to their flower symbolism, it is happiness and ambition. The full springtime flower has a soft appearance and is said to bring good fortune and a happy marriage, which is ideal for your big day.
What is the number one wedding flower? ›
1. Rose. Roses are often associated with love and romance. So, it's no surprise that they're one of the most popular flowers for weddings.
Are peonies good wedding flowers? ›
Perhaps the best reason that peonies are the perfect wedding flower is that brides and grooms love them. The couple should feel like their wedding day symbolizes their love and is memorable for themselves as well as for family and friends who witness the special event. Make the event extra special with peonies.
Why are peonies my favorite flower? ›
Ravishing Beauty
These lovely blooms come in an array of vibrant colors, from delicate blush pinks to radiant whites and captivating corals. With their lush, ruffled petals that open up like nature's most spectacular fireworks, peonies are the ultimate showstoppers.
What is the negative meaning of the peony flower? ›
Peonies symbolise bashfulness due to the Greek myth of Paeonia, evolving into beliefs of curses for digging them up or having bad luck if they dry out.
What is so special about peony flowers? ›
They are often associated with prosperity and considered the "King of Flowers." Romance and Love: Peonies represent romance, love, and a happy marriage. They make popular wedding bouquets and anniversary gifts.
What is the most beautiful flower for wedding? ›
Orchids are often the top wedding flower choice for most couples around the world. You can use different types and colors of orchids for more than one purpose or floral arrangements in your wedding. If you wish to add rich and exotic fragrance flowers to your wedding, then jasmine is all you need.
What is the most expensive flower for weddings? ›
The most expensive flowers include peonies, gardenias, and hydrangeas. If you're on a tight wedding flower budget, using lots of greenery is an affordable (and on-trend!) way to decorate your reception. Other inexpensive flowers include freesia, baby's breath, roses (not garden roses, though), daisies, and carnations.
What do most people spend on wedding flowers? ›
The average cost of wedding flowers is $2,200, with the average floral budget accounting for 8-10% of a wedding's total cost.
What are the cons of peonies? ›
While peonies are generally robust, they can be susceptible to several diseases that can mar their beauty. Fungal infections like Botrytis blight and powdery mildew are common, often manifesting as discolored foliage and damaged blooms. Root rot and viral diseases can also impact their health.
“They are just about as classy as you can get, and the cool thing about them is that you see them on working farms as much as you see them in fancy gardens,” Haskell says.
How many peonies are in a bridal bouquet? ›
| Bridal Bouquet | Number of Flowers for Small Arrangement | Number of Flowers for Large Arrangement |
|---|
| Star of Bethlehem | 6-8 Bethlehem | 16-20 Bethlehem |
| Sunflowers | 4-5 Sunflowers | 9-12 Sunflowers |
| Peonies Bridal Bouquet | 3-4 Peonies | 10-12 Peonies |
| Garden Roses Bridal Bouquet | 4-5 Roses | 9-12 Roses |
9 more rowsMore than simply looking fabulous and standing the test of time, though, the peony is also full of meaning. Generally symbolic of love, honor, happiness wealth, romance, and beauty, the peony is traditionally given on special occasions as an expression of goodwill, best wishes, and joy.
What is a companion flower for peony? ›
Daylily. Daylilies bring two things to the peony party: leaf texture and flowers. Leaves of a daylily are long and strappy, providing an eye-catching contrast to the thicker shape of peony leaves.
Is Miracle Grow good for peonies? ›
In addition to making he soil improvements mentioned above, give peonies the nutrition they need by feeding them with Miracle-Gro® Shake 'n Feed® Rose & Bloom Plant Food for gorgeous color and more blooms vs. unfed plants.
What does the peony flower symbolize? ›
More than simply looking fabulous and standing the test of time, though, the peony is also full of meaning. Generally symbolic of love, honor, happiness wealth, romance, and beauty, the peony is traditionally given on special occasions as an expression of goodwill, best wishes, and joy.
What does peony flower do for marriage? ›
To attract love and new relationships, people often keep peony flowers near them. It is believed that Chi-Energy released by Peonies, attracts wonderful partners. To attract a wonderful life partner for a woman, it is best to keep peony flowers or plant in the living room.
What flower symbolizes wedding? ›
Peony. Romantic couples may love peonies for their lush fluffy petals, but they'll cherish the meaning even more. This springtime bloom symbolizes a happy marriage, and it's the ideal big, bold flower to make a statement in a beautiful bouquet.
What is the symbol of the flower girl at a wedding? ›
The tradition of flower girls dates back centuries, with roots in various cultures and civilizations. However, their role has consistently symbolized purity, innocence, and the passage of youth. Historically, flower girls were believed to bring luck and fertility to the couple, a sentiment that still resonates today.
