How to Save on Wedding Flowers with In-Season Blooms (Fall & Winter in New England)
Here's a secret florists wish more brides knew: the single easiest way to stretch your flower budget isn't cutting your guest list or skipping centerpieces. It's choosing flowers that are in season.
In-season flowers are more plentiful, often grown closer to home, and at their most beautiful. Out-of-season flowers have to be grown in greenhouses or flown in from the other side of the world, and you pay for that trip.
Here's how seasonal flowers save you money, and exactly what to choose for a fall or winter wedding in New England.
Why in-season flowers cost less
Supply and demand. When a flower is in season, there's plenty of it, so prices are lower.
Shorter trips. Seasonal blooms can come from local or regional farms instead of being shipped across oceans.
Less waste. Flowers at their natural peak are sturdier and last longer, so your florist orders fewer extras.
They look better. In-season flowers are fuller, brighter and more fragrant. You get more beauty per stem.
Want the full picture of what couples spend? Here's how much wedding flowers cost.
The flowers that cost more out of season
Some favorites are famously pricey outside their natural window:
Peonies in fall or winter often have to be imported, which can make them much more expensive than in their late-spring peak.
Dahlias are a late-summer and fall flower in New England. In winter they're hard to find.
Lily of the valley is a spring flower and is a splurge almost any other time of year.
Red roses can spike around Valentine's Day, so a mid-February wedding may pay more for them.
If you love a flower that's out of season, use just a few stems as a focal point and let seasonal blooms do the rest.
In-season flowers for a New England fall wedding
Fall is a gift for New England brides. Local flower farms are still harvesting in September and into October, before the first hard frost.
September and October
Dahlias: café au lait, burgundy, peach and blush, at their absolute best
Zinnias, cosmos and celosia: bright, textural and budget-friendly
Sunflowers: classic for an early fall or farm wedding
Chrysanthemums: spider mums and garden mums are having a moment
Hydrangeas: late-season "antique" hydrangeas turn gorgeous shades of green, burgundy and blush
Amaranthus: trailing burgundy or green tassels for movement
Late October and November
Hardy garden mums carry the season after frost
Garden roses in rust, terracotta and blush
Foliage and texture: oak leaves, dried grasses, seeded eucalyptus and rose hips
Fall budget tip: Lean on texture. Grasses, branches, foliage and seed pods are inexpensive and look stunning in fall arrangements.
See more in our guide to fall and winter wedding flowers.
In-season flowers for a New England winter wedding
New England winters are too cold for outdoor flower farms, so winter flowers come from greenhouses and warmer growing regions. That makes it even more important to choose the flowers that are naturally at their best this time of year.
December through February
Ranunculus and anemones: classic winter blooms with layered petals and dark centers
Hellebores: the "Christmas rose," in white, blush and plum
Amaryllis: big, dramatic blooms, perfect for holiday weddings
Tulips: one of the best values of winter and early spring
Paperwhites: delicate and fragrant
Local winter greens
Evergreens: white pine, cedar, fir and juniper
Winterberry: a native holly with bright red berries
Dusty miller and eucalyptus: silvery and frosty
Winter budget tip: Let greenery do the heavy lifting. Evergreen garlands, cedar-filled arrangements and candlelight look lush for far less than all-flower designs. Planning a holiday wedding? See our Christmas and New Year's Eve wedding flowers.
More ways to save on fall and winter wedding flowers
Tell your florist your budget and let them choose. Ask for "seasonal, florist's choice" in your color palette. They'll buy the best of what's available.
Pick a palette, not a flower list. Being flexible on exact varieties gives your florist room to save.
Repurpose ceremony flowers at the reception.
Use candles generously. Winter weddings get dark early, and candlelight adds warmth for less.
Go big on your bouquet, simpler on centerpieces. Your bouquet is in nearly every photo.
Avoid holiday markups where you can. Flowers can cost more around Christmas and Valentine's Day.
Bring this list to your consultation, along with our 15 questions to ask your wedding florist.
The one part of your flower budget that lasts
Seasonal flowers aren't just smarter for your budget. Many of them are beautiful to preserve, too. Hydrangeas, anemones, ranunculus, garden roses and eucalyptus press beautifully, and deep fall and winter colors make striking framed art. Thick blooms like large dahlias and amaryllis need a little extra care, so tell us what's in your bouquet early. Here's our guide to the best flowers for preservation.
At ADONIA Studios, we take your bouquet apart by hand, press each bloom and rebuild it into framed art for your home, so the flowers you chose for your season become the first heirloom of your marriage. Read about what bouquet preservation costs.
Frequently asked questions
Are in-season wedding flowers really cheaper?
Usually, yes. In-season flowers are more plentiful and often grown closer to home, so they tend to cost less and look better than out-of-season or imported blooms.
What wedding flowers are in season in New England in the fall?
Dahlias, zinnias, cosmos, celosia, sunflowers, chrysanthemums, late-season hydrangeas, amaranthus and garden roses, plus foliage, grasses and seed pods.
What wedding flowers are in season in winter?
Ranunculus, anemones, hellebores, amaryllis, tulips and paperwhites, along with evergreens, winterberry, dusty miller and eucalyptus.
Can I have peonies at a fall or winter wedding?
Often, yes, but they usually have to be imported and can cost much more. Using just a few as accents keeps your budget in check.
ADONIA Studios is a floral preservation studio in Hull, Massachusetts, turning wedding bouquets into pressed, framed floral art for brides across Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. See our work.
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