By Tim McVey, Director of Floral Design — Perennial Gardens Bedford
Most wedding florists will say yes to whatever you ask for. October peonies? Yes. February tulips at peak density? Yes. Dahlias in March? Yes. The industry's default posture is "we can source it," and most florists will quote the order, take the deposit, and deliver something that arrives technically correct but aesthetically disappointing. This guide covers the honest version of what happens when you order out-of-season flowers for your wedding — the supply chain, the quality compromise, the cost multiplication, and the alternatives that serve you better. Our floral design workshop practices seasonal honesty as a brand pillar, and this article walks through the reasoning other florists usually skip.
The Supply Chain Reality
When you order peonies in October, here's what actually happens.
Sourcing. Regional peony growers in the Hudson Valley, Long Island, and Connecticut stopped cutting in late June. Your October peonies come from southern hemisphere cut-flower operations — typically Chile, New Zealand, or Australia, where the growing season is six months offset from ours.
Harvest. The peonies are cut extremely tight-bud to survive the journey. Peonies don't transport well at bloom; they have to be shipped near-closed and forced open on arrival.
Cold chain logistics. From southern-hemisphere farm to air-freight hub to international transport to U.S. distribution to wholesaler to your florist. Each step adds time in refrigeration, handling, and potential temperature variation. Total transit: often 7–10 days before the florist receives them.
Forced opening. At the florist level, tight-bud peonies are forced to open using warmer temperatures and sometimes ethylene gas. The opening is uneven, sometimes partial, always rushed compared to field-grown peak-season peonies that open naturally in a cool room.
Performance in arrangement. Forced-opened, long-traveled peonies last 3–5 days in arrangement. Regional June peonies cut at peak last 7–10 days.
Cost. 3–4x the price of regional June peonies, sometimes more during tight-supply windows.
The Society of American Florists publishes industry guidance on seasonal sourcing that tracks this reality — regional seasonal material consistently outperforms imported out-of-season material on quality, vase life, and aesthetic result.
What "Out-of-Season" Means for Each Flower
Different flowers have different seasonality profiles. Some are strictly seasonal (peonies, regional tulips); others have long commercial supply chains that mean they're effectively available year-round (commercial roses, lilies). The distinction matters.
Strictly seasonal flowers (regional availability narrow)
- Peonies: Late May through mid-June regionally. Out-of-season import quality is poor.
- Dahlias: July through October regionally. Out-of-season import quality is poor.
- Garden roses: May through October regionally. Greenhouse-grown off-season (Ecuador, etc.) varies; some varieties hold up, many don't.
- Lilac: Late April through mid-May. Effectively not available off-season.
- Sweet peas: May through June regionally. Off-season greenhouse versions are thin and short-lived.
- Peony (specifically): See our peony weddings article for the full breakdown.
Long-supply-chain flowers (year-round availability with varying quality)
- Commercial roses (standard varieties, not David Austin or specialty): Greenhouse-grown worldwide, consistent year-round. Quality varies by source, not season.
- Hydrangea: Greenhouse and field, both domestic and international. Available most of the year; summer regional is strongest.
- Chrysanthemums: Nearly all commercial chrysanthemums are greenhouse-grown. Year-round availability, consistent quality.
- Orchids: Greenhouse-grown, usually Thailand or Florida. Year-round.
- Lilies: Year-round supply, varies by variety.
Always-available flowers
- Standard roses, baby's breath, Alstroemeria, carnations, lisianthus (greenhouse), and many "filler" flowers are effectively available year-round at similar quality.
The Cost Multiplier Math
For truly seasonal flowers, out-of-season availability typically runs:
- Peonies: 3–4× seasonal cost
- Dahlias: 2–3× seasonal cost (also fewer varieties available)
- Sweet peas: 3–5× seasonal cost, noticeably smaller flowers
- Lilac: Usually unavailable off-season; if sourced, 5×+ seasonal cost
The cost multiplier isn't the full story. Per-stem quality is lower (smaller flowers, shorter vase life, less reliable opening), so couples end up paying more for less.
The Seasonal Honesty Alternative
The way we approach this: rather than sourcing out-of-season, we propose alternatives that are at regional peak and deliver similar aesthetic effect. The goal isn't to tell couples "no" — it's to show them what's actually available that will look its best at their wedding.
Peony alternatives by month
- September–October: Café au lait dahlias (similar full-bloom romantic silhouette)
- November–December: Amaryllis (large-bloom statement)
- January–February: Ranunculus (romantic density, layered petals)
- March–April: Early ranunculus, double tulips (parrot and fringed varieties)
- July–August: Full garden roses (David Austin varieties)
Dahlia alternatives by month (outside July–October)
- Spring: Ranunculus, anemones, peonies (for June weddings)
- Fall/winter: Chrysanthemums (for the "chunky focal bloom" role)
Sweet pea alternatives
- Outside May–June: Delphinium, larkspur, stock, ranunculus (different silhouette, similar lightness)
See our wedding flowers by month guide for the full seasonal framework.
Why Some Florists Say Yes Anyway
A few reasons the industry defaults to "yes."
Revenue. Out-of-season flowers cost more, and florists working on percentage markup make more per arrangement.
Avoidance of difficult conversations. Telling a couple they can't have peonies at their October wedding is uncomfortable. Taking the order and delivering compromised peonies is easier, even if the couple is disappointed when they see the result.
Supply chain confidence. Some florists genuinely believe they can source high-quality out-of-season material. Sometimes they can, for some flowers. Often the realities of international logistics catch them out.
Lack of direct grower relationships. Florists without deep regional grower networks may not have easy access to in-season substitutes at quality, so they default to imported versions of what the couple asked for.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County publishes resources on regional horticulture that align with how we think about sourcing — what grows regionally is what thrives regionally, and that's what performs best in cut-flower work.
How to Have the Seasonal Conversation with Your Florist
Ask three questions during the initial consultation.
1. "What's at peak in [my wedding month] that would be strongest for [aesthetic I want]?" A florist who can answer this quickly, with specific varieties, is sourcing seasonally. A florist who pivots to what they can import is probably not.
2. "If I wanted peonies in September, what would you actually source and where from?" The answer should be specific (country of origin, likely variety, known quality trade-offs) rather than generic ("we'd find some").
3. "Have you had to redesign a wedding because out-of-season imports didn't arrive at quality?" If yes, they're honest about the reality. If no, they probably don't push back on unrealistic requests.
For broader vetting framework, see Choosing a Wedding Florist in Westchester.
The Regional Sourcing Framework in Practice
Our sourcing for Westchester weddings draws primarily on:
- Hudson Valley cutting farms (peonies, dahlias, zinnias, herbs, specialty greens)
- Long Island bulb growers (tulips, ranunculus, anemones)
- New Jersey greenhouses (shoulder-season forcing)
- Connecticut specialty growers (David Austin roses, heritage varieties)
These are the USDA Hardiness Zone 5b–7b growers whose climate matches Westchester's 6b–7a.
The practical implication: if a flower is at peak somewhere within a few hours of our Bedford workshop, we can source it. If it's at peak on a different continent, we recommend alternatives.
For context on sustainability that ties to regional sourcing, see our sustainable wedding flowers guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Perennial Gardens source out-of-season flowers if we insist?
Yes, reluctantly. If a couple specifically wants out-of-season material and accepts the quality and cost implications after a direct conversation about them, we can source through specialty importers. We'd rather propose a seasonal alternative first.
Is all imported flower material worse than regional?
No. Year-round commercial flowers (standard roses, chrysanthemums, orchids, lilies) can be excellent from international greenhouse operations. The quality concern is specifically for truly seasonal flowers shipped from hemispheres offset from ours.
What if my wedding is on a specific date that coincides with a specific flower being out of season?
We'd rather redesign the palette around what's at peak that week than fight against what isn't. In our experience, couples who come in wanting peonies-in-October typically end up happier with the dahlia-and-garden-rose palette we propose instead, because the flowers are fresher and the overall arrangement reads better.
How do I know if a florist is being honest about seasonality?
Ask about specific growers. A florist with real regional sourcing relationships can name farms, regions, and growers. A florist relying on wholesale markets without direct grower relationships usually cannot.
For wedding floral work that starts with what's at seasonal peak rather than fighting for imported alternatives, Perennial Gardens' wedding floral practice runs on seasonal honesty as a matter of practice, not marketing. Reach us through the contact page to discuss your specific wedding's month and what will be at peak that week.
