The natural beauty of the Lower Mainland (British Columbia) creates an unforgettable setting for any wedding. To compliment the breathtaking surroundings, many couples want to integrate locally produced flowers into their wedding décor and bouquets. Flowers are the silent storytellers at your wedding. From the brilliant centerpieces on the reception tables to the delicate blossoms tucked in the bride’s bouquet, they set the tone, evoke emotion, and leave a lasting visual impression. Imagine your VanDusen Botanical wedding: bathed in sunlight, lush greenery frames your ceremony with beautiful flowers from the Lower Mainland echo the garden’s beauty. These blooms not only complement the setting but add a touch of local charm.
However, understanding the world of bridal flowers may be challenging. This blog delves into several popular wedding flowers, showcasing kinds that flourish in the Lower Mainland (British Columbia) and providing recommendations for choosing blossoms that properly express the soul of your special day.
Classic Choices With Enduring Appeal
1. Roses
The ultimate emblem of love, have adorned wedding ceremonies for ages. Luckily, the Lower Mainland in Vancouver is home to various rose producers that provide more than just red roses. Roses come in a stunning array of hues, each with a distinct meaning – white for purity, red for passionate love, and pink for romance – and provide limitless options for personalization.
Here are some rose providers in Vancouver:
- Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants: they offer David Austin Roses, known for their fragrant and beautiful blooms. The provider has a Great Rose Pre-Order every fall or winter for the following spring with options for pick-up or mail order.
- Dykhof Gardens: this historic garden center offers a wide variety of roses, including climbing roses, floribunda roses, and hybrid tea roses.
- Maple Leaf Garden Centre: with locations in Lynn Valley and West Vancouver, Maple Leaf Garden Centre carries a large selection of roses, including many fragrant varieties.
Roses may be picked to express not just the love between two people, but the complete emotional tapestry of the wedding day, ranging from buttery yellows that elicit thoughts of fellowship and joy to deep purples that represent majesty and mystique. Furthermore, using locally produced roses in your bridal bouquet or centerpieces not only helps local businesses but also provides the freshest, most brilliant blossoms for your big day
2. Hydrangeas
These billowy beauties thrive in the cold, damp environment of the Lower Mainland. With their dense clusters of small flowers, these flowers create a sense of romanticism and plenty. Hydrangeas are available in a wide range of appealing colors, including delicate pastels, bright blues, and deep purples, making them ideal for creating a full and rich effect. Their extended bloom season, which extends from early summer to October, adds to their allure.
But hydrangeas are more than simply a beautiful pleasure; they also have an amazing capacity to change color! The pH of the soil influences the color, with more acidic soil generating bright blues and pinks and alkaline soil yielding gentler colors of green and purple. This feature allows gardeners to experiment with the colors of their blossoms, bringing a touch of individual magic to their landscapes.
3. Lilies
Representing purity, dedication, and rebirth, lilies are a favorite option for brides looking for elegance and symbolism in their bouquets. These trumpet-shaped flowers come in a variety of hues, each with its own symbolism, such as white for purity, which perfectly represents the innocence and new beginnings of a marriage. Stargazer lilies, with their petals reaching for the sky, symbolize steadfast loyalty, which every couple strives to build.
Calla lilies, with their smooth, beautiful lines, reflect timeless beauty, which will undoubtedly be felt throughout the wedding celebration. Beyond their significant implications, lilies have a long-lasting beauty, ensuring that your bouquet shines throughout the important day. Their exquisite aroma adds an extra degree of refinement, giving a genuinely unique encounter.
4. Tulips
Tulips are a symbol of perfect love and are an excellent choice for spring weddings in the Lower Mainland of Vancouver. While not native to the region, local flower farms grow a broad range of hues and styles, from conventional red to rare bi-colored kinds such as the beautiful Queen of Night tulip, which has practically black petals. Their long, graceful branches and bright flowers bring a touch of subtle whimsy to any bridal bouquet.
Tulips are also recognized for their low cost, making them an ideal choice for budget couples. Consider using locally grown foliage or wildflowers alongside your tulips to provide a really local touch. This results in a coherent and stunning appearance that highlights the natural beauty of the Lower Mainland.
Beyond The Classics: Exploring Unique Options
5. Peonies
Often connected with riches, happiness, and good fortune, make a sumptuous option for wedding flowers. Peonies, Vancouver’s springtime treasure, can be the perfect bloom for your wedding if you’re planning your special day between late April and early June. Their huge, ruffled flowers have a gentle, romantic vibe and come in white, pink, blush, and a limited range of reds. These attractive flowers are popular among brides for a reason. The quantity of petals in each bloom produces a sensation of fullness and richness, representing success in the upcoming marriage. However, it’s important to note that peonies have a short growing season specific to Vancouver’s climate.
Beyond their beauty and symbolism, peonies offer a touch of delightful fragrance, adding another layer of sensory pleasure to your wedding ceremony. However, their peak season is limited, usually lasting from late spring to early summer. So, if you have your heart set on peonies, plan your wedding around this period to assure the freshest and most bright blossoms for your big day.
6. Trillium
This exquisite wildflower endemic to British Columbia’s woodlands symbolizes rebirth and fresh beginnings. Its exquisite, three-petaled blossoms in white, pink, or deep red provide a touch of local character to bouquets or centerpieces. Beyond its visual value, the Trillium has a unique importance for British Columbia’s indigenous peoples. Its brief blossoming season, which frequently coincides with the entrance of spring, represents a period of regeneration and the beginning of fresh hunting and gathering cycles.
While trilliums aren’t widely available commercially due to their protected status, some Vancouver florists with experience in foraged and locally-sourced flowers may be able to incorporate them ethically. The best time to find trilliums in bloom is typically between March and May, aligning perfectly with spring weddings in Vancouver.
Some societies value the Trillium for its medical virtues, employing its roots and leaves in traditional treatments. The Trillium, with its delicate beauty and deep cultural roots, embodies the wonder of the natural world as well as British Columbia’s distinct heritage.
7. Ranunculus
Vancouver’s vibrant wedding scene embraces a variety of stunning flowers, and the ranunculus shouldn’t be overlooked. With its stacked petals, ranunculus resembles roses but offers a larger spectrum of brilliant hues, including sunny yellow, fiery orange, and fuchsia. These bright blossoms bring whimsy and elegance to bouquets and centerpieces, and their durability makes them a practical option. Ranunculus also comes in a variety of sizes, ranging from miniature and delicate to large and fluffy, making them suitable for a variety of flower arrangements.
Their variety extends to their flowering period, which is accessible throughout spring and early summer, offering a splash of color at a time when many other flowers are just starting to blossom. Ranunculus, with its papery-thin petals, has a special beauty and originality that distinguishes it from other popular blossoms.
8. Freesias
Signifying innocence and purity, freesias are delicate and aromatic flowers ideal for creating a romantic and ethereal atmosphere. They come in a variety of pastel tints and vivid yellows and bring a touch of airiness and sweetness to bridal bouquets. Their trumpet-shaped blossoms are available in single or double blooms, and their faint yet irresistible smell provides an air of refinement to any occasion. Freesias thrive in cooler climates, making them a great choice for Vancouver weddings, especially between March and June.
Because freesias represent new beginnings, they are also popular selections for graduations and housewarming parties. Freesias may be used in a wide range of bridal arrangements, from traditional and beautiful bouquets to whimsical and cascading centerpieces. They may also be used to make elegant boutonnieres and wreaths. Freesias have a rather lengthy vase life, which ensures that your wedding flowers remain fresh throughout the day.
Do not be frightened to experiment! Consult an experienced florist to discuss your concept and experiment with different combinations of flowers, foliage, and textures. No matter your chosen blooms, capturing their beauty on your wedding day is just as important. 48 Studio, a renowned wedding photography brand, knows the magic a perfectly framed floral arrangement can add to your photos. Their skilled photographers have a knack for capturing the delicate details and vibrant colors of your chosen flowers, ensuring they become a cherished part of your forever story.
After picking out the beautiful flowers for your wedding, next step, let’s draft up a perfect playlist to set the mood for your special day!
