Wedding flowers: Peonies

Roses, tulips, and calla lilies are pretty common wedding flowers. For those who want something different, make peony one of your choices.

A flower that usually grows during spring/summer, peonies are characterized by their full, rounded blooms. They also go well with any other flower and make the bouquet look round and lush. I think peonies are kinda rare here in the Philippines, but if I had a choice, I'd want them in my bouquet along with roses.

Peonies symbolize romance, prosperity, and good marriage, making them a good flower choice for your wedding bouquet. They could also mean bashfulness and compassion.

For brides looking into a spring/summer wedding, here are wedding bouquet inspirations that feature peonies:

1st column, from top: Pink and white peonies from BridgeWaterGardens.com; Blue hydrangea and peonies from Reception-Wedding.com; Pink and White Rose and Peony Bridal Bouquet from ArenaFlowers.com; Metalina and amnesia roses with ivory peonies, black dill and crystal blush calla lilies from FlowerMagician.blogspot.com.


2nd column, from top: Round bouquet of pink peonies, peach calla lilies, orange roses, white roses and berries from Flower-Arrangement-Advisor.com; White Icelandic poppies, tree peonies and narcissus from RealSimple.com; Red peonies and deep pink cymbidium orchids from BlueSkyWeddings.com; Orchids and peonies from YourWeddingDayOnline.co.uk.

Wedding flowers: Tulips

Another staple in weddings is the tulip. Many brides opt for a bouquet of tulips because of its simple, delicate and elegant look.

Tulips come in different colors. And like the rose, each of its color also has a meaning. TeleFlora.com lists a few common tulip colors and their symbolism: Red tulips mean "perfect love," yellow tulips mean "cheerful thoughts," white tulips mean "forgiveness," and purple tulips mean "royalty."

Because they are basically grown in spring, one needs to know that tulips are sensitive to high temperatures. The Wedding Flower Guide site suggests that you should make sure it gets plenty of water by putting them in a vase or a wet foam prior to the ceremony. You wouldn't want photos of your wilted tulip bouquet, right?

Tulips look great as a bouquet when bunched up or tied together. But you could also combine them with other flowers to create a burst of color and varied texture. See the collection of tulip bouquets I found over the Internet and get inspired to create your own tulip bridal bouquet.

1st column, from top: Tulips, calla lilies, roses, and hydrangeas from BlueSkyWeddings.com; Purple tulips and anemone from EdelweissWedding.com; Tulips and white orchids at BuyFlower.com.sg.

2nd column, from top: Two dozen red tulips from TheBridesBouquet.com; Cream French tulips and stephanotis collar from RenaesBouquet.com; Spring Bridal Bouquet of tulips, roses, old fashioned stock, ranunculus, freesia, and hydrandias from BlvdFlorist.com.

Wedding flowers: Calla Lilies

Another type of flower used during weddings is the calla lily. It has a simple, trumpet like shape that's very elegant and soothing to the eyes. It is said that calla lilies symbolize beauty, that is maybe why a lot of brides opt for these for their wedding bouquets.

Calla lilies grow mostly during the spring-summer season. It doesn't wilt that easily, so even after long hours, your bouquet still looks fresh.

They come in a variety of colors like yellow, orange and pink, but for most weddings, white is usually used. Probably because the color also symbolizes purity of the bride. You can also mix calla lilies with other blooms, but about two dozens of these tied together are, in my opinion, the most classic look of all.

Here are some wedding bouquets I've found over the Net using calla lilies, all for your inspiration:
Clockwise, from top right: Pale pink mini calla lilies bouquet from BlueSkyWeddings.com; Gold and orange-hued calla lilies wedding bouquet from TheKnot.com; Bouquet of red and orange calla lilies, roses, geranium leaves and winter wheat from Brides.com; Bridal bouquet of white calla lilies, stars of Bethlehem and green ruscus from BriDesign.com.

Calla lily information source lifted from Flower-Arrangement-Advisor.com and WeddingClipArt.com.

Wedding flowers: Roses

One of the most common wedding flowers is the rose. My wedding bouquet had a bunch of pink roses mixed in it. Many brides opt for roses because of its romantic look and year-round seasonality. And because of that, it's somewhat inexpensive compared to other flowers that grow depending on the season.

Roses come in a lot of colors, too. Sometimes these colors also have meanings. The red rose means love and passion. Roses in white mean purity and innocence, while pink may stand for appreciation or admiration. Yellow roses may mean joy, friendship, or sometimes jealousy. Read here for more rose colors and their meanings.
Roses also come in different varieties. There are those that are really fragrant, and some don't have any smell at all. Depending on your preference, you can go for Hybrid Tea or Spray or Ecuadorian roses. You can also mix them with other flowers. My bouquet was composed of green carnations and pink roses.

Timeless, classic, romantic. It's no wonder that roses are a popular choice of brides and wedding florists.

1st row, from left: Ecuador roses from Flo-wers.com; Black Baccara and freedom roses and coral roses and calla lilies, both from TheKnot.com.

2nd row, from left: Rossini roses and calla lilies from TheKnot.com; Wired style bridal bouquet of roses and Lisianthus with small pearl accents from FlowersByKate.com; Green carnations and pink roses, blogger's own.