Hydrangeas For Summer Weddings: A Beautiful, Colorful Option

Hydrangeas are a popular choice for weddings, especially in the summer months. Their big, fluffy blooms can be used in bouquets, centrepieces, and ceremony decor. They are also available in a variety of colours, including white, green, blue, purple, and pink. Hydrangeas can be used sparingly or as the main theme for the entire wedding and reception. They can be sourced from your own garden, a grower, or a florist.

Hydrangeas as a centrepiece

Hydrangeas are a popular choice for weddings, and can be used in a variety of ways to create an elegant and beautiful accent. They are especially suitable for summer weddings, as they are one of the most popular summer flowers and are in bloom during this time.

Hydrangeas can be used as centrepieces at weddings, creating a stunning display with their big, fluffy blooms. They come in a variety of colours, including white, green, blue, purple and pink, allowing for a range of opportunities to incorporate them into your wedding colour palette. For a modern twist, you can use dried hydrangeas, which have a stunning antique look, especially if you start with white blooms. Their unique shape and texture can be showcased by letting them take centre stage in your arrangements. For a wedding centrepiece, consider pairing hydrangeas with sprawling greenery, grasses, and a few other blooms, like roses.

If you're looking to create a more bohemian vibe, try pairing hydrangeas with dahlias, snowberries, abelia, and other changing fall foliage. For a traditional white wedding, hydrangeas can stand on their own as a simple yet elegant centrepiece. For a contemporary black-and-white palette, use white hydrangeas with roses, ranunculus, and orchids, pairing them with black tables and moody-hued goblets for a unique autumnal look.

To ensure your hydrangeas stay fresh, proper hydration is key. Upon receiving the flowers, submerge the heads for 2 to 4 minutes under tepid water, gently shake them dry, then recut the stems (preferably under water and at an angle) before placing them in water. Keep them in a high-humidity environment, away from air velocity, and mist them if needed. The temperature should be kept between 35 to 38 degrees Celsius, and it's best to avoid storing them near fruit, vegetables, or other ethylene gas producers.

Using hydrangeas in bridal bouquets

Hydrangeas are a popular choice for summer weddings, with their big, fluffy blooms often featuring in bridal bouquets. They are available in a variety of colours, including white, green, blue, purple, and pink, making them a versatile choice for brides.

One of the main appeals of hydrangeas is their ability to dry out and change colour as they age, with shades ranging from antique blues and pinks to deep burgundies and plums. This means that even if they are not in peak bloom, they can still add a unique, vintage touch to a bridal bouquet.

When using hydrangeas in a bridal bouquet, it is important to ensure they are properly hydrated to prevent wilting. This can be done by submerging the heads in tepid water for a few minutes, gently shaking them dry, and then recutting the stems before placing them in water. Storing them in a high-humidity environment will also help to keep them fresh.

Hydrangeas can be used as the main flower in a bridal bouquet or paired with other blooms to create a unique arrangement. For a fall wedding, pairing hydrangeas with dahlias, snowberries, abelia, and other changing fall foliage is a popular choice. For a summer wedding, hydrangeas can be combined with roses, orchids, or other bright blooms for a vibrant, seasonal look.

With their versatile colours and ability to add texture and volume to a bouquet, hydrangeas are a beautiful choice for bridal bouquets, especially for summer weddings.

Hydrangea colour options

Hydrangeas are available in a variety of colours, including white, green, blue, purple, and pink. This makes them a versatile option for summer weddings, as they can be matched to a range of colour palettes.

The "Wedding Gown" hydrangea variety, for example, features pure white blooms with a lacecap form made of an outer ring of large double flowers and smaller double rings of petals in the centre. This variety is also known as "Dancing Snow" and is a popular choice for bridal bouquets.

Hydrangeas can also be used to create a more modern look, as their colours change when they begin to dry out. These antiqued shades can include mossy greens, burgundy, deep blues, and plums. Strawberries and cream hydrangeas, for instance, dry to a stunning pink-crimson hue.

For a summer wedding, a bright purple hydrangea can be a great choice, while a more muted purple is better suited for fall. Blue hydrangeas can also be paired with classic fall colours such as red and burgundy for a subtle, unique statement.

Hydrangeas can be used sparingly or as the main theme for a summer wedding, adding elegance and beauty to the occasion.

How to care for hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are a beautiful flowering shrub that can be easy to care for when their basic needs are met. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to care for hydrangeas:

Planting

Plant hydrangeas in early spring or fall when temperatures are mild. Before planting, give the roots a thorough watering while the plant is still in its nursery pot. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and roughen the sides with a shovel to allow the roots to penetrate and expand. Remove the plant from the pot and loosen or cut any circling roots. Set the plant in the hole so the root ball is at the same depth as it was in the nursery pot, then backfill the hole with existing soil and water the area thoroughly. Cover the soil surface with 1-2 inches of mulch, avoiding the area closest to the stem.

Light

The light requirement for hydrangeas varies by species and variety, so be sure to reference the care tag. Many varieties thrive in full sun to partial shade locations. In hot areas, provide morning sun and afternoon shade.

Soil

Hydrangeas prefer well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter and has adequate moisture. In areas with sandy or clay soil, add compost or other organic material to balance it out. Fertile humus-rich and moist soil is best. Add compost to the soil to add nutrients and retain moisture. Control the bloom color by adjusting the soil pH—acidic soil (pH of 6 or lower) produces blue flowers, while neutral to alkaline soil (pH of 7 or higher) produces pink blooms.

Water

Water hydrangeas regularly to keep them consistently moist, especially in hot and dry weather. Newly planted hydrangeas should be watered every one to two days, or more during extreme heat and drought. Once established, water when the top inch of soil is dry. Hydrangeas need a deep drink of water one to two times a week during the growing season. Stick your finger about four inches into the ground and water if it feels dry. Saturate the soil but do not leave it soggy. Cut back on supplemental watering after heavy rainfall and increase watering during hot weather, ensuring the plant is not sitting in soggy soil.

Fertilizer

Use a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer or fertilizer for flowering shrubs in the spring, but do not fertilize in the summer. If your soil is nutrient-rich, you may not need to fertilize at all. A general all-purpose fertilizer will work well for hydrangeas. Apply a slow-release fertilizer twice per year in spring and early fall, widely around the drip line of the branches.

Pruning

Pruning requirements vary depending on the species and the time of year when the hydrangea sets buds. Hydrangeas that bloom on old wood should be pruned in the summer after blooming, removing up to one-third of the stems. Hydrangeas that bloom on new wood should be pruned to the ground in the fall, late winter, or very early spring.

Pests and Diseases

Common pests include aphids, black vine weevil, the four-lined plant bug, Japanese beetles, and spider mites. Hand-pick pests off plants and put them in a bucket of soapy water. Avoid using chemical insecticides during the bloom period. Hydrangeas are also susceptible to diseases such as botrytis blight, powdery mildew, and viruses such as yellow or brown leaf spotting. Fungicides can help but may need reapplication.

Hydrangeas in wedding cakes

Hydrangeas are a versatile flower that can be used to add a romantic and textured look to wedding cakes. They are particularly well-suited for coastal, traditional, or garden weddings, and can be used to create a glamorous, organic, or minimalist feel.

When using hydrangeas on a wedding cake, it is important to consider the colour scheme and overall design of the cake. Hydrangeas can be used as a subtle accent or as the main focal point. For a bold statement, consider using hydrangeas in a cascading design or as part of an arch framing the cake. If you want a more understated look, try using hydrangeas to encircle the cake stand or scattering petals on a single-tier cake.

To add a touch of glamour to your hydrangea wedding cake, consider coating the bottom tier in edible glitter or placing the cake on a gold stand. You can also mix hydrangeas with other types of blooms, such as orchids, roses, or baby's breath, to create a lush and colourful display. If you want to include a personal touch, top the cake with a custom cake topper, such as a silhouette of the happy couple.

While fresh flowers are always stunning, sugar flowers are a cost-effective and practical alternative. Sugar hydrangeas can be piped with fondant, providing an edible and temperature-resistant option that will not wilt. However, it is important to note that hydrangeas are toxic to humans, so they should not be used as a decoration on a cake that will be eaten.

Frequently asked questions