5 Ideas for Styling Winter Wedding Flowers

"It's always winter in Minnesota!" jokes Reisenauer. "We fight sea­sonal blues with lush flowers." The peppy posy below combines creamy ranunculus, white pop­pies, and pale green hellebores with bright orange Icelandic poppies and kumquats. Fragrant bay leaves and inky privet berries round out the bouquet.

"Winter doesn't have to mean barren," says Reisenauer, who used natural elements in orange, white, and green to liven up the polished table set below with beige linens and pewter-banded china at The Bachelor Farmer, a Minneapolis restaurant (and event venue). The flowers and fruit in the glossy ecru vases echo what's found in the above bridal bouquet but also include ruffly white cyclamen and olive leaves.

For brides on a budget, Reisenauer suggests sticking to one or two floral centerpieces (instead of four) and filling out the tablescape with inexpensive items grouped en masse. "Candles of varying heights and shapes have a huge impact," she says. "And as a winter fruit, citrus is plentiful and economical, and it brings in bright color."

Champagne is practically synony­mous with celebrating. Create an extra­special delivery of it by adorning a wheeled cart or stationary bar with a bountiful garland. This one is made from olive and bay leaves, privet berries, and kumquats. It looks lavish, but as Reisenauer points out, "it's very affordable, relying only on foliage and fruit." We'll raise a glass to that.

Consider the following florals for a winter wedding:

• Amaryllis
• Anemones
• Paperwhites
• Seeded eucalyptus
• Stephanotis
• Tulips