Top Spring Wedding Flowers For 2026 In California (With Budget Tips)
Planning a spring wedding in California for 2026? One of the most exciting parts is choosing the flowers that will bring your big day to life.
Whether you imagine soft pastels, bold bursts of color, or elegant greenery, the right blooms can set the tone for your entire celebration. But floral design isn’t just about beauty – cost matters too.
Flowers can eat up a big chunk of your budget if you don’t plan wisely. The good news is that many of the most stunning spring wedding flowers are both gorgeous and budget‑friendly when you know what to choose and when to order.
From classic favorites to trendy blooms, there are plenty of options that look amazing without breaking the bank.
If you want stylish arrangements that fit your vision and your budget, this guide will help you pick the best flowers for your California spring wedding.
1. Peonies
Fluffy petals and sweet fragrance make peonies a dream flower for California spring weddings. These blooms come in shades of pink, white, coral, and even deep burgundy, giving you plenty of options to match your color scheme.
Brides love how romantic and full they look in bouquets and centerpieces. Peak peony season in California runs from April through early June, which aligns perfectly with spring wedding dates.
One challenge with peonies is their price tag, as they can be expensive compared to other flowers. However, you can save money by mixing them with less costly blooms like carnations or baby’s breath.
This creates volume without breaking your budget. Another smart tip is to use peonies only in your bridal bouquet and bridesmaid bouquets, then choose more affordable flowers for centerpieces.
California growers in the Central Valley produce beautiful peonies that cost less than imported varieties. Ask your florist about locally grown options to reduce expenses and support California farms.
Peonies also photograph beautifully, which matters when you are investing in a professional photographer. Their layers of petals catch light in stunning ways.
Keep in mind that peonies are delicate and need proper care before your wedding day. They should be kept cool and hydrated to stay fresh.
Talk to your florist about timing so your peonies arrive at peak bloom for maximum impact and beauty.
2. Ranunculus
Layers upon layers of paper-thin petals give ranunculus an elegant rose-like appearance that wedding planners adore. California actually grows most of the ranunculus sold in America, with farms concentrated in the Carlsbad area near San Diego.
This means you can get incredibly fresh flowers at better prices during spring season. Colors range from bright yellows and oranges to soft pastels and pure whites.
Budget-conscious couples appreciate ranunculus because they look expensive but cost significantly less than roses or peonies. A single stem has so many petals that it creates impressive volume in arrangements.
You can fill an entire centerpiece with fewer stems, which translates to real savings. Many florists recommend ranunculus as a cost-effective substitute for garden roses.
These blooms thrive in California’s spring climate and are available from February through May. Working with seasonal availability helps you negotiate better prices with your florist.
Ranunculus also mix beautifully with other spring flowers like anemones, tulips, and sweet peas. This versatility lets you create diverse arrangements that still look cohesive.
One practical advantage is their sturdy stems, which make them easier to work with for DIY brides. If you are considering creating your own bouquets or centerpieces, ranunculus are forgiving and hold up well.
They last several days in water, so you can prepare arrangements a day or two before your California wedding without worry about wilting or drooping.
3. Tulips
Clean lines and cheerful colors make tulips a fresh choice for modern California spring weddings. Unlike fussy flowers that need extensive arranging, tulips have a natural elegance that works in both formal and casual settings.
Spring is prime tulip season, with the best selection available from March through May. California couples love how tulips bring a European garden feel to their celebrations.
Affordability is a major advantage when choosing tulips for your wedding flowers. They cost a fraction of what you would pay for peonies or garden roses, yet they make a bold visual statement.
Buying tulips in bulk from wholesale markets or directly from California growers can save you even more money. Consider using single-color tulips for a sophisticated look, or mix multiple shades for a vibrant, playful arrangement.
French tulips, which have longer stems and larger blooms, are especially popular for weddings. They photograph beautifully and hold their shape well throughout the day.
Standard tulips are more budget-friendly and still create lovely arrangements. Both varieties continue growing after being cut, which gives them a unique, organic quality in vases and centerpieces.
One thing to remember is that tulips are thirsty flowers that need fresh water regularly. Your florist will know how to prepare them properly for your wedding day.
Tulips also pair wonderfully with spring greenery like eucalyptus and ferns, which are abundant in California. This combination creates texture and depth without requiring expensive filler flowers.
4. Anemones
Bold black centers surrounded by delicate petals create the striking appearance that makes anemones unforgettable.
These flowers add drama and contrast to wedding arrangements, especially popular in California’s trendy Los Angeles and San Francisco wedding scenes.
White anemones with dark centers are classic, but you can also find them in burgundy, pink, and purple shades. They bloom naturally during California’s spring months, making them both beautiful and budget-friendly.
Photographers love anemones because their distinctive centers create focal points in wedding photos. Even small bouquets look intentional and designed when anemones are included.
You do not need many stems to make an impact, which helps control costs. Mixing anemones with greenery and a few accent flowers creates sophisticated arrangements without requiring dozens of expensive blooms.
California flower markets carry locally grown anemones during spring, which means fresher flowers at lower prices. Ask your florist specifically about California-grown options rather than imported flowers.
Anemones also have a wildflower quality that fits perfectly with the relaxed elegance many couples want for California weddings. They work equally well in rustic barn settings and upscale hotel ballrooms.
These flowers are surprisingly hardy and can handle California’s varying spring temperatures. They maintain their appearance throughout long wedding days and evenings.
Anemones pair beautifully with ranunculus and garden roses for a romantic look, or with succulents and eucalyptus for a more modern California vibe.
Their versatility makes them a smart choice for couples who want unique arrangements that stand out from traditional wedding flowers.
5. Sweet Peas
Delicate ruffled blooms and heavenly fragrance have made sweet peas a California wedding favorite for generations. These charming flowers grow abundantly in California’s coastal regions during spring, especially in areas with cool mornings and mild afternoons.
Sweet peas come in nearly every color imaginable, from soft pastels to vibrant jewel tones. Their climbing vine nature gives them a romantic, garden-picked appearance that feels effortlessly beautiful.
Budget-wise, sweet peas are incredibly economical because they are plentiful during California’s spring season. Local farms often sell them at farmers markets for much less than traditional florists charge.
Some couples even grow their own sweet peas in the months leading up to their wedding. Their natural abundance means you can create lush, overflowing arrangements without spending a fortune on imported flowers.
One unique quality of sweet peas is their incredible scent, which adds a sensory element to your wedding. Guests will notice and remember the beautiful fragrance in your ceremony and reception spaces.
Sweet peas also photograph with a soft, romantic quality that looks stunning in wedding albums. California brides often use them in loose, organic bouquets that capture the state’s natural beauty.
The main consideration with sweet peas is their relatively short vase life compared to hardier flowers. They need to be kept cool and arranged close to your wedding day.
However, many couples feel their beauty and affordability make this extra planning worthwhile. Combining sweet peas with longer-lasting flowers like roses ensures your arrangements stay fresh throughout your California celebration.
6. Garden Roses
Romantic ruffled petals and incredible variety make garden roses the ultimate luxury flower for California spring weddings. Unlike standard roses, garden roses have many more petals that create a fuller, more dramatic appearance.
They come in stunning colors including blush pink, peach, cream, and even lavender. California’s climate allows for excellent rose growing, with peak season running through spring and early summer.
Garden roses do carry a higher price tag than many other wedding flowers, but smart planning can help manage costs. Use them strategically in your bridal bouquet and on the sweetheart table rather than throughout all your arrangements.
Pairing garden roses with less expensive flowers like spray roses, stock, or carnations creates luxurious-looking centerpieces at a fraction of the cost.
California brides often choose one or two statement arrangements with garden roses and use simpler flowers elsewhere.
Popular varieties like Patience, Juliet, and Keira roses are widely available from California growers during spring. These specific types photograph beautifully and have the soft, romantic look that appears in magazines and on social media.
Working with a florist who has relationships with local California farms can get you better prices on premium garden roses. Some farms even allow couples to visit and select their flowers directly.
Garden roses are also quite hardy and hold up well during long California wedding days. They can handle warm afternoon temperatures better than delicate flowers like sweet peas.
Their timeless beauty means your wedding photos will look elegant for years to come, making them a worthwhile investment for many couples.
7. Lilac
Cascading clusters of tiny blooms and nostalgic fragrance make lilac branches a dreamy addition to California spring weddings. These flowering shrubs bloom for a brief window in spring, typically April through May, creating urgency and exclusivity around their use.
Purple and white are the classic colors, though you can occasionally find pink varieties. Lilac brings a cottage garden romance that feels both vintage and fresh.
From a budget perspective, lilac branches offer incredible value because one branch contains hundreds of individual flowers. A few branches can fill large vases and create impressive installations for much less than you would spend on individual stem flowers.
Some California venues, particularly in Northern California wine country, have lilac bushes on their property that couples can incorporate into their decor. Always ask your venue about available flowering plants during your wedding season.
Lilac’s powerful fragrance is either a major benefit or a consideration, depending on your preferences. Many couples love how the scent creates an immersive experience for their guests.
The aroma is sweet and reminiscent of spring gardens, which enhances the ambiance of California outdoor weddings. However, if you or your guests are sensitive to strong scents, you might want to use lilac sparingly or in well-ventilated spaces.
These branches work beautifully in tall centerpieces and ceremony installations. They add height and drama without requiring expensive floral foam structures.
Lilac also dries beautifully, so you can preserve branches from your wedding as keepsakes. California couples planning spring 2026 weddings should definitely consider lilac if their dates align with the brief blooming season.
8. Freesia
Bright colors and sweet citrus fragrance make freesia a joyful choice for California spring weddings. These trumpet-shaped flowers grow on delicate stems with multiple blooms per stem, giving you excellent value.
Freesia comes in virtually every color, from pure white and soft yellow to hot pink and deep purple. California grows significant amounts of freesia, particularly in the southern coastal regions where the climate is ideal for these cheerful blooms.
Affordability is a major advantage with freesia because they are abundant during spring and relatively inexpensive. They work wonderfully as filler flowers that add color and fragrance without dominating your budget.
Many couples use freesia in bridesmaid bouquets and smaller arrangements while reserving pricier flowers for the bridal bouquet. Freesia also mixes beautifully with nearly any other spring flower, making them versatile for various design styles.
One practical benefit is that freesia has a good vase life when properly cared for. They can last over a week with fresh water and proper temperature control.
This makes them ideal for DIY brides who want to arrange flowers a day or two before their California wedding. Freesia’s slender stems create an airy, graceful quality in arrangements that feels light and springlike.
The fragrance of freesia is distinctive and pleasant, often described as a mix of honey and citrus. This adds another sensory dimension to your wedding without requiring perfume or scented candles.
California couples who want their wedding to feel fresh and vibrant often gravitate toward freesia. These flowers photograph well and bring happy energy to every arrangement they are part of, making them perfect for celebrating love.
