White Wedding Flowers: The Best Varieties and How to Use Them

All-white wedding flowers are an elegant, timeless choice, and a floral style that has lasted for centuries. Queen Victoria carried white flowers, and so did Meghan Markle more than 150 years later.

At J. Morris Flowers, white palettes are still one of the most requested looks for weddings across Northern Virginia and Washington, DC. Getting flowers that read as truly white, rather than cream or ivory, comes down to choosing the right varieties. Use this guide to pick your white wedding flowers and plan how to use them.

 

15 White Wedding Flowers We Love

Cooler, truly white flowers

• Lisianthus: ruffled petals that look like a softer rose and last well out of water.
• Stock: fragrant, full spikes that add height to bouquets and centerpieces.
• Tulips: clean and modern, best in late winter and spring.
• Phalaenopsis and dendrobium orchids: pure white and dramatic for ceremony and reception décor.
• Anemones: white petals with a dark center for a bit of contrast.
• Sweet pea: delicate, fragrant and pure white.
• Tibet roses: a standard rose with a predictably cool white shade.
• Princess Miyuki garden roses: a garden rose that stays cool white rather than cream.

White varieties of favorites

• Peony: the classic spring statement bloom.
• Dahlia: big, textured blooms for late summer and fall weddings.
• Ranunculus: layered petals in a smaller, rounder shape.
• Spray roses: several small blooms per stem, ideal for boutonnieres and bridesmaid bouquets.
• Hydrangea: full and cloud-like, great for centerpieces and arches.
• Calla lily: sleek and modern for minimalist bouquets.
• Gardenia: fragrant, with a creamy tone that pairs well with ivory palettes.

Flower availability changes by season, so ask your florist which white varieties are best for your wedding date.

The distinction between white and ivory flowers

We can achieve pure white flowers for your wedding but we will need to be very selective.

Flowers like Lisianthus, Stock, Tulips, Orchids and Anemones are “go to” flowers for us that have a cooler shade. They are wonderful varieties to work with, especially in your bouquets. 

The team at J. Morris Flowers has worked very closely with our wholesalers to choose varieties of Roses and Spray Roses that are more predictably white.

Two of our favorites are a standard rose called Tibet and a garden rose called Princess Miyuki, which both have a lovely cooler shade.

In addition, Sweet Pea is pure white and Peony, Dahlia and Ranunculus have white varieties.

Next we will talk about your design.

We can use one single variety of flower like white Garden Roses or Peonies if you like the idea of that rounder, tighter bouquet. (I think of this as a more glamorous or luxurious design style.) Or, we can use a selection of white floral varieties and create the equally popular, looser, less structured bouquet. (This design style achieves more contrast and texture as we use florals in different shapes and sizes and greens that create space between the flowers.)

Both themes will continue as we plan for the florals and decor for the rest of your wedding.

We designed a beautiful wedding at Lansdowne Resort and Spa that leaned heavily on white orchids

In this case, the bride carried a beautiful bouquet that featured Garden Roses and Peony with ample greens.

Quite a few wedding couples come to us looking for a combination of white and ivory flowers. This duo is very classic looking but also timeless and romantic.

Cream or ivory flowers work well for the bride who is wearing a warmer white or ivory dress or the groom who has selected an off-white shirt.

Additionally, when we use white and ivory flowers together, we achieve a little more color contrast making each individual bloom a little more noticeable. 

Many standard Roses, Garden Roses and Spray Roses have a beautiful ivory hue. 

There are lots of traditional flowers that tend to look creamy white or ivory, flowers we would lean away from for your all white bouquet.

Greenery and white flowers

Greenery adds a coolness to a white only bouquet that helps to achieve that “truly white” look. Silver dollar Eucalyptus with it’s hint of blue and gray is a nice cool temperature. Dusty Miller, with it’s soft silvery leaf, has the same impact. Ruscus, Lemon Leaf (Salal) and Nandina are a shown in many of the photos in this blog and are perfect for breaking up the spaces between white flowers.

If you are really hoping for truly white flowers, make sure you stress that with your floral designer. It may mean that you will want to choose some of the flowers mentioned here and ask for advice about some of the Roses that are available during your wedding season.

Planning an All-White Wedding?

Tell us you want truly white flowers at your consultation, and we’ll pick varieties and greenery that keep your palette crisp. Book a wedding consultation, or read our guide to using greenery in your arrangements.