Behind every beautifully executed wedding lies a series of carefully orchestrated timelines, and few are more critical than those involving floral design. For couples marrying in the Finger Lakes (or anywhere) understanding the timing of floral production, delivery, and installation is essential.

Planning begins long before wedding day. Most florists recommend confirming final flower selections six to eight weeks in advance. This allows time to source specialty blooms, coordinate with growers, and refine design details. Michaleen’s Florist & Greenhouse in Ithaca, a fixture in the region’s wedding scene, works with both international importers and local flower farms to secure the freshest product available.

“Timing is everything, especially when you're working with living material,” said Cary Coryell, lead wedding florist at Michaleen’s. “We map out each wedding by the hour, from when bouquets are handed off to when the last centrepiece is placed.”

On the day itself, florists are among the earliest vendors on site. Ceremony installations often begin hours before guests arrive. Elements such as floral arches, aisle decor, or statement pieces can take significant time to construct. Bouquets and personal flowers are delivered closer to the start time to maintain freshness.

Wedding Flowers at The Inns of Aurora, Summer 2025

At the reception venue, floral teams typically wait for tables and linens to be set before placing arrangements. Coordination with planners, caterers, and rental companies ensures a smooth workflow. In many cases, florists return at the end of the night for breakdown and retrieval of vases and rental items.

“The more we communicate with other vendors, the better the result,” said Coryell. “Florals shouldn’t be an afterthought; they’re woven into the entire day’s rhythm.”

For couples, involving a florist early in the planning process can lead to fewer logistical surprises and a more cohesive visual narrative. When floral timing aligns with the flow of the day, the results are seamless and memorable.

As June unfolds across the Finger Lakes region, the landscape bursts into bloom, offering couples an abundance of seasonal flowers for their wedding celebrations. From peonies to foxgloves, the region’s flora in early summer provides not only aesthetic richness but also botanical character grounded in place.

Peonies, among the most prized blooms in June, are celebrated for their full, romantic petals and their long-standing association with prosperity and marital happiness. Their seasonal appearance often becomes a focal point in garden-style arrangements, pairing naturally with roses, which continue to dominate early summer wedding palettes.

Florists across the region embrace the moment. At Michaleen’s Florist & Greenhouse, a longstanding staple in the Ithaca area, June marks the beginning of a particularly expressive period in floral design. “We look forward to June every year because it’s the beginning of a design season defined by softness, movement, and natural light,” said Cary Coryell, lead designer at Michaleen’s.

Peonies in the garden, Michaleen’s Florist & Greenhouse, Ithaca NY

Among the most versatile supporting players in June floral work are delphiniums and foxgloves, both of which offer vertical interest and cooler hues; features that complement the lushness of peonies and garden roses. Delphiniums in particular bring sky-toned depth to altar arrangements or reception backdrops, while foxglove’s bell-shaped blooms lend an element of quiet wildness to bouquets.

Florists increasingly look to local farms for seasonal material. Growers in Tompkins, Seneca, and Cayuga counties begin cutting heavily in early June, offering fresh spirea, larkspur, baptisia, and flowering branches. The resulting arrangements feel both grounded and ephemeral, echoing the fleeting nature of the season.

“It’s the best time of year to showcase what’s grown right here,” said Coryell, noting that couples are increasingly drawn to flowers with provenance. “There’s something meaningful about knowing that the peonies in your bouquet came from a field just ten miles from your ceremony site.”

Design-wise, early summer encourages a departure from formality. Wedding florals this time of year tend toward the naturalistic: asymmetrical bouquets, centrepieces that breathe with space, and palettes built from soft pastels punctuated by fresh greens and pale corals. This aesthetic, simultaneously refined and relaxed, is well suited to outdoor ceremonies and historic venues across the Finger Lakes.

Michaleen’s Florist & Greenhouse, which sources seasonally from both its own greenhouses and nearby growers, often tailors June arrangements to highlight not only what’s available but what’s resonant. Their design philosophy leans toward authenticity and balance; a way of reflecting the couple’s personality as much as the season itself.

In the Finger Lakes, where the calendar of bloom is closely tied to the landscape’s rhythms, choosing seasonal flowers is more than a stylistic preference, it is a decision that situates the celebration within a specific time and place. For couples marrying in June, the result is often floral work that feels immediate, honest, and timeless.