Wedding flowers that survive a Tampa summer.

What each season means for flowers

• December to February: the easiest months for flowers. Delicate stems like garden roses and ranunculus hold up well outdoors, and evenings are cool. Occasional cold fronts can bring nights into the 40s, which is too cold for tropical stems left outside.
• March to May: warm and mostly dry, with highs climbing into the upper 80s by May. Spring is the peak wedding season in Tampa Bay, and it's a good time for most flowers, with shade for outdoor ceremonies in late spring.
• June to September: hot, humid and stormy. Plan for heat-tolerant flowers outdoors, an evening ceremony, and a rain plan. Tropical stems and orchids come into their own.
• October and November: still warm early, cooling and drying through November. Hurricane season runs until November 30, so keep an eye on the forecast in the weeks before.

What heat actually does to cut flowers

A cut flower is still alive. It loses water through its petals and leaves, and draws water up the stem to replace it. Heat speeds up that water loss. Direct sun speeds it up even more. When a flower loses water faster than the stem can supply it, petals soften, edges brown and heads droop.

Humidity slows water loss a little, which helps, but it also encourages petals to bruise and spot. Wind dries flowers quickly, which is worth remembering for beach and waterfront ceremonies.

Personal flowers suffer most, because they're out of water. A bouquet held in warm hands for an hour of photos in the sun loses a lot of water. A boutonniere pinned to a jacket in July has it worst of all.

Stems that handle Florida heat well

These hold up best outdoors and in warm rooms:

• Orchids: phalaenopsis, cymbidium and dendrobium all handle heat and humidity well. Dendrobium sprays are a reliable choice for bouquets.
• Anthurium: waxy and very long-lasting.
• Calla lilies: clean lines and good heat tolerance.
• Lisianthus: soft and ruffled, with a romantic look, and tougher than it appears.
• Spray roses and well-hydrated standard roses: better than many people expect, if they're conditioned properly.
• Foliage such as ruscus, monstera, palm and eucalyptus: stays crisp for hours.

Flowers to use with care

These are beautiful but delicate in heat. You can still use them, with shade, hydration and a late install.

If you love one of these, we'll find a way to include it where it's safest, such as on reception tables indoors.

• Hydrangea: drinks heavily, and wilts quickly in sun. Best indoors or in a shaded spot, with stems in water.
• Peonies: seasonal, and they open fast in warmth. Best in air-conditioned rooms.
• Gardenias: brown and bruise easily.
• Sweet peas: fragile, and short-lived in heat.
• Garden roses: fragrant and full, but faster to open and fade than standard roses.

Ceremony time, sunset and storms

The ceremony time affects flowers more than almost anything else. A midday ceremony in July puts flowers in full sun at the hottest point of the day. An evening ceremony, close to sunset, is cooler and kinder to flowers and guests, and the light is better for photos.

Sunset in Tampa Bay is late in summer, after 8:00 p.m. in June and July, and early in winter, around 5:40 p.m. in early December. That's worth knowing when you set a ceremony time.

Summer storms usually arrive in mid to late afternoon and pass within an hour or two. A ceremony at 6:00 or 7:00 p.m. often comes after the storm. But it's worth having a covered backup, and knowing how flowers will move to it.

When flowers go up, and how they're protected

The best protection for flowers is time. We plan installs as close to the ceremony as the venue allows, so arrangements spend as little time in the heat as possible.

Other things that help:

• Keeping bouquets and boutonnieres in water, in the shade or indoors, until the last minute.
• Using water sources in ceremony pieces, such as hidden vessels or water tubes, rather than dry foam alone.
• Placing arches and aisle pieces in shade, where possible.
• Moving ceremony pieces indoors for the reception, which saves money as well as flowers. Ask whether your florist offers this.

Choosing a palette for Florida light

Bright Florida sun washes out very pale colors in photos. Very light blush can look almost white in midday light. Mid-tone blush, peach, coral and terracotta photograph well outdoors. Crisp white with lots of green also works well. In the evening, white flowers glow in candlelight, and deeper colors such as burgundy and plum come alive.

Indoor, outdoor and waterfront

Each type of venue changes the plan:

All our Tampa Bay venue guides include notes on flowers.

• Air-conditioned ballrooms and hotels: almost any flower works, but the flowers still need to get from the van to the room.
• Gardens: beautiful, but outdoor ceremonies need shade and a rain plan. See our Sunken Gardens guide.
• Waterfront and beach: wind, sun and salt air are hard on flowers. See our guides to The Vinoy and The Don CeSar.
• Industrial and urban spaces: often partly outdoors, with variable temperature. See Armature Works.

Bouquets, boutonnieres and hair flowers

Personal flowers need the most thought, because they spend hours out of water and close to warm bodies.

• Bouquets: a hand-tied bouquet with stems in water until the ceremony lasts longer than a wired bouquet. Orchids, calla lilies and spray roses are the toughest choices for a long summer day.
• Boutonnieres: choose small, sturdy flowers, such as a spray rose, a dendrobium orchid or a sprig of hardy foliage. Avoid gardenias in summer. Pin them on as late as possible, after the family photos if they start early.
• Hair flowers and flower crowns: these sit in direct sun and warm hair, so they need the toughest stems. Orchids are the most reliable. Fresh hair flowers usually last only a few hours in summer, so plan them for the ceremony and portraits, not the whole night.

How the weather affects cost

Heat doesn't have to make flowers more expensive, but it changes where the money goes. A flip of ceremony pieces to the reception saves on duplicates. Heat-tolerant flowers often cost less than imported peonies or garden roses out of season. On the other hand, a late install, a flower attendant on the day, or a full rain backup can add labor. Ask your florist to show you where those costs sit.

Tips for couples and planners

• Keep bouquets in water until the last possible moment. Your florist or planner should have a vase ready.
• Hold bouquets at waist height, not against the body, where they warm up.
• Mist bouquets lightly between photos, if your florist recommends it.
• Don't leave flowers in a car, even for a few minutes.

A second life for the flowers

Flowers that held up through a hot evening are often still good the next morning. Centerpieces can go home with family, to a brunch the next day, or be broken down into smaller bunches for a care home or a church. Plan who takes them before the night ends, since the venue will want the room cleared. Our guide to repurposing event flowers covers the options.