Countless wedding themes have come in and gone out of style over the past few years, but let’s face it—nothing beats the elegant appeal of a classic, timeless wedding. White linens, fine china, lush greenery, and calligraphed details all make for a traditional wedding theme that will never go out of style. Of course, if you want to go with a unique theme, that’s fine too!
But what about the flowers? Choosing the bridal bouquet, floral arrangements, and accent flowers to complement your wedding can be challenging, especially if you aren’t a “flower person.” Thankfully, you have a wide range of options to choose from that will amaze your wedding guests.
Read on to learn some of the best wedding flowers as well as a few wedding ideas to accent your elegant look.
Popular Wedding Flowers for the Timeless Bride
If you know you want beauty, but aren’t sure what flowers to go with, start with these popular wedding flowers.
Garden Roses
Nothing says a timeless wedding quite like garden roses. These flowers have that romantic, old-fashioned appeal that makes brides look like they’ve stepped out of a 1950s issue of Vogue. And since there are so many different varieties and colors of roses, you can find the flowers that match exactly what you’re looking for.
Old garden roses feature round, fluffy textures that add vibrance and beauty to any flower bouquet. As far as color goes, you can choose cream-colored garden roses to complement your bridal gown, or combine blush and fuchsia varieties for a pop of feminine color. We recommend pairing your garden roses with peonies to round out your bouquet, or adding delicate sweet peas for a more stand-out appearance.
Sweet Peas
Sweet peas are delicate flowers that can add a soft, ethereal look to your wedding bouquet. These flowers come in variegated colors, creating a unique bouquet that isn’t too “out there” for a traditional wedding.
We recommend pairing sweet peas with lush greenery elements throughout your wedding decor and bouquets. The combination of soft green accents with the delicate, translucent sweet pea flowers will add grace and timeless style to your wedding.
Spray Roses
Sometimes called “miniature roses,” spray roses offer a smaller, daintier alternative to traditional rose bouquets. These roses are perfect for centerpieces, bridesmaid bouquets, and other floral accents throughout your decor.
While they aren’t as attention-grabbing as garden roses, these flowers provide the romantic quality of a rose bouquet for the smaller arrangements in your wedding. Even better, their dainty petals are the perfect choice for your flower girls to toss down the aisle as they prepare the way for your grand entrance.
Peonies
Peonies are some of the most popular flowers for wedding bouquets—and for a good reason. These lush, fluffy blooms provide a delicate quality that perfectly accents stylish, romantic brides. Traditionally, peonies signified romance and elegance—both of which also describe the vibe of a classic wedding.
While peonies tend to be more expensive than other wedding flowers, their vibrance and timeless beauty make them worth the cost for many brides. However, if a bouquet of peonies simply isn’t in the budget, we recommend adding one or two to your wedding bouquet alongside daintier sweet peas and greenery.
Ranunculus
Ranunculus blooms are versatile wedding flowers that can bring beauty to any wedding bouquet. These springtime blooms feature large, delicate petals in romantic colors ranging from white to pastel pink and peach to fuchsia.
Ranunculus flowers are large enough to be stand-out pieces in a simple bouquet yet small enough to complement larger blooms, like roses and peonies. Because ranunculus blooms accent most wedding arrangements, they’re some of the most popular wedding flowers for brides.
Hydrangeas
Cloud-like hydrangeas are a timeless favorite when it comes to wedding bouquets. These large, lush blooms make the perfect stand-out addition to your bridal bouquet, centerpieces, and other wedding flower arrangements.
Fresh-cut hydrangeas only last two to three days, so we recommend having a wedding florist pick and deliver these blooms on your wedding day to ensure the lushest look. Alternatively, you can opt for antique hydrangeas, which feature large, jewel-toned blooms and tend to last longer than traditional varieties.
Lily of the Valley
Lilies of the valley are white, ethereal flowers with sturdy green stems. These dainty blooms add unassuming beauty to any simple wedding look. Plus, their strong floral fragrance is irreplaceable!
Numerous brides have opted to carry all-lily bouquets, which add pops of white and green that perfectly complement a simple ceremony and sophisticated gown. However, you can also consider pairing these dainty flowers with blue calla lilies, adding the “something blue” every timeless bride needs in her wedding look.
Dahlias
If you’re planning a late summer or fall wedding, dahlias are a must-have focal flower. These exquisite blooms come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, so you can find a dahlia to match just about any theme. Look out for large dinner plate dahlias in subtle shades of salmon and cream as well as smaller pom pon dahlias to provide pops of yellow and maroon.
Since dahlias are such impressive flowers, adding just one or two to a bouquet will make a big impact. Try mixing them with smaller accent flowers like feverfew and amaranth.
Carnations
If you think carnations are old and boring, think again! Although people used to think of these flowers as cheap alternatives to roses, modern carnation varieties have a place in any classic wedding arrangement. Their small, ruffled blooms pair well with larger accent flowers as well as greenery like eucalyptus and privet.
Anemones
One of the first flowers to bloom in the new year, anemones are a must-have for winter and early spring weddings. These flowers have a few large petals surrounding a dark center, creating a simple yet stately looking. White anemones are some of the best wedding flowers for elegant arrangements, but you can also find bright pink and purple flowers.
Lilacs
If you’re looking for wedding flowers that are as fragrant as they are beautiful, lilacs should have a spot at the table on your big day. These springtime flowers grow as large shrubs and send out clusters of hundreds of tiny flowers. The blooms range in color from deep purple to pale lilac, but all colors emit a floral and romantic fragrance.
Lilacs pair well with other shades of purple and white, and their tiny blooms mix well with singular flowers like roses and peonies. A single lilac stem on each table also works well if you’d like a classic springtime garden look.
Tulips
One of spring’s most long-awaited flowers, tulips are popular wedding flowers in the spring and late winter. These flowers come in a wide range of colors, and you can also find fancy types of tulips like parrot tulips and fringed tulips. A bouquet of mixed tulips is an elegant and classic option for bridal bouquets, but you can also mix these flowers with other spring blooms like ranunculus and sweet peas.
Hellebore
One of the first flowers to bloom in the new year, hellebore flowers are also known as Lenten roses. The simple flowers have one or more layers of five large petals and an interior featuring long stamens.
You can find hellebore flowers in various shades of pink and red as well as cream, deep purple, and light green. Mixing the flowers with greenery like eucalyptus and dainty flowers like sweet peas and anemones leads to subdued yet stunning wedding flowers.
Chrysanthemums
Although many people think of chrysanthemums as the flowers that decorate autumnal porches, these flowers make beautiful additions to weddings. You can find many different types of mums, from elegant spider mums with long petals to tiny, round pom pom mums. The larger blooms serve as wonderful focal wedding flowers and mix well with blooms like amaranth and asters.
Chrysanthemums are primarily a fall flower, meaning you can utilize deep maroon and burnt orange hues to make classical autumnal arrangements. You can also choose light peach and cream mums for a softer palette.
Orchids
Orchids are popular houseplants, but they’ve also made their way onto the wedding flower scene. They add a tropical touch to any arrangement and are a great choice for destination weddings. Since orchids are a bold flower, mix them with lots of greenery and subtle blooms to avoid a tacky look.
Calla Lilies
Although they’re not true lilies, these vase-shaped flowers are some of the best wedding flowers for elegant displays. They feature sleek and refined lines that suit contemporary and classic weddings alike. White blooms are the most popular option for weddings, but you can also incorporate pink, marron, and yellow blooms.
Tips for Styling a Timeless Wedding Celebration
Wedding flowers are just one of the many elements that make up a wedding theme. Here are a few other tips to style your celebration.
Choose a Classic Wedding Gown
Your wedding dress is the central wedding feature around which you should center your decor, flowers, and other accents. As such, if you’re going for a timeless, classic theme, you’ll want an elegant, ageless gown to match.
Wedding gowns can of course range from simple to luxurious, but they all have one common theme — timelessness. For your classic wedding, you’ll want a sleek, rich gown that will withstand the test of time and that you won’t look back on and cringe.
Style Your Flowers
Styling your flower arrangement with simple beauty in mind can add an air of timelessness to any bloom variety. Here are a few ideas to add elegance to your bouquet:
Opt for a Monochromatic Bouquet
Creating a monochromatic bridal bouquet featuring whites, creams, or other neutral colors is a surefire way to add simple elegance to your wedding day.
Use Fresh Flowers
Many weddings have an air of freshness and natural beauty. Using fresh flowers rather than artificial ones can help make your wedding bouquets and flower arrangements feel sophisticated and tasteful.
Consider Hand-Tied Bouquets
Tying your timeless wedding bouquet with natural twine or flowing ribbon can add a simple yet purposeful touch to your florals.
Add Pops of Blue
Classic weddings always feature something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. As such, adding pops of blue throughout your wedding flowers and decor can tie together your decorations with a timeless, sophisticated theme. We recommend placing your centerpieces in blue china vases or tying your bouquet features with a baby blue ribbon.
Opt for Classy Ceremony Elements
Many modern weddings include their own spins on wedding traditions and elements. However, if you’re going for a timeless theme, you’ll want to include all of the features that make up traditional wedding celebrations. Here are a few ideas.
- Flower girls in glamorous dresses tossing rose petals down the aisle
- Ring bearers in sleek tuxes bearing the wedding rings on elegant cushions
- Traditional wedding songs, like “Here Comes the Bride,” and other classical piano tunes
- Sleek invitations and programs featuring pristine calligraphy
How to Pick Flowers to Match Any Wedding Theme
Perhaps you’d like your wedding bouquet to complement another style, such as modern, rustic, beachy, or vintage. Thankfully, many wedding floral arrangements have a versatile appeal that makes them suitable for any style. You’ll simply need to know which wedding flowers to choose from our list.
Here are a few popular wedding themes with flower options to match.
Coast Wedding
Oceanside weddings are all the rage in 2023. If you’re planning a coastal ceremony, consider a bouquet with white roses for a tranquil, serene appearance.
Mountain Wedding
Nothing celebrates your love of nature better than getting married in an idyllic mountain setting. Arrange lush roses with dainty sweet peas and greenery garlands to bring natural beauty to your outdoor ceremony.
Rustic Wedding
Rustic ceremonies and timeless wedding bouquets go hand in hand. To bring an elegant appeal to your rustic ceremony, include larger blooms like peonies and ranunculus blooms with delicate flower choices like baby’s breath and sweet peas.
Modern Wedding
Some blooms simply never go out of style. Classic flower choices like roses and lilies of the valley are some of the top trending choices for wedding flowers in 2023. Pairing these larger blooms with fresh greenery, bold yellow and orange blossoms, and small succulents can create a modern twist on a classic flower arrangement.
Keep Your Day Alive
Even after your wedding day is over, you can still enjoy the flowers from your day! Pressing and drying your flowers help extend the flowers’ lives, and it’s easy to learn how to reuse your wedding flowers.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a flower arrangement is an excellent decision whether you’re designing an elegant, timeless wedding or incorporating simple elements into a more unique theme. If you’re still not sure which combination of flowers to place in your wedding bouquet, we have several irresistible bouquets and packages to choose from. Plus, when you order wedding flowers online, you can focus on all the other elements of your big day.
Shop All
