Winter Bridal Bouquets: Flowers, Palettes and Tips

A winter wedding means snowy photos, cosy details and a bouquet that looks especially festive against a white landscape. But winter floristry has its own rules: frost, short days and a limited choice of seasonal flowers. Here is which flowers to choose for a winter bridal bouquet, which palettes are popular and how to protect flowers from the cold.

Bridal bouquets for a winter wedding are available in our bridal bouquets section, and for guests among our flowers for newlyweds.

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Winter wedding palettes

To build a colour scheme for the whole day, see wedding colour palettes.

Which flowers to choose in winter

• Roses and spray roses — available all year and durable through a long day.
• Ranunculus, anemones, hyacinths — at their peak in late winter.
• Callas, hippeastrum (amaryllis), orchids — striking winter elegance.
• Lisianthus — a soft, long-lasting alternative to peonies.
• Accents: cotton, eucalyptus, dusty miller, conifer, pine cones, hypericum and holly berries.

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Protecting flowers from frost

• Most cut flowers are damaged within minutes even at slightly below zero: petals darken and turn glassy.
• Transport the bouquet in a warm car, wrapped in paper or in a box.
• Take outdoor photos in short bursts and keep the bouquet warm in between.
• Never leave flowers in a cold car or on a frosty balcony.
• Cold-hardy elements — conifer, cotton, cones, berries — complement delicate flowers well.

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Winter details

• A velvet ribbon on the bouquet handle — warm to hold and lovely in photos.
• A groom's boutonniere to match: a sprig of conifer, cotton and a small rose; see wedding boutonnieres.
• Table arrangements of conifer, candles in glass, pine cones and white flowers.
• Warm bridal accessories: a cape, muff or gloves.

Winter weddings in different styles

A vintage celebration suits blush roses, cotton and lace — see vintage wedding flowers. A Christmas style loves burgundy roses, berries and gold; a Scandinavian one, white flowers, conifer and linen.

FAQ

Which flowers hold up best in winter?

Roses, spray roses, callas, lisianthus, chrysanthemums and accents such as conifer, cotton and berries.

Can we take photos with the bouquet in the frost?

Yes, but in short bursts of a few minutes; keep the bouquet warm between shots.

Are peonies available in winter?

Imported peonies are rare and expensive in winter; garden roses and ranunculus make great substitutes.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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