© Italian Style Weddings
ITALIAN WEDDING FLOWERS: WHICH BLOOMS ARE IN SEASON
SEASONAL FLOWERS FOR YOUR WEDDING IN ITALY
Flowers set the mood for your Italian wedding, from the scent of jasmine on a terrace to the colour of dahlias on a long harvest table. What blooms best depends on your date, and so does your budget. This guide walks through every wedding month from April to October, with the flowers in season, the colours that suit each month and tips for spending wisely.
Availability varies by region, year and the weather so the florist will confirm what looks its best for your date.
APRIL
Flowers in season: ranunculus (€€), tulips (€, early April), lilac (€), wisteria (€, ideal for arches), sweet peas (€€), anemones (€€, early April), lily of the valley (€€€) and early peonies (€€€, from late April).
Colour palette: blush, cream, lilac, coral and butter yellow.
Planner’s tip: Spring weather is changeable, so keep a covered back-up for your ceremony. Wisteria arches are glorious but last only a few weeks.
Colour palette: blush, cream, lilac, coral and butter yellow.
Planner’s tip: Spring weather is changeable, so keep a covered back-up for your ceremony. Wisteria arches are glorious but last only a few weeks.
Flowers in season: ranunculus (€€), tulips (€, early April), lilac (€), wisteria (€, ideal for arches), sweet peas (€€), anemones (€€, early April), lily of the valley (€€€) and early peonies (€€€, from late April).
Colour palette: blush, cream, lilac, coral and butter yellow.
Planner’s tip: Spring weather is changeable, so keep a covered back-up for your ceremony. Wisteria arches are glorious but last only a few weeks.
Colour palette: blush, cream, lilac, coral and butter yellow.
Planner’s tip: Spring weather is changeable, so keep a covered back-up for your ceremony. Wisteria arches are glorious but last only a few weeks.
MAY
Flowers in season: peonies (€€€, peak in May), garden roses (€€€, from mid-May), sweet peas (€€), delphinium (€€), foxglove (€), iris (€€), ranunculus (€€, until early May) and jasmine (€€).
Colour palette: blush, peony pink, lavender, cornflower blue and ivory.
Planner’s tip: May is peak peony season and when this flower looks at its best!
Colour palette: blush, peony pink, lavender, cornflower blue and ivory.
Planner’s tip: May is peak peony season and when this flower looks at its best!
JUNE
Flowers in season: garden roses (€€), peonies (€€€, early June), lavender (€), delphinium (€€), hydrangea (€€), sunflowers (€, late June), jasmine (€€) and olive branches (€, year-round).
Colour palette: lavender, blush, sage, lemon and ivory.
Planner’s tip: June brings long golden evenings and abundant roses. Olive add instant Italian character at a friendly price.
Colour palette: lavender, blush, sage, lemon and ivory.
Planner’s tip: June brings long golden evenings and abundant roses. Olive add instant Italian character at a friendly price.
JULY
Flowers in season: sunflowers (€), lavender (€, early July), dahlias (€€, late July), zinnias (€), hydrangea (€€), garden roses (€€), gypsophila (€) and lemon branches (€, year-round).
Colour palette: lemon, terracotta, apricot, sage and ivory.
Planner’s tip: Heat is a florist’s main challenge. Shaded ceremonies and hardy blooms such as zinnias, gypsophila and olive hold up best.
Colour palette: lemon, terracotta, apricot, sage and ivory.
Planner’s tip: Heat is a florist’s main challenge. Shaded ceremonies and hardy blooms such as zinnias, gypsophila and olive hold up best.
AUGUST
Flowers in season: dahlias (€€), sunflowers (€), zinnias (€), hydrangea (€€), scabiosa (€€), amaranthus (€), gladioli (€) and lisianthus (€€).
Colour palette: apricot, terracotta, mauve, burgundy and cream.
Planner’s tip: Many vendors slow down around mid-August. If your wedding is the third week of August and September, make sure you do not change your flowers choices a month an a half prior the wedding!
Colour palette: apricot, terracotta, mauve, burgundy and cream.
Planner’s tip: Many vendors slow down around mid-August. If your wedding is the third week of August and September, make sure you do not change your flowers choices a month an a half prior the wedding!
SEPTEMBER
Flowers in season: dahlias (€€, peak in September), cosmos (€), scabiosa (€€), chrysanthemums (€), amaranthus (€), pampas grass (€), grapevine and fig foliage (€) and a second flush of garden roses (€€€).
Colour palette: burgundy, burnt orange, ochre, dusty rose and olive.
Planner’s tip: September is harvest season. Warm weather, grapevines and dahlias make it one of the most photogenic months for a wedding!
Colour palette: burgundy, burnt orange, ochre, dusty rose and olive.
Planner’s tip: September is harvest season. Warm weather, grapevines and dahlias make it one of the most photogenic months for a wedding!
OCTOBER
Flowers in season: dahlias (€€, until the first frost), chrysanthemums (€), berries and rosehips (€), pampas grass (€), fig and vine foliage (€, early October), pomegranates (€), amaranthus (€, early October) and olive branches (€, year-round).
Colour palette: wine, rust, ochre, taupe and olive.
Planner’s tip: Foliage, grasses and berries add generous volume affordably. Choose one or two statement dahlias and let the harvest textures do the rest.
Colour palette: wine, rust, ochre, taupe and olive.
Planner’s tip: Foliage, grasses and berries add generous volume affordably. Choose one or two statement dahlias and let the harvest textures do the rest.
WHAT IF I WANT A COLOR WHICH IS NOT IN SEASON?
Seasonal flowers are a guide to what is freshest, most abundant and best value, not a strict rule. Italian florists can bring in almost any colour for any month, but sometimes that might mean slightly higher prices.
White, for example, is the easiest colour to have in any month, because there are lovely white blooms in every season. White roses are available all year, but specific flowers, if out-of-season, are usually imported. That is fine for a bouquet, but it affects both cost and how fresh the flowers look for bigger arrangements.
When a flower is out of season locally, florists import it in from growers elsewhere. This is common practice and nothing to worry about, but it usually means:
White, for example, is the easiest colour to have in any month, because there are lovely white blooms in every season. White roses are available all year, but specific flowers, if out-of-season, are usually imported. That is fine for a bouquet, but it affects both cost and how fresh the flowers look for bigger arrangements.
When a flower is out of season locally, florists import it in from growers elsewhere. This is common practice and nothing to worry about, but it usually means:
A higher price, because of sourcing and transport
Less choice of variety and shade, so your florist may not be able to match an exact colour
More careful handling, especially in July and August heat, when delicate blooms wilt faster
Choosing your month is the first step towards your floral vision. Follow us on Instagram at @italianstyleweddings for more inspiration, or get in touch to start planning your wedding in Italy.