Three ways to use peonies in your wedding
Peonies are a timeless choice for wedding flowers and bring luxury to any setting. Their lush blooms in shades of pink, white, and even red provide a romantic and sophisticated touch to any wedding décor. Not only are they beautiful to look at, but peonies also have a delightful scent that can add to the ambiance of your special day.
If they’re stored correctly, they won't wilt or droop easily, ensuring that your wedding flowers will stay looking beautiful throughout your entire day. Whether used in your hair, bouquets, or as part of floral installations, peonies are the perfect way to add a touch of elegance and class to your wedding celebration.
In your bouquet
It’s traditional for the bride to carry a bouquet of beautiful flowers as she walks down the aisle. The tradition of carrying a bouquet comes from the Ancient Romans, who wore flower garlands to signify new beginnings and fertility. In the Middle Ages, the tradition took on a more practical approach, with brides carrying herbs as well as flowers in their arrangements to ward off sickness and bad luck.
Peonies are the perfect choice for a wedding bouquet. They’re an elegant and classic choice, with soft, full blooms that bring a romantic quality to any arrangement. They’re also meant to bring good luck – the ideal start to any marriage.
In your hairpieces
How about adding these beautiful blooms to your hairpieces for a pop of colour?
These large flowers work well as a statement flower in updos, half-up, and half-down styles, and it’s a lovely way to match your bridesmaids’ aesthetic with your bridal bouquet.
Peony season isn’t long, beginning in late April and lasting until July, (sometimes a little longer for imported blooms, so make sure you factor this into your plans. Alternatively, autumn and winter brides could collect peonies in the summer months, dry the petals, and have them set into resin hairclips. This way, your floral accessories will look beautiful and last far longer than just your wedding day – and they’ll be a wonderful keepsake for your bridal party.
On your cake
Photo by Samantha Gades on Unsplash
Why not use these stunning flowers to accessorise your wedding cake? ‘Naked’ cakes, where there’s minimal exterior frosting, have been in fashion in recent years, replacing the elaborate sugarwork sculptures of previous years. Whilst the purpose of this style of cake is to be more minimalistic, adding ornamental flowers gives a fabulous visual impact.
Many couples choose a minimal cake in order to reduce the cost of this wedding necessity, but adding flowers is a way to make the cake look pretty without having to spend too much money.
Getting the best peonies
As we’ve mentioned, peonies aren’t in season for very long, so if you have your heart set on these blooms, plan your wedding date accordingly. Depending on where you get them from, you may find that they arrive in bud to reduce the risk of damage. Your florist should plan accordingly to allow them to open at just the right time, so don’t be alarmed. On the day, keep them out of the heat and in water for as long as possible to produce the best effect.
Writer Melissa Rees If you are planning your 2024/2025 wedding please get in touch asap!
01273 951745
E:chirpeeflowers@gmail.com