The Best Purple Flowers to Use in Your Wedding Bouquet

Your wedding dress might create that "wow" factor, but your bridal bouquet is the finishing touch that will pull your look all together. “A wedding bouquet is more than an accessory: It’s an expression of [a bride's] ethos, their personal style, and the way they want to carry themselves throughout their wedding day,” Sammy Go of Lambert Floral Studio says. Your handheld arrangement of blooms is also a way to reinforce your aesthetic and coordinate with your color palette. Plus, it’s one of the most photographed elements on your big day.

Luckily, there are so many different hues to consider when it comes to blooms you can use in your bouquet. And while white is always a timeless option, if you’re throwing a soirée with a vibrant color scheme, purple will complement your celebration and add a pop to your overall look. What's more, since this lavender hue is extremely versatile, depending on your selected shade, you can easily channel a particular vibe. “Purple can be soft, airy, and romantic,” Sara Conklin of Parsonage Floral Events notes. “Purple can be bold and moody. Purple can give you that happy spring vibe or that rich fall feel.”

Simply put, whether it’s lavender hydrangea for your garden nuptials in the summer or plum anemones to complement your autumnal bash at a vineyard, purple flowers are always a stunning choice. Thus, if you're thinking about using purple flowers for your bouquet, we asked the experts to share the most popular blooms for this type of arrangement. Read on to learn more.

Lilacs

Purple lilacs are fragrant blooms with a fluffy texture that will bring color and dimension to any bouquet. More specifically, depending on where you live, this plant is typically available for spring and early summer nuptials. According to Conklin, purple lilacs are the perfect blend between timeless and romantic and modern and sophisticated, so they will coordinate with any affair, from whimsical garden settings to contemporary warehouse nuptials. Go also explains that the long stems contribute to a wild, botanical composition. Since this sweet-smelling bud will wilt without water, Go further advises keeping them hydrated until you’re ready to walk down the aisle.

Garden Roses

Roses are one of the most popular types of flowers that often make an appearance in wedding bouquets, and one variety that’s a big hit with brides is garden roses. These sumptuous, voluminous blooms with a floral scent are available year-round, making them a considerable choice for any season. They also come in many purple shades, from periwinkle to violet, and can be combined with orchids and anthurium for a tropical look or zinnias and dahlias for a garden-fresh feel. If you’re thinking about adding this bud to your bouquet, Go encourages you to handle these flowers with the utmost care because their petals bruise easily.

Sweet Peas

According to Conklin and Go, sweet peas are one of the most versatile types of blooms for a wedding bouquet, especially in the color purple. “Sweet peas add great texture and movement to a bridal bouquet, and their stems often curve to add organic garden qualities to a bouquet,” Go says. The florist also adds that there are so many different varieties to consider, such as Royal Lavender (light purple with blush undertones), April in Paris (creamy petal with light purple edges), and Erewhon (mauve-pink and lavender-blue). Since this bud thrives in cooler temperatures, you can find them between October and April, making them the ideal choice for fall or winter nuptials. What's more, Conklin loves this kind of purple flower for a castle, mansion, or greenhouse venue since the bud elicits a soft, airy, romantic feel. Don't forget, however, to keep them in water to maximize their potential.

Hydrangeas

With their lush texture and round shape, purple hydrangeas have the ability to transform your bouquet. Although these fluffy buds are suitable for any type of function, they’re especially strong candidates for coastal, traditional, whimsical, or garden affairs. Another thing to keep in mind is that they’re at their peak in the summertime, so brides should consider this purple bloom for soirées set in June, July, or August. As for specific arrangements, we love seeing these flowers on display with roses, orchids, or peonies, but they’re also well-rounded enough to look stunning beside anything. Lastly, hydrangeas require cool conditions and lots of water to maintain their appearance, so if you’ll be holding your bouquet for hours, consider Dutch hydrangeas, which have large, hardy stems.

Clematis

Ranging from wine to lavender, purple clematis radiate romance. These flowers are a wonderful choice for most brides because they’re available during multiple seasons, from late spring to early fall, and they look beautiful at any outdoor locale. For the full effect, Conklin suggests arranging them in a way that trails down your bouquet, creating the illusion that they’re growing from a garden. If you want to integrate other options, the florist further notes that purple clematis pair well with garden roses, sweet peas, and ranunculus in any shade.

Tulips

In the color purple, tulips exude natural elegance and whimsy. Plus, with graceful stems and billowing petals, this type of bloom can create movement and add a dramatic flair to your bouquet. Most kinds of this bud are available any time of the year and are relatively low-maintenance, making them a suitable and effortless choice for many brides. And although this type of flower complements any outdoor space, Conklin suggests selecting them for modern art museum weddings and combining them with roses and orchids for an ethereal edge.

Scabiosa

These large blooms will easily become the star of the show when integrated into your wedding bouquet, especially a purple shade against neutral hues. “This bloom adds so much texture,” Conklin explains. “I think that’s why I love it so much. It is more whimsical.” Scabiosa typically grows in late spring and mid-summer, and it comes in multiple shades of purple, from light to dark. To work this type into your handheld arrangement, Conklin suggests carrying your bouquet with a retro gown.

Anemones

If your style is more moody or edgy, don’t overlook purple anemones. With a black center and a rich purple color, these flowers will definitely draw attention to your bouquet. “Anemones give me dark, castle, moody, fall, whimsical vibes,” Conklin shares. What's more, since these buds are so bold, all you need is a single bloom or a couple of them to enhance your bouquet. While they’re generally in season during any time of the year, the floral guru recommends ditching them if you’re going to be outside in the sun all day because anemones have weak stems.