Since lily-of-the-valley flowers are currently in season, I put a call out to some of our favourite local florists to get their thoughts about using this delicate flower in a bridal bouquet. Most said they love the flower but that there are a few things a bride must consider before saying ‘I do’ to this particular kind.

The first thing to keep in mind is that Lily-of-the-valley is only in season, locally, for a very short period of time (April to mid May). Also, the flower is extremely fragile (read: high-maintenance) and needs constant water, unlike the rose or orchid, which can remain fresh for an entire day. “If a bride decides to carry a bouquet of lily-of-the-valley, she’ll need at least two: one for the ceremony and one for the pictures,” suggests Fiona Liston of Stemz.

Finally, when the flower is used in a bouquet, it will need to be wired (a process in which each individual flower is stabilized with thin florist wire so that it will stay upright and won’t droop). This is a time-consuming process and, in turn, will make for a more expensive bouquet.

Despite these drawbacks, florists love the flower and continue to use it in their work because of its delicate look and beautiful scent. If having an entire bouquet of lily-of-the-valley is not on option, scattering even a small amount throughout a bouquet will give the feeling of a fresh, spring morning to your special day.

Bellow: Amber Richman  of Cool Green and Shady carried lily-of-the-valley in her wedding bouquet, she made sure to keep it in water until just before the pictures so they were looking their best. Photos by: HRM Photography

Below: Jennifer Elliotson of Mimosa Flower Studio brings the garden feeling into these stunning bouquet by using sprigs of lily-of-the-valley as an accent. Photos By: Mimosa Flower Studio

Below: Headpiece spray by Lilium with lily -of -the -valley, delicate spray roses, freesias and English Ivy. Similar to the headpiece Pippa Middleton wore in her hair.