Image Source: Sarah Culver
Planning a winter wedding in Canada comes with a unique set of design considerations. Choosing the right winter wedding flowers can help set the tone for your day while working with seasonal availability, temperature, and budget. This guide covers the best flowers for winter weddings, popular colour palettes, bouquet styles, and practical tips for selecting seasonal blooms that suit both your style and your budget.
What Are the Best Winter Wedding Flowers in Canada?
When planning winter wedding flowers, there are a few important factors to keep in mind, particularly when it comes to temperature and availability.
Outdoor Ceremonies
If you’re planning an outdoor ceremony, it’s important to choose hardy blooms that can tolerate cold temperatures. Delicate flowers like anemones don’t hold up well in the cold, while sturdier options such as carnations and mums are a safer choice. Even with cold-tolerant flowers, try to limit how long bouquets and arrangements are exposed to outdoor temperatures – no one wants wilted flowers in their photos!
Flower Availability
Another key consideration for winter weddings in Canada is flower availability. Local flower farms will be out of season, meaning most blooms will need to be imported or grown in greenhouses. At You Floral, we prioritize sourcing Canadian-grown flowers whenever possible. Eurosa Farms on Vancouver Island is a reliable local supplier of roses and alstroemeria, and we work with them often.
That said, many winter flowers are still imported from warmer regions such as South America. Even with global sourcing, some blooms simply aren’t practical in winter. Peonies, for example, are generally unavailable unless you’re willing to pay a significant premium. If you love the look of peonies, a high-quality faux option or a garden rose can offer a similar style at a more reasonable price point.
For a winter wedding, we put together some of our favorite blooms that are available during the winter months!
1. Roses
Image Source: Engaged Era – Pinterest
Roses are a reliable choice year-round, including winter. Their versatility and wide colour range make them easy to incorporate into almost any winter wedding design. Popular winter options include burgundy roses, ivory roses, or deep red roses, which pair well with seasonal greenery.
During the winter months, roses are typically grown in greenhouses in British Columbia or imported from South America, making them one of the most consistently available wedding flowers.
2. Garden Roses
If you love big bold blooms, garden roses may be the choice for you! They come in gorgeous jewel tones and mimic peonies, with their large, fluffy petals. They’re so stunning that they carry their own weight and you can create your bouquet solely out of garden roses, or you can mix them in with other blooms if you want more texture and variety in your bridal bouquet.
3. Anemones
Image Source: Paper Cliché Design – Pinterest
Anemones are a striking choice with their bold contrast of white petals and dark centres, making them an eye-catching addition to any winter wedding bouquet. They are a delicate bloom, so if your wedding day includes substantial time outdoors in cold temperatures, I would suggest against them – but if you’re mostly inside, then they are a great choice! They’re so beautiful that you don’t need a ton of them to carry the show, and they pair perfectly with winter greenery like cedar and eucalyptus.
4. Calla Lilies
Image Source: bao – Pinterest
Calla lilies seem to be a top choice for brides this year! Perhaps their popularity has to do with their sophisticated and elegant look, perfect for chic and stylish weddings. Their sleek, elegant shape and wide variety of colours – from white to deep purple – make them a versatile choice for winter bridal bouquets. One of our 2025 brides used the deep purple calla lilies in her wedding, if you want to see photos of how she incorporated them into her wedding, check out this blog about Alex & Gabe’s Intimate Backyard DIY Wedding.
6. Crispus (Hellebores)
Image Source: Sara Martín – Pinterest
Often referred to as the “winter rose,” hellebores are hardy (when processed correctly), early-blooming flowers that bring an ethereal beauty to winter weddings. They come in a variety of colors, including soft green and white, which makes them a popular choice for folks looking for winter wedding flower ideas in Canada. Hellebores can be tricky for wilting and flopping, with a short vase life so if you’re planning to use them in your winter wedding bouquet, you’ll want to make sure you process them using a special trick (which I show in the video) so you won’t have the wilting problem!
7. Evergreens and Foliage
Image Source: The Boreal Florist – Pinterest
Foliage plays a key role in winter wedding arrangements. Pine, cedar, and fir are durable options that hold up well in colder temperatures and work seamlessly in winter floral designs. Their deep green tones add structure and texture, pairing well with flowers such as roses and anemones and even dried flowers like pampas grass or bunny tail grass.
Trending Winter Wedding Flower Colours
When choosing colours for your winter wedding flowers, consider palettes that feel natural to the season while still adding warmth and depth. Below are some popular colour palettes and flower combinations often chosen for winter weddings in Canada.
1. Burgundy Winter Wedding Flowers
Image Source: Monarch Events – Pinterest
Rich and dramatic, burgundy winter wedding flowers exude warmth and elegance. To get this design, pair burgundy roses with other dark burgundy flowers like scabiosa and calla lilies, and add in pops of white by adding in white waxflower. To fit the winter vibe, you can use winter greens like eucalyptus, cedar, and pine. This color combination works well for winter wedding bouquets and centrepieces where you want a regal elegant feel to your arrangements.
2. Forest Inspired Winter Wedding Flowers
Image Source: Flora Nova Design – Pinterest
The deep, vibrant colour of winter greenery and berries beautifully contrasts against the soft whites and creamy tones in this bouquet, evoking a winter feel. Incorporate a variety of greenery such as eucalyptus, pine, cedar, and juniper and add in white florals like calla lilies, white lisianthus, or white roses. If you’re looking for Canadian bulk greenery, you can check our gorgeous greenery collection. This combination is perfect for couples who want a refined and nature-inspired winter wedding with no fuss type florals.
3. White and Cream Winter Wedding Flowers
Image Source: Danila Mednikov Photography – Pinterest
A classic and timeless winter wedding colour palette, white and cream winter wedding flowers have been very popular this year. Choose ivory roses, white orchids, or tulips and accent them with gold-painted pinecones, berries, or metallic ribbon if you’re wanting a New Year’s Eve type vibe. This palette is ideal for creating a glamorous winter wedding ambiance.
4. Soft Pastel and Greenery Flower Arrangements
Image Source: Jess Pacey – Pinterest
While bold, deep hues are popular with many brides looking for dramatic and regal vibes, soft pastel colours have been popular with those craving a more classy and romantic feel. Consider pairing blush pinks, cream, and light peach with muted greenery (e.g. seeded eucalyptus and silver dollar eucalyptus). This palette works beautifully for winter wedding bouquets and table arrangements that don’t want to lean too heavily into the Christmas vibe that bouquets with cedar and jewel tones evoke, but instead want something a bit more timeless.
Winter Wedding Bouquet Styles
Your winter wedding bouquet sets the tone for your wedding floral designs, and choosing the bouquet style that best suits your vibe can enhance your seasonal theme. Here are some popular winter wedding bouquet styles that brides have been creating this season:
1. Cascading Bouquets
Image Source: tinhyen1702 – Pinterest
A cascading bouquet adds drama and elegance to your winter wedding look. Think of a waterfall of flowers, from white roses to burgundy calla lilies and trailing greenery like ivy or italian ruscus. This style works particularly well for traditional or glamorous winter weddings.
2. Hand-Tied Bouquets
Image Source: Ephemeral Florals – Pinterest
This is the most popular design; a hand-tied bouquet is an elegant and simple style that’s perfect for more relaxed winter weddings. The flowers are tied together with ribbon or twine, creating a natural, organic look. Combine anemones, roses, and hypericum berries for a rustic yet romantic vibe.
3. Compact Bouquets
Image Source: Pinterest
We’ve been seeing a lot more compact bouquets this wedding season. For a more minimalist and modern approach, a compact bouquet focuses on a tight, cohesive arrangement of flowers. Choose a monochromatic colour scheme like white and cream or burgundy to create a sleek, refined look that works well with any winter wedding theme.
4. Winter Wildflower Bouquets
Image Source: Feverfew – Pinterest
While wildflowers technically aren’t in season in winter in Canada, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a wildflower inspired bouquet! If this is your vibe, choose ethereal and whimsical flowers such as lisianthus and ranunculus and add in some winter greenery like pine and trailing greenery like italian ruscus. This style works particularly well for more bohemian or nature-inspired winter weddings.
Affordable Winter Wedding Flowers: Budget Tips
Weddings can quickly become expensive, but there are several ways to save on winter wedding flowers without compromising on beauty. Here are some tips for securing affordable winter wedding flowers:
1. Choose In-Season Flowers
One of the easiest ways to reduce costs is to choose flowers that are in-season for winter. Winter wedding flowers in Canada like roses, alstromeria, ilex, and hellebores will be more readily available, and your florist will have access to them at lower prices. Flowers like protea and peonies have to be flown from far off destinations such as South Africa, so their prices sky rocket in winter.
2. Focus on Foliage
Instead of relying entirely on expensive blooms, use a variety of greenery like evergreens, eucalyptus, and ivy (if you live on Vancouver Island, you can probably even forage this!). Foliage can add texture and volume to your bouquets and centrepieces and helps create a full, intentional look at a lower cost.
- DIY Wedding Flowers in Canada
If you’re on a tight budget, consider DIY wedding flowers. Purchase your flowers wholesale or from a local market, and with some creativity, you can create beautiful bouquets, centrepieces, and decor yourself. There are many pre-designed wedding flower packages available online or from local florists that cater to DIY couples.
4. Opt for Smaller Arrangements
Larger arrangements can significantly increase your floral costs. Opt for smaller centrepieces or focus on a few statement pieces like a stunning winter wedding bouquet or floral arch while keeping other floral décor more minimal.
5. Consider Pre-Designed Wedding Flower Packages
Many florists offer pre-designed winter wedding flower packages, which often provide better value than custom orders. These packages typically include essential items like bouquets, boutonnieres, and centrepieces at a bundled price, saving both time and money
Winter Wedding Flower Care Tips
Ensuring your winter wedding flowers stay fresh throughout the event is essential. Here are some tips for keeping your flowers looking their best:
1. Keep Flowers Cool (but not too cool!)
Store your flowers in a cool space before the wedding. A cool room helps preserve the freshness of your blooms, especially in warmer venues. You don’t want your flowers to get frostbite though, so be cautious about leaving them in a car while you do get your makeup done.
2. Hydrate Properly
Make sure your flowers are properly hydrated before your big day. Changing out the water every day makes sure the flowers are drinking clean water, and helps maintain freshness and longevity, especially for delicate blooms.
3. Avoid Direct Heat
During the wedding, keep your flowers away from heaters or direct sunlight, as heat can cause wilting and deterioration.
Conclusion
Choosing winter wedding flowers in Canada means working within seasonal availability while making design choices that suit your style and budget. By selecting flowers that perform well in winter and pairing them with cohesive colour palettes and bouquet styles, you can create floral designs that feel polished and intentional. With the right approach, winter wedding flowers can be both impactful and budget-conscious.
Whether you’re planning a DIY wedding, selecting a re-designed wedding flower package from You Floral, or working with a local florist on a full-scale installation, the most important focus is creating floral designs that feel meaningful to you and suit the season.
