Wedding bouquets have long been an old tradition carried on into modern weddings. No matter what sort of wedding you have, a bouquet of flowers will complement your big day, even if you want to have a goth wedding with black flowers - you still gotta know what petals you want to carry!

Here is a comprehensive guide to identifying the type of flowers you can use for your bridal bouquet and reception decor. The flowers mentioned in this post are mostly tuned to a 4 season weather, so if you're based in tropical conditions, you may want to speak to your florist to see when and how they are able to import the flowers.

Note: Speak to your florist as early on in the wedding planning process as you can, so they have time to arrange and order the flowers of your choice.

GERBERA



This graphic flower is so flawless in its form that it almost doesn't look real. Grown in the hottest climates of Asia and Africa, the gerbera is a year-round gem that comes in a crayon-box range of colors -- nearly 350 intense shades are available, including bright orange, pink, red, yellow, and burgundy.

Season
year-round

Colors
white, yellow, orange, pale pink, dark pink, red

Scent
none

Meaning
needing protection, friendship

GLADIOLUS



Standing tall and proud, the gladiolus has a spiky stem with large florets that open in succession; miniature varieties with fewer florets are also available. Full stems can be used to add height to arrangements, while the individual florets can be made into boutonnieres. The flower's name is derived from the Latin word for sword, gladius, after the shape of its leaves.

Season
year-round, peak during summer

Colors
white, yellow, green, apricot, orange, pale pink, dark pink, red, lavender, purple

Scent
none

Meaning
generosity, strength of character, you pierce my heart

GLORIOSA LILY
(Rothschild Lily)



While technically not of the lily family (it grows on a climbing vine, not from a bulb), this flower's refluxed petals and stamens bear a resemblance to those of actual lilies. Generally pinkish red and tipped with yellow, the gloriosa adds a tropical punch to bouquets and arrangements.

Season
year-round

Colors
red with yellow edges

Scent
none

GRAPE HYACINTH
(Muscari)



Grape hyacinth gets its name from the shape of its flower and perhaps from its mild, sweet scent. Its cone-shape resembles a miniature bunch of grapes perched upside down on a slender green stem. Sometimes called muscari, the grape hyacinth is available in greenish white but is most often seen in a pretty purplish blue. This springtime bulb flower can be expensive, so it is best used as an accent or massed in small bunches.

Season
November-May

Colors
white-green, blue-purple

Scent
sweet, like grapes or candy

Meaning
usefulness

HYACINTH



In ancient mythology Hyacinthus was a figure in a tale of tragic love. Today, we know this stocky bulb flower as a fragrant signature of spring. The hyacinth's scent is strong, so only a few flowers are needed to make their presence known in centerpieces or arrangements.

Season
November-May

Colors
white, yellow, peach, pale pink, fuchsia, lavender, purple, blue

Scent
very sweet, stronger as florets open

Meaning
benevolence, play

HYDRANGEA



With its big, bushy head and intense colors, a stem or two of this moderately priced, scentless shrub flower helps fill out arrangements and bouquets. Hydrangea is most popular in shades of bubble-gum pink to sky blue.

Season
July-November

Colors
white, green, pink, burgundy, purple, blue

Scent
none

Meaning
devotion, remembrance, boastfulness

IRIS



This unusually shaped flower has been admired by many throughout history. Ancient Greeks associated it with their gods, and ancient Egyptians linked it to their pharaohs; to the medieval Europeans, it signified chivalry and served as a model for the French fleur-de-lis symbol. Painters like Monet and Van Gogh were captivated by its appearance too. Myth and majesty aside, the three most common varieties are the Dutch iris, the graceful Siberian iris, and the large "bearded" iris, all grown in numerous shades of white, yellow, and purple.

Season
year-round, peak in spring and early summer

Colors
white, yellow, purple

Scent
none to sweet depending on variety

Meaning
message, eloquence, my compliments, promise

LILY OF THE VALEY



Their fresh, perfumelike scent is unmistakable, and it's hard to believe such a delicious fragrance can come from such tiny flowers. With its bell-shaped florets dangling from a thin stem, the lily of the valley is sometimes called "the ladder to heaven." In Norse mythology, the flower is linked to Ostara, the goddess of springtime, and while most plentiful during this season, it remains available -- and expensive -- year-round. Though most people only know of the white lily of the valley, a very rare rosy pink variety exists too.

Season
available year-round in limited quantities, peak in spring

Colors
white, pale pink (rare)

Scent
very fragrant perfume

Meaning
return to happiness, delicacy

LISIANTHUS



This cupped flower somewhat resembles a rose or ranunculus that is missing a few petals. Lisianthus boasts multiple blossoms and buds on a single stem and has a slight peppery scent. Its wide range of colors make it an excellent choice as a secondary flower for bouquets and arrangements.

Season
year-round

Colors
white, cream, pale green, peach, pink, lavender, purple

Scent
none

Meaning
showiness

ORCHID



Sexy and exquisitely gorgeous, the orchid is a star at any wedding. Thousands of species are cultivated worldwide, which means there is an orchid for every type of bride. A full spray of orchids can be used in bouquets and arrangements, or a simple blossom can be plucked to make an exotic boutonniere.

The main types of orchids commonly used at weddings: cymbidium (usually green; popular, yet expensive; durable yet perishable in cold temperatures); dendrobium (sweetly scented; used in classic Hawaiian leis); oncidium (often referred to as "spray orchids"; they come on slender long branches); vandas (summer-blooming; comes in a rare, yet stunning bluish purple); and phalaenopsis (popular and widely used; usually comes in white and purple).

Season
year-round

Colors
white, yellow, green, apricot, orange, pale pink, dark pink, red, burgundy

Scent
some varieties are fragrant

Meaning
luxury, nobility, lust

ORNITHOGALUM
(Chincherinchee, Star of Bethlehem)



This flower is known particularly for its ability to open in the morning and close in the evening. Add it to your bouquet or let it fill in your centerpieces.

Season
year-round

Colors
white, ivory, yellow, orange

Scent
slight to none

Meaning
purity

PARROT TULIP
(also Rembrandt, Parakeet Tulip)



This showy bloom is noted for its ruffled, striped petals in intense colors. Some varieties feature fringe-tipped petals for added drama. Although beautiful, their full, heavy heads tend to sag and droop and may cause stems to curve, which make them somewhat unpredictable when used in arrangements.

Season
November-May

Colors
white/green, yellow. red, orange/green, pink/green

Scent
none

PEONY



The peony is showy in its lush and full-headed structure, sweet perfume, and bright colors. Despite these traits, the flower became a symbol of bashfulness. Cultivated in Asia for more than a thousand years and developed further by the French, the peony is a cherished wedding flower. A relative of the ranunculus and the anemone, the peony is available in two main types: the herbaceous and the tree peony (the latter flowers do not last as long when cut).

Season
spring, imported, scentless variety available in fall and winter

Colors
white, cream, peach, pink, burgundy

Scent
sweet and mild to very aromatic

Meaning
beauty, welcome, bashfulness

PHLOX



Perhaps phlox's popularity at weddings is due to its meaning: "unification of the souls." These dainty flowers originated in North America, where they are a backyard staple. With large clusters of small-petaled, disk-shaped blossoms atop branching stems, phlox provides a lush backdrop for featured flowers in a bouquet or arrangement.

Season
June-November

Colors
white, orange, pink, red, purple

Scent
sweet and mild to very aromatic

Meaning
our souls are united, proposal of love, sweet dreams, unanimity

QUEEN ANNE'S LACE
(Wild Carrot, Bird's Nest, Bishop's Lace)



Known for the flower head's similar appearance to lace, this wildflower symbolizes "protection."

Season
spring-early fall

Colors
white, green

Scent
grassy scent

Meaning
haven, protection

RANUNCULUS
(Persian Buttercup)



Looking for a cost-effective alternative to the rose and the peony? Try the lush, multipetaled ranunculus, a relative of the buttercup. This flower was first seen by Westerners in the Far East around the thirteenth century. Available in practically every color, the ranunculus features several blossoms and a stem with fernlike foliage.

Season
November-April

Colors
white, yellow, apricot, orange, pale pink, dark pink

Scent
mild, sweet

Meaning
you are rich in attractions, I am dazzled by your charms

ROSE



Is it any wonder that roses rank as the most beloved of wedding flowers? Long considered a symbol of beauty and love, the rose has captivated commoners and royalty alike. Legend has it that the Roman Emperor Nero required rose petals to be strewn at his feet and wore wreaths of roses at his many weddings; and that Cleopatra seduced both Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony with the flower.

Their accessibility means that roses can be surprisingly affordable. However, the price of roses goes up around key flower-giving holidays such as Valentine's Day and Mother's Day -- so if your wedding date is near one of these holidays, you may want to rethink your flower choice. Three main types of roses are likely candidates for your wedding flowers: hybrid tea roses, spray roses, and garden roses.

Season
year-round

Colors
white, cream, yellow, apricot, orange, pale pink, dark pink, red, burgundy, lavender

Scent
none to intense, depending on the variety

Meaning
several meanings depending on color, general, love, beauty, grace, joy, unity

SCABIOSA
(Pin Cushion)



It's not hard to figure out how the Scabiosa, with its tufted head atop a long, wiry stem, got its other name, pin cushion. This enchanting flower is right at home tucked in between showier blooms.

Season
spring-early fall

Colors
white, burgundy, lavender

Scent
none

Meaning
sensible woman

STEPHANOTIS



The name Stephanotis means "marital happiness," making the flower an obvious choice for weddings. The star-shaped, waxy florets grow on a flowering vine; each must be individually wired or placed onto a special holder before it can be used in a bouquet or boutonniere.

Season
year-round

Colors
white

Scent
slight to none

Meaning
will you accompany me?

STOCK



Rising from a tall stem, stock has dense clusters of small single- and double- blossomed flowers. Stock first became known outside of the Mediterranean region toward the end of the Middle Ages. Stock is valued for its use as a complementary flower and its fragrant, spicy clovelike scent.

Season
year-round, peak in spring and summer

Colors
white, yellow, apricot, pale pink, dark pink, purple

Scent
strong, spicy clove scent

Meaning
promptness, lasting beauty

SUNFLOWER



The head of the sunflower follows the sun as it moves across the sky, a trait that undoubtedly inspired its symbolism -- "adoration" and "loyalty." Bold and flashy, with raylike petals and disk-shaped dark centers, the sunflower is most at home at informal weddings. It comes in warm colors, from golden yellow to deep reddish brown.

Season
May-November, peak in summer

Colors
pale lemon, deep gold, orange, russet, brown

Scent
none

Meaning
loyalty, adoration, pride

SWEET PEA



The sweet pea was first brought to England from Sicily in 1699, and the English have had a love affair with this delicate flower ever since. Its sweet scent and rugged blossoms grown on a spindly green vine make this flower an old-fashioned favorite.

Season
November-June

Colors
white, cream, apricot, pale pink, dark pink, red, lavender, purple

Scent
intense, sweet fragrance

Meaning
everlasting pleasures

TUBEROSE



A native of Mexico, the tuberose has a very strong, heady scent, so small quantities of this flower go a long way. Its white, trumpet-shaped florets grow in clusters and open gradually along a light green stalk; the closed buds have a pink or green tinge. Most commonly used as a secondary flower, the tuberose lends bouquets a soft color and an intoxicating fragrance.

Season
summer-fall

Colors
ivory, pink

Scent
very strong perfume

Meaning
dangerous love, voluptuousness

TWEEDIA



Best used as an accent flower, these cheery, star-shaped blossoms grow on climbing branches. While available in white and pink, tweedia is most admired in its unusual soft blue hue. A delicate tweedia boutonniere provides a little "something blue" for the groom's lapel.

Season
April-November

Colors
blue

Scent
none

VERONICA



Shaped like a plume, the tapered spike of veronica pokes out from the tops of arrangements and bouquets for a wild, garden-inspired look. Its white, pink, or blue color meshes with its greenery to provide a lush complement to more prominent flowers.

Season
year-round

Colors
white, pink, purple, magenta, burgundy

Scent
none

Meaning
fidelity

ZINNIA



Brides seeking a spectrum of unforgettable color and a causal garden style will appreciate this perky, daisylike flower. The zinnia symbolizes "thoughts of friends," which makes it an appropriate element in bridesmaid bouquets or reception centerpieces.

Season
June-September

Colors
yellow, green, orange, pink, red

Scent
none

Meaning
thoughts of friends