What Is the Most Popular Wedding Flower? Real Trends for 2025
Dec, 29 2025
When you think of a wedding bouquet, what’s the first flower that comes to mind? For most people, it’s the rose. And for good reason. Roses aren’t just pretty-they’re timeless, versatile, and emotionally charged. In 2025, roses still hold the top spot as the most popular wedding flower, making up nearly 40% of all bridal bouquets tracked by florists across North America, Europe, and Australia. But here’s the twist: it’s not just any rose. It’s the garden rose-full, ruffled, and fragrant-that’s stealing the show.
Why Garden Roses Dominate Wedding Bouquets
Garden roses, also called David Austin roses, aren’t the sleek, stiff roses you see at the grocery store. They’re looser, softer, and smell like old-fashioned gardens. Their petals curl naturally, giving bouquets a romantic, hand-tied look that photographers love. Brides don’t just pick them for looks-they pick them for memory. The scent lingers on dresses, in photos, and in the air during the first dance. In Melbourne, where spring weddings peak in October, garden roses bloom right on schedule. Florists report a 65% increase in garden rose orders over the last three years, with ivory, blush, and soft peach being the top three colors.
They’re also surprisingly durable. Unlike peonies that drop petals after two hours in heat, garden roses hold up for 8+ hours at outdoor receptions. That’s why they’re the go-to for beach weddings in Byron Bay and vineyard events in the Yarra Valley. One florist in Geelong told me she used 180 garden roses in a single bouquet last November-and not one petal fell off during the ceremony.
Other Top Wedding Flowers in 2025
While roses lead, they’re not alone. The top five wedding flowers right now are:
- Garden roses - 38% of all bouquets
- Peonies - 22% (especially popular for spring weddings)
- Ranunculus - 15% (for layered, colorful arrangements)
- Calls (carnations) - 11% (a budget-friendly favorite with modern designers)
- Hydrangeas - 8% (used for volume and texture)
Peonies used to be the #1 choice five years ago. But they’re finicky. They bloom for only a few weeks in late spring, cost up to $8 each, and wilt if the temperature hits 25°C. Many brides now choose garden roses as a reliable, fragrant alternative that looks just as lush.
Ranunculus are having a moment because they’re like layered roses but more delicate. They’re perfect for boho weddings, especially when paired with eucalyptus and wild grasses. In 2025, florists are seeing more brides ask for ranunculus in deep burgundy and dusty rose tones-colors that pop against neutral dresses and rustic venues.
What’s Falling Out of Favor
Not all flowers are winning right now. Calla lilies, once a staple for modern brides, are dropping in popularity. They’re elegant, yes-but they’re also cold. No scent. No warmth. And they look like they belong in a funeral arrangement to many guests. Same goes for overly structured orchid arrangements. They used to scream luxury. Now, they scream dated.
Even tulips, which were huge in the early 2020s, are fading. They’re cheap and cheerful, but they keep growing after you cut them. A bouquet that looks perfect at 2 p.m. might be three inches taller at 6 p.m. That’s a nightmare for photographers and florists alike.
Real Brides, Real Choices
I spoke to three brides from Melbourne who chose their flowers last year. One picked blush garden roses with trailing ivy for her autumn wedding at a converted barn. Another chose white ranunculus and cream dahlias for her beach ceremony-no greenery, just pure texture. The third went with peonies… but only because her mother had them at her own wedding. She added a single garden rose in the center to honor tradition and modernity at once.
What these brides all had in common? They didn’t pick flowers because they were trendy. They picked them because they felt right. The scent. The texture. The way the light hit the petals. That’s what matters more than any list.
How to Choose Your Wedding Flower
Don’t just copy the top trend. Ask yourself:
- What season is your wedding? Spring? Summer? Winter? Some flowers only bloom for weeks.
- What’s your venue like? A rustic shed? A glass conservatory? A mountain chapel? Match the flower’s vibe to the space.
- Do you care about scent? If yes, roses, gardenias, and freesias are winners. If no, hydrangeas or chrysanthemums work fine.
- What’s your budget? Roses and peonies cost more. Carnations and baby’s breath can look just as beautiful when arranged well.
- Will you keep the bouquet? If so, choose flowers that dry well-lavender, roses, and strawflowers hold up.
Most florists will show you 3-5 options based on your answers. Don’t feel pressured to pick the most expensive one. One bride I know spent $120 on her bouquet-mostly carnations and eucalyptus-and got 47 compliments. The bride next to her spent $800 on imported peonies and barely touched hers because it was too heavy.
Final Thought: It’s Not About the Flower. It’s About the Feeling.
The most popular wedding flower isn’t popular because it’s the fanciest. It’s popular because it makes people feel something. A rose doesn’t just sit in your hands-it carries memory. It reminds you of your grandmother’s garden. Of summer evenings. Of love that doesn’t need to be loud to be real.
So if you’re choosing your wedding flower, don’t ask what’s trending. Ask what makes your chest tighten when you see it. What makes you smile when you smell it. That’s the one you should carry down the aisle.