Episode 13: Your Wedding Color Scheme: How to Pick Flowers by the Season

Episode 13 Title Image with a picture of Lizzy holding a bouquet of flowers with the text Lizzy Goetz: Your Wedding Color Scheme How to Pick Flowers by the Season

Let’s talk color—wedding color, that is. If you’ve ever scrolled Pinterest, fallen in love with a bouquet, and then realized it might not bloom in your wedding season… we feel you. One of the most common questions we get as farmer-florists is: How do I pick flowers based on my wedding date?

The short answer: let the seasons guide you.

Whether you’re planning a spring elopement, a summer soirée, a moody fall celebration, or a cozy winter wedding, the secret to showstopping florals is choosing a palette that reflects what’s naturally in bloom.

Here’s how we help couples pick the right colors—and flowers—for each season.

Spring Wedding Flowers: Texture + Romance

We love spring. It’s our favorite season for florals because of the insane texture and fresh energy that fills the fields. Spring usually runs from early April through mid-June here in Maryland (weather and deer permitting 😅).

Spring Floral Highlights:

  • Pastels & Blue + White: Think ranunculus, larkspur, eucalyptus, snapdragons, peonies, agrostemma, aringium (our saving grace in the blue world), and ferns.
  • Bright & Bold (Brighton Wild): Tulips, calendula, bachelor buttons, early-season peonies—if you want color that pops, spring can bring it.
  • Jewel Tones: Surprisingly beautiful and underused in spring weddings. If you love depth and contrast, spring’s got the blooms—you just have to ask.

Tip: Spring is fleeting, and those peonies? We only have them for a few short weeks. If they’re a must-have, we recommend planning your date around their bloom time.

Summer Wedding Flowers: Vibrant & Lush

Summer brings the heat—and a bold color palette to match. From late June through August, our fields explode with sun-loving blooms that bring personality and structure to your floral design.

Summer Floral Highlights:

  • Blue + White: Hydrangeas, lisianthus, wax flower, allium, eucalyptus, and Veronica thrive in early summer.
  • Brights & Wildflowers: Zinnias, marigolds, celosia, dahlias, gerbers—if you say “wildflower wedding,” this is your moment.
  • Jewel Tones: Reds, magentas, deep purples. Great for bold couples looking to make a visual statement.
  • Pastels: Tricky but possible. Fewer blooms lean pastel in peak summer, but we can source or style around it.

Real wedding inspo: Kylie’s blue and white wedding is a forever favorite. She trusted us with her palette and gave us freedom to mix texture and tone—it’s one that couples still reference constantly.

Fall Wedding Flowers: Texture, Color & Meaning

Fall is pure magic. We love summer, but autumn brings a warmth and moodiness that’s unmatched. Plus, it bridges two floral worlds: late summer’s bounty and fall’s grounded, earthy tones.

Fall Floral Highlights:

  • Harvest Hues: Dahlias, celosia, eucalyptus, zinnias, dried grasses, and personal elements like lotus pods or heirloom textures.
  • Brighton Wild (Fall Edition): Dahlias meet zinnias, summer meets fall. Add in hearty greenery and jewel-tone flair.
  • Jewel Tones: Deep, rich, dramatic. Think magenta, plum, ruby, and burnt orange.
  • Pastels & Neutrals: Still doable—with creamy whites, pale pinks, mauves, and textural fillers like astilbe or Veronica.

Farm fact: Fall flowers are more resilient to chill. We can even blend in dried or foraged pieces for a totally custom look.

Winter Wedding Flowers: Unexpected Beauty

Winter is quieter in the fields, but still full of possibility. While bloom selection is more limited, this is where texture and creativity shine.

Winter Floral Highlights:

  • Greens & Berries: Eucalyptus (which blushes red in cool temps), ilex berries, seed pods, and crepe myrtle textures.
  • Whites & Neutrals: Stock, wax flower, dusty miller, pinecones, and even foraged foliage.
  • Dried Florals: Gorgeous when done intentionally. You either love them or you don’t—we’re here for both.
  • Farm + Wholesale Combo: For must-have blooms like orchids or gardenias, we can responsibly source through our licensed wholesalers to support your vision.

Tip: We’ll always tell you what’s realistic for your season. We love a good mood board, but Pinterest doesn’t know what’s blooming in Maryland in November 😉

Common Questions We Hear (and How We Answer)

What if I want peonies in the fall?

We get this a lot. Peonies are a short-season flower—usually only around in late May to early June. To have them in October? They’ll need to be shipped, and that comes with higher costs and risk (and sometimes they’re just not available). We can suggest dahlias or ranunculus as seasonal, affordable alternatives with a similar softness and drama.

What if I have no idea what I want?

That’s what we’re here for! We’ll ask about your favorite colors, textures, flower types (hydrangeas or celosia? feverfew or zinnias?), and build from there. The more you trust us, the better your florals turn out—promise.

Can I include dried flowers or houseplants?

Yes! We love dried accents for texture, sustainability, and uniqueness. Some couples even mix in air plants, potted herbs, or heirloom pieces like saved lotus pods or antique vases. If it feels personal and intentional, we’ll find a way to make it beautiful.

Let the Season Guide You

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: your flowers should be a reflection of your love and your season. Picking a color scheme that’s rooted in what’s naturally blooming creates a wedding experience that feels organic, effortless, and memorable.

So browse those Seasonal Galleries on our site, get inspired, and then come talk to us. We’re here to make sure your flowers fit your vision and the field.

You Might Also Like...

Episode 75: Growing Dreams Under Glass

Episode 75: Growing Dreams Under Glass

In Episode 75 of The Flower Files, we chat with Westerlay Orchids president Tuan Overgaag about building one of the largest orchid operations in the U.S. From his family’s Dutch greenhouse beginnings to producing over 4 million orchids a year in California, Tuan shares how sustainability, core values, and smart scaling fuel the business. Whether you’re growing a single Phalaenopsis on your windowsill or dreaming of a commercial greenhouse, this episode offers inspiration — and practical advice — for making your floral dreams a reality.

Episode 74: Confessions of Accidental Plant Killers

Episode 74: Confessions of Accidental Plant Killers

We’re professional growers — and yes, we’ve still killed our fair share of houseplants. In Episode 74 of The Flower Files, we share hilarious plant fails, the chaos of mixing plants and pets, and our go-to tips for keeping your leafy friends alive. Whether you’re a total beginner or a recovering plant killer, we’ve got ideas for easy plants to start with and advice to help you grow your confidence (and your collection).

Episode 73: Flower Farmers: It’s a Real Job

Episode 73: Flower Farmers: It’s a Real Job

If you think flower farming is just frolicking through fields in flowy dresses, think again. In Episode 73 of The Flower Files, we pull back the curtain on what our days really look like — 5:30 AM harvests, duct-taped pant legs to keep out ticks, planning wedding color palettes over a year in advance, and occasionally dodging cicada killers in the zinnia patch.

Liza, Lizzy and Amber of the Flower Files Podcast sitting on the front porch

About The Flower Files

Join our team of flower lovers while they take you along their journey as flower farmer florists pursuing business, family, strategy, mother nature, wedding installs, and everything inbetween including fieldwork, floral design, all the way to the day of event execution.

This is a weekly show that talks about all things flowers including the reality of flower farming, using locally grown flowers in wedding design, and other flower use with an environmentaly focused perspective. It includes a variety of guests who are fower lovers, users, sniffers, and ethusiasts that will talk on a range of topics… depending on where the seasont takes us!

You know Your Horoscope...

…but do you know your Flower Season? Take our fun interactive quiz to find out!

Shop Favorites