The Ten Most Popular Wedding Flowers and What You Should Know Before Choosing Them

Calla lilies, also known as arum lilies are available all year round but experience wide fluctuations in price. Callas are seldom inexpensive as they are somewhat vulnerable to bruising during bulk shipping. This causes a lot of waste and increases the cost of the calla lilies that make it to the retailer in good shape. However, if they arrive in your florist's hands undamaged they are not likely to get bruised by normal handling.

Callas are sensitive to cold temperatures and can get frost damage easily. They tolerate heat very well and retain their moisture well even without a water source. This makes them ideal for use in bridal bouquets wherein they may be required to last out of water for some time. The miniature calla varieties make great boutonnieres because they are not terribly harmed by body heat or lack of water. Callas are one of the few flowers that hold up especially well in Summer weddings.

The tops of the calla lily's blooms don't take up much surface area so you can expect to use a lot of calla lilies in a round, all calla bouquet. Callas can fill more space when used as to expose the length of the bloom rather than just the top such as in the train of a cascading bouquet or in the length of an arm bouquet.

Casablanca Lilies are available year round. They have large, flat blooms which take up quite a bit of surface area and can really fill out a bouquet. Casablanca lilies are also vulnerable to bruising but not as vulnerable as callas. Some people delight in the Casablanca lily's strong fragrance but others are allergic to it.

Casablanca lilies are more resistant to cold temperatures than callas but more prone to wilt from high temperatures or from lack of water. Their large bloom size makes them great for decorating the wedding ceremony as they are easily seen from a distance and they hold up very well when they have a water source.

These lilies have a strong fragrance that some people associate with funerals as they are so commonly used in sympathy tributes. Also, a fair number of people who have allergies will be affected by their scent. However, some people adore their strong fragrance. You'll need to weigh those factors in when deciding whether or not to use Casablanca lilies.

Gardenias are available all year. These richly scented flowers are typically cut by the grower to have a stem less than an inch long. Florists can easily remedy this for use in your bouquets and corsages with the use of a bit of wire and tape but it makes the use of gardenias impractical in some types of centerpieces.

Gardenias don't come cheap, they can cost as much as $20 a bloom so keep that in mind when using them. They put off so much lush scent that just a few here and there can fill a room with fragrance.

Gardenias are wonderful when floated in shallow bowls. They can be used more sparsely that way and can last up to a week in good condition if the water is changed every day or so.

Gardenias will brown very easily from contact. Handle them with care and expect corsages and bouquets made with them to show some wear and tear by the end of the evening both from lack of water and from handling.

Hydrangeas are available all year. However, there are wide variations of price and quality for this flower. Hydrangeas are in season during the summer. While many varieties are available all year, many hydrangeas bought off-season are undersized and lower in quality for a much higher price tag.

They are very thirsty and prone to wilt easily from heat or lack of water. The white varieties of hydrangea show bruising more than other colors do.

These flowers are prone to wilt easily no matter which color you choose so they are best when arranged in water or wet foam. In a garden style hand tied bouquet, you will notice drooping within less than an hour of removing the hydrangeas from water.

Lilacs are in season in the spring though some may be available into the summer months. Off-season lilacs can rarely be counted on and their quality is usually inferior.

This fragrant flower requires a good water source and is sensitive to heat. Lilacs are very likely to show wilting in a bridal bouquet within an hour or so due to the bride's body heat even when arranged a water source.

Because they are grown outdoors and subject to the whims of weather the supply of lilacs is unpredictable so choose a different variety of flower as a backup in case they are not available on your wedding day.

Lily of the Valley is available in the month of May but only sporadically during the rest of the year. Even in season, lily of the valley can be very expensive per tiny stem, I've seen it sell for as much as $10 per stem!

These flowers are sensitive to heat, handling and dehydration. They will tend to wilt and discolor quickly when used in body flowers such as boutonnieres and corsages so they are best saved for use in other arrangements.

Lily of the valley often does not have very long stems making it impractical for some types of arrangement. It is extremely fragrant so a little goes a long way towards creating a wonderful, scented setting.

Orchids are available year round depending upon their variety though their prices are subject to great fluctuation.

Orchids are sensitive to cold and may bruise or drop blooms with rough handling during shipping. However, if the orchids reach the florist in great shape they can be tough as nails! Orchids are resistant to moisture loss and heat so they make great bouquet and body flowers.

Their resistance to heat and dehydration makes them perfect for summer weddings.

Roses are available year round. They are lightly fragrant and come in literally thousands of varieties. Roses are versatile and beautiful flowers.

Roses are a middle-of-the-road flower when it comes to durability being neither tough nor overly fragile.They are prone to open up in warm conditions. Sometimes this is desirable, such as when the roses are part of a garden style arrangement. Other times it is not, such as when they are used in boutonnieres.

There is one time of year that it would be advisable to steer clear of roses - Valentine's Day! This period generally extends from the end of January through the middle of February. The rose market is awash with substandard roses during this time most of which are horribly over-priced.

Stephanotis is available year round but its condition is always unpredictable. This fragrant blossom is very delicate and vulnerable to damage from heat, cold, and handling.

Unless provided with an adequate source of water, stephanotis blooms will wither in bouquets. Expect stephanotis blooms to show marked wilting and browning by the end of your wedding reception even under the best of conditions.

While stephanotis are a traditional wedding flower and can be both beautiful and richly scented their delicate nature should be considered carefully before using them. No matter how good a job your florist does, the stephanotis will wilt in corsages in boutonnieres within a few hours due to body heat and handling.

Tulips are available most of the year but are at their best quality and pricing from February through April. They can be one of the most economical choices when used in spring weddings.

Tulips are vulnerable to heat which tends to blow them open which can result in lost petals. Tulips also actually grow after they are cut. The combination of these phenomena can change the appearance of an arrangement in mere hours!

Tulips hold up pretty well out of water but do not make ideal body flowers due to their heat sensitivity.