Need a peony substitute for September!

[nicole]

Originally I was supposed to get married in May, but the venue we wanted wasn't open, so we settled for a September wedding date. The reason I wanted to get married in May? Peonies. But they're out of season in September, so they'd be 1) extremely expensive and 2) terribly fragile. So I'm looking for a ruffly-looking flower that's readily available in September.

I've already tried asking about cabbage/English/garden roses - one florist looked at me like I'd grown another head. :(

[lawyerlee]

Here are my suggestions:

Zinnia

http://www.blissweddings.com/weddingfloral/images/zinnia.jpg

Hydrangea

http://ohric.ucdavis.edu/photos/fullsize/Hydrangea1.jpg

Dahlias

http://www.pugsplace.com/dahlias.gif

Chrysanthemum

http://ceinfo.unh.edu/FHGEC/graphics/chrysanthemum.jpg

Good luck! :)

[chortles]

I suspect cabbage roses or some english garden roses is the closest you will get.

I do love dahlias, though :D

[zzorracom]

I would just flat out ask your florist what types of flowers you could get in Sept that would be similar to peonies. I am also getting married in Sept, and I went in with a list of flowers that I liked, and all of them were our of season. I think that Chrysanthemums are still in season, as are other types of mums, but other than that I don't know. Roses and Gerber Daisies are always available, but they don't have the look like you are talking about. I personally love Ranoculus (sp?) but my florist thought that they would run more than the roses.

[kedzieb]

i love peonies too, but got married in September. i love that look, so we chose dahlias in hand-tied bouquets. it looked perfect.

[kemaji]

I chose dahlias as my peony substitute flower as well...

[tenofcups]

I wanted peonies too, but with a wedding in mid-December, it couldn't be done! I was prepared to pay the money since I knew they were out of season, but at least the florists I went to said they couldn't get them at all, no matter what the price.

So I used white hydrangeas and pink roses. I'm not certain what kinds of roses they were--I know there are some that have much fuller heads that look similar to peonies, but these were on the "average" rose side with heads that weren't so full.

[Bloomwood]

I got married in October and somehow my florist managed to get peonies without any extra charge. I don't know how she did it, but I was thrilled!

[nektarine]

I got married in October and somehow my florist managed to get peonies without any extra charge. I don't know how she did it, but I was thrilled!

wow.... that's unbelievable!

my florist was an old family friend, and to my disappointment he said that there was just no way possible he could get peonies for my october wedding.

i went with dahlias like some of the other ladies mentioned. sept/oct is a good time of year for them. although i agree with lawyerlee that zinnias would be beautiful!

[Bloomwood]

Yeah, I don't know how she did it. She planned her whole wedding around peonies so she understood how much I wanted them. I couldn't believe when she called a week before the wedding to tell me. I hadn't even thought I'd get them since it was Oct, but just told her that was the look I liked. She said cabbage and garden roses would be the closest.

I'm sure your bouquet will be gorgeous!

[thompso2]

I got married in September, and my BM bouquets included lavender and purple lisianthus, which my florist recommended for their similarity to garden roses.

http://jessandjer.jeremiahblatz.com/pics/imagesofmorningside/218-pp.JPG

[littlelove8138]

did you want to have all real flowers? you could always do a few silk of the peonys you want...just an idea :)

[lawgirl4]

I definitely think that cabbage roses are the way to go. If your florist thinks you're crazy, I would do a little research on your own and see if you can find a supplier!

I used peonies and cabbage roses and they do make for a gorgeous bouquet :)

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4db05b3127cce9b59eb5dab9500000035108AZtWrhm0aNb

[FoxyBlue]

I also wanted peonies, with no luck (and not willing to chance it), so I am getting Esperance roses

http://www.flowerbud.com/images/flowers/Roses-Pink-Esperance.jpg

They are insanely gorgeous, lush, and have enormous heads! They are very sturdy and blissfully pink and cream with green tinged edges.

Most flowers are pretty, but ONE of these roses made me so happy. It made my day.

Now, it was difficult finding a florist, but try a high end florist or go online.
Flowerbud.com and a few other places carry them.

Good luck!

[Bri_Mason]

My Peony Bouquets:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h13/MotorCityGirl/Wedding/flowers001.jpg

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h13/MotorCityGirl/Wedding/flowers006.jpg


ALL FAKE!

[Crystal_Orchid]

I got married in June, but for some reason my florist said it was too late for peonies. i substituted for garden roses instead. I was happy wth it.