There are so many gorgeous flowers to use in wedding bouquets and centerpieces! The truth of the matter is, however, that most wedding floral arrangements make use of the most popular flowers such as roses, peonies, and hydrangeas. While the classic wedding flowers are undeniably beautiful and romantic, they are certainly not the only options. Get inspired by these beautiful, yet more unique, options for wedding flowers.

Sweet peas: Oh my, these flowers are charming! They are ruffly, sweetly scented, and have an old-fashioned appeal. Sweet peas come in lovely colors for bouquets such as pinks, purples, fuchsia, peach, and ivory. All of the various colors combine beautifully for single variety mixed color bouquets. A sweet pea bouquet would be just the thing with a soft lace bridal gown and romantic wedding jewelry for a garden ceremony. Martha Stewart has quite a few beautiful examples of sweet pea floral arrangements on her website for inspiration.

Astilbe: Astilbe is an interesting flower with a soft feathery appearance. Available in dusty soft shades of pink, ivory, lavender, and peach, astilbe is a marvelous addition to a hand-picked wildflower or garden bouquet. It gives a feathery softness without the flashy drama of real feathers. For a very different look, consider using masses of astilbe by itself to create dreamy soft bouquets and romantic centerpieces. It would look very pretty in simple Mason jar arrangements clustered with other jars filled with wildflowers in complementary colors.

Poppies: Given the popularity of round flowers like ranunculus and anemones, it is surprising that poppies are not more frequently used for centerpieces and bouquets. They come in fabulously vibrant hues, including bright red, orange, yellow, coral, and peach. Poppies are incredible for loosely arranged mixed floral centerpieces with other round blossoms like cabbage roses and ranunculus. They also work nicely on their own gathered casually in tall vases. For something really fun, you can “plant” poppies in several hues in a bed of wheatgrass. It will look like they are growing right on your dinner tables. Simply delightful!

Magnolias: These large fragrant flowers would be incredible for a Southern wedding. The oversized white blossoms are surrounded by shiny deep green leaves for a great contrast. A few magnolias tied with a beautiful silk ribbon would be a charming bouquet for a spring bride. Picture it carried by a bride wearing a classic bridal gown with a full layered organza skirt and timeless pearl wedding jewelry. Or choose a smallish blossom to wear in your hair with your veil. Magnolias can be used to create exquisite centerpieces as well. One idea is to float single large blooms in bowls of water, perhaps surrounded by floating votive candles. Or create heavenly floral arrangements with magnolias, hydrangeas, roses, and peonies. You can even use magnolia leaves to create garlands, swags, and wreaths to infuse your wedding celebration with more of that wonderful classic Southern charm.

There is really something to be said for incorporating some of the less widely used flower varieties into your wedding bouquets and centerpieces. They are every bit as beautiful as the more common wedding flowers, yet they will look more fresh and unique. Whether you feature an offbeat flower or use them to add character to the more traditional wedding blossoms, the effect is sure to be spectacular.

Bridget Mora loves beautiful wedding flowers, bridal gowns, and luxurious wedding stationery. She writes about all these things and more for Silverland Jewelry. Find unique jewelry for your wedding in Silverland Jewelry’s exclusive collections.