Seasonal Wedding Flower Availability in Northern Michigan: What Blooms When

Jan 2

Choosing seasonal wedding flowers is about more than what’s beautiful: it’s about working in harmony with nature.

Flowers grown in their natural season are fresher, longer-lasting, and full of character, having had the time and conditions to thrive exactly as intended. Aesthetically, they bring an authenticity you can feel - arrangements that reflect the time of year, the landscape around you, and the fleeting beauty of the moment. From an environmental standpoint, seasonal flowers reduce the need for long-distance shipping, energy-intensive greenhouses, and forced growing practices.

When you let the season lead, your wedding flowers don’t just decorate the day - they tell a story rooted in place, timing, and intention!

How to use this guide:

This guide dives into what’s typically blooming when on our flower farm, Moondance Flower Farm, which is located on Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City, Michigan. We are in growing zone 6b, which typically allows our growing season to run from mid-April through mid/ late October. While we open our farm for U-Pick and other small arrangements in April, our wedding floral design work begins in May, when we’ll have far more reliability in color palettes and floral variety to choose from.

This guide can show you options for seasonal flowers that will typical bloom in your wedding month. Of course, Mother Nature is ultimately in control here! Some seasons, flower varieties will bloom earlier or later than expected. So when working with farmer florists for your wedding, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s not always possible to have an exact flower type in an exact color ready for your wedding date the way you would if you worked with a floral shop that ships flowers from overseas. The upside: we can absolutely guarantee a style and color palette with one of over 125 varieties of flowers and foliage we grow without pesticides or other potentially harmful chemicals!

Speaking of growing over 125 varieties, this list won’t be completely comprehensive in listing every single variety we grow! However, we’ll definitely highlight the most loved varieties for wedding design work, with a couple of specialty varieties pretty unique to our farm too!

Seasonal Wedding Flowers — **May:** May is all about *soft, early blooms* that feel whimsical and fresh - though there can be some bright and bold options as well - like pink, yellow, & orange tulips or purple lilacs. Seasonal Northern Michigan flowers in May are perfect for softer palettes and garden-inspired looks.
Tulips
Anemones
Daffodils
Hyacinth
Lilacs
Bridal wreath spirea
Lilies of the valley
Holly
Cherry Plum
Poppies

**July:** This month starts to bring even more *big vibrant color* and texture. This is a great month for mixing bold focal flowers with airy accents for visual richness.

Lilies
Snapdragons
Feverfew
Roses
Bachelor’s Buttons
Annabelle Hydrangea
Daisies
Rudbeckia
Hollyhock
Sunflowers
Cosmos
Sweet peas
Zinnia
Crocosmia
Bupleurum

**August:** This month is excellent for *warm tones and long-lasting blooms* that hold up well in bouquets and installations. Our fields really start to fill up with incredible variety!

Dahlias
Ammi
Zinnia
Scabiosa
Celosia
Globe Thistle
Russian sage
Butterfly bush
Phlox
Snapdragons
Cosmos
Dill
Gladiolas
Marigolds
Gomphrena

September: Late summer heat starts waving goodbye, though most August varieties stay in bloom the whole month! We begin to embrace *rich fall palettes* alongside the brighter summer flowers.

Dahlias
Limelight Hydrangea
Zinnia
Cosmos
Mums
Ammi
Sea oats
Yarrow
Snapdragons
Japanese Anemone
Scabiosa
Hops
Blackberry
Marigolds
Gomphrena

October: We get to true fall territory, with the leaves beginning to change the second week of the month usually. While many colors are still available, most seasonal blooms focus on deep colors, foliage, and textures that feel cozy & seasonal.

Dahlias
Sunflowers
Japanese Anemones
Cosmos
Celosia
Snapdragons
Zinnia
Marigolds
Hops
Limelight hydrangea
Sea Oats
Mums

Making a Conscious Choice for Your Wedding

By choosing seasonal wedding flowers from Moondance Flower Farm, you're not just getting the freshest, most beautiful blooms - you’re also making a responsible and sustainable choice. Supporting local flower farms helps reduce waste, lower carbon footprints, and celebrate nature’s natural rhythms.

As you plan your special day, let nature guide your floral choices and embrace the beauty of what’s naturally in bloom. Not only will your flowers be stunning, but they’ll also carry the added charm of being sustainably and lovingly grown. Great for your wedding decor and Mother Nature - heck yes!

Looking for expert guidance on selecting the perfect seasonal flowers for your wedding? Contact us today to explore our locally grown floral options!