8 Uber Romantic Flowers for Proposing Marriage

If you're in the throes of planning a proposal, chances are you want every detail to be perfect. Maybe you'll be using a cool will you marry me sign or popping the question at a location that's special to both of you. One often-overlooked way to add beauty and meaning to this momentous event is to include flowers for proposing marriage. "Flowers aren't just pretty: they also have deep meanings. When incorporated properly, flowers can take an ordinary moment and forever seal it in one's mind, especially when speaking of love or proposing," says Samuel Davis, CEO of London Gardeners.

If you're looking to lend a super romantic vibe to your proposal, using flowers for your engagement proposal is a great place to start. Need some inspo? You'll find it here! In this article, we're sharing our favorite tips for using flowers to decorate your proposal, and we've even included the best places to shop.

In this article:

• How to Incorporate Flowers Into Your Proposal
• The Best Flowers for Proposing Marriage
• Where to Find Proposal Flowers Near You

How to Incorporate Flowers Into Your Proposal

If you're hoping to use flowers as part of your proposal decorations, there are lots of ways to do it. Our expert shares several great ideas for incorporating flowers for an engagement proposal.

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• Create a floral pathway. This can be done indoors or outdoors, in just about any setting. Simply throw petals or blossoms along a pathway that leads to your special proposal spot for a romantic setting. Planning an intimate bedroom proposal? Sprinkle petals all over the bed for a romantic upgrade.
• Make a proposal bouquet. Davis suggests making a bouquet made up only of flowers that hold special significance to your relationship and having the engagement ring tucked into one of the flowers for a special touch.
• Use a floral background. Make or purchase a bare arch, then decorate it with flowers that mean I love you forever (like roses or peonies) for a beautiful addition to your engagement. This stunning decoration will make an amazing backdrop for photos, so be sure to have a proposal photographer on hand.

The Best Flowers for Proposing Marriage

Any flower can elevate a proposal, but if you really want to send a message with the blooms you choose, it's a good idea to pay attention to the traditional meanings behind your wedding proposal flowers. Below, we've listed some of the most popular options to consider if you'd like to learn what flowers to give when proposing. These beautiful blooms also have meanings that go hand-in-hand with marriage.

Rose

Arguably one of the best-known symbols of love and romance, the rose makes a perfect choice for proposal flowers. "A red rose symbolizes passion and commitment," Davis says, or you could opt for white for that wedding-ready vibe. Even light pink roses, which symbolize joy and happiness, or lavender roses, which are associated with new love, make a great choice if you're looking for flowers for an engagement proposal.

Best used for: Rose petals are commonly used as proposal decorations, bridal shower decorations or for flower girls to scatter before you walk down the aisle. But these classic wedding flowers are a beautiful and versatile addition to a bouquet, too.

In season: late spring to early fall or online year-round

Orchid

"Orchids symbolize long-lasting strength and beauty, which makes them a good symbol of eternal love," Davis says. These gorgeous flowers lend a chic, dramatic and even modern vibe, with purple, pink and white the most common orchid colors you'll find.

Best used for: Tall and dramatic, orchids would look lovely in a sleek vase alongside a modern octagonal sign or frame as a proposal backdrop. Orchid petals are also commonly used for proposals and weddings.

In season: early spring or online year-round

Lily

Beautiful and versatile, lilies are symbolic of purity and true devotion, Davis says. You can find lilies in just about any color, though the white lily is the most common choice when it comes to proposal flowers.

Best used for: A white lily makes a great addition to a proposal bouquet for your loved one, but this versatile flower also works well for decorating an arch, a table or a background.

In season: late May to early September or online year-round

Peony

These dramatic blooms are stunning and are sure to elevate your proposal. Peonies come in a wide variety of colors and are commonly associated with a happy marriage and good fortune, but also symbolize a long, loving relationship, Davis says. With such deep meaning, you can't go wrong when you select peonies as your proposal flowers.

Best used for: Peonies are perfect for both handheld and vase bouquets, and the blooms can be used for decorations as well. Peonies are a beautiful addition to a table centerpiece.

In season: April to June or online year-round

Tulips

Sweet and simple, the tulip is the classic symbol of love, Davis says. He adds, "In particular, pink or red tulips reflect deep love and perfect romance." What could be a better addition to an engagement flower bouquet than that?

Best used for: handheld bouquets or alongside other flowers in a vase bouquet

In season: very early spring, typically late March to early May, or online year-round

Gardenias

"These highly fragrant flowers trigger passion and the element of secret love, making them one of the most popular romantic flowers," Davis says. Gardenias make a stunning addition to a bouquet with just about any flower but pair particularly well with wedding flower classics like roses, ranunculus and hydrangeas.

Best used for: handheld bouquets, vase bouquets alone or with other flowers and decorations

In season: late spring to early summer or online year-round

Anemone

Who can resist the anemone flower? These dainty flowers are adorable and pair amazingly with an array of other flowers. What are anemones associated with? Anticipation! And it doesn't get any better than that if you're looking for flowers for proposing marriage.

Best used for: Pop some cute anemones in a bouquet alongside roses, ranunculus or colorful freesia for a beautiful bouquet that's meaningful as well.

In season: fall, winter and spring or online year-round

Carnations

This flower works well on its own or alongside other flowers as an affordable filler that comes in an array of colors. Traditionally, carnations are associated with deep love and fascination, making them a perfect addition to your proposal flowers.

Best used for: Carnations are great for decorating signs, arches or tablescapes.

In season: late spring through fall or online year-round

Where to Find Proposal Flowers Near You

With local florists in just about every town and plenty of online vendors too, there are tons of options when it comes to shopping for flowers for an engagement proposal. Here are just some of the places to consider to find the perfect blooms for your dream proposal.

• The Knot Vendor Marketplace: This is a great place to start to find the best florists in your area. Simply select florist as the category and enter your city and state, and the site will return a list of vendors you can use to start putting together a beautiful, flower-filled proposal.
• Fifty Flowers: This Best of Weddings Hall of Famer has been a quality source of flowers online for more than 20 years. The website boasts a ton of helpful search functions, with filters for flower type, how you'll use them and even the vibe you're trying to achieve.
• Blooms by the Box: A favorite among couples and wedding planners since 2007, this DIY floral site offers a free 20-minute phone consultation with a real floral expert. You'll fill out a quick questionnaire that helps nail your vibe, then discuss options and pricing to determine the best flowers for your event.
• Costco: By far one of the best sources for bulk flowers online or in your neighborhood, especially if you're looking for more common flower varieties like roses and carnations. Costco is also a great place to shop for fillers like baby's breath and greenery and even sells rose petals in bulk.

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