In short
- May is the month of peonies, the first garden roses and meadow flowers.
- It is high season: weddings, First Communions and Confirmations fill churches and diaries.
- The weather is often ideal in central and northern Italy; the South sees its first hot days.
- May flowers are beautiful but delicate: peonies and sweet peas fear sun and wind.
May is the month many couples picture when they think of wedding flowers. Peonies are on the market, gardens are full, days are long and the light is soft. That is exactly why it is also a very busy month, one that needs early booking and a few careful choices. This guide to May wedding flowers in Italy explains what you will find, what costs more and how to avoid surprises.
As always, seasons are indicative. The full calendar for the year is in our guide to seasonal flowers in Italy. To find florists who work in your area, browse our wedding florists.
What is in flower in May
- Peonies: the flower of the month, in white, pink, coral and red. The Italian peak is short.
- Garden roses: starting to bloom, fragrant and full of petals.
- Sweet peas: light, fragrant, delicate.
- Alliums: purple or white spheres on long stems, very graphic.
- Foxgloves, delphiniums, lupins: spires that add height.
- Clematis and climbers, for arches and details.
- Poppies, cornflowers, daisies, chamomile: meadow flowers begin.
- Viburnum, irises, the last lilac, depending on the area.
Peonies have their own guide: peonies at your wedding, with season, price and alternatives.
May flowers at a glance: availability, cost and colours
This table brings together the flowers and greenery you are most likely to find in May, in line with our seasonal flower calendar. Cost is relative to the other flowers of the same month and only indicative: it changes with the area, the supplier, quantities and the year.
| Flower | Availability in Italy | Relative cost | Typical palette | Best used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peonies | peak season (short peak) | high | white, pink, coral, red | bouquets, centrepieces |
| Garden roses | early season | low (Italian roses) | pink, cream, coral | bouquets, centrepieces, church |
| Sweet peas | peak season | high (delicate, more waste) | pink, lilac, white | bouquets, details |
| Alliums | peak season | medium | purple, white | modern centrepieces, tall arrangements |
| Foxgloves, delphiniums, lupins | peak season | medium | blue, pink, purple, white | tall arrangements, church |
| Clematis | peak season | high | purple, white, pink | arches, details |
| Cultivated meadow flowers (poppies, cornflowers, daisies, chamomile) | early season | low | red, blue, white | relaxed centrepieces, farmhouses and agriturismi |
| Viburnum, irises, the last lilac | late season | medium | white, green, lilac | church, volume in arrangements |
| Fresh greenery (vine, sage, rosemary, olive) | peak season | low | green | base for arrangements, table runners |
Costs beyond the flowers themselves, such as dates, logistics and structures, are covered in the cost section further down.
Greenery and fruit in May
Foliage is at its freshest: young vine leaves, strawberry leaves, thornless bramble, mint, sage, flowering rosemary. In the South, orange blossom is ending and citrus trees carry young green fruit. Cherries and strawberries appear too: lovely on the table, but anything near the food must be agreed with the caterer.
North, Centre and South in May
| Area | Typical weather | What works | Typical problems |
|---|---|---|---|
| North, lakes, Dolomites | Mild, sudden showers, cool evenings | Peonies, garden roses, late wisteria at altitude | Thunderstorms, some mountain venues still closed |
| Centre | Often ideal, meadows in flower | Meadow flowers, roses, poppies | Pollen, afternoon storms |
| South and islands | Hot by the end of the month, strong sun | Roses, Mediterranean wild flowers, olive | Direct sun on peonies and sweet peas, wind |
In central Italy May may well be the most photogenic month: green hills, fields of poppies, roses on villa walls. In Tuscany and Umbria the countryside is at its best. In the South, at the end of the month, the heat starts to be felt in the middle of the day: early morning or late afternoon ceremonies help both flowers and guests. In the mountains the season only starts at the end of May or in June: check with your venue.
High season: churches, First Communions and calendars
May is traditionally linked to church weddings in Italy, and it is also the month of many First Communions and Confirmations. In practice:
- churches may hold several services on the same day, with tight windows for set-up and clearing;
- sometimes another service already has its flowers, and it may be possible to agree with the priest and the other families to share the decorations;
- florists work on several events over the same weekend.
Ask the parish about access times, rules on decorations and whether there are other services that day. For more detail read our guide to church wedding flowers.
If you are coming from abroad
May is also a favourite with couples who travel to Italy to marry. The weather is often pleasant and the evenings are light. Remember that in Italy May is closely tied to religious celebrations: Communions, Confirmations and, in some villages, processions. If you dream of a church in a small hilltop village, ask about availability early, and plan for guest travel around the 1 May and 2 June public holidays, when Italians travel too.
How flowers hold up: beautiful but delicate
May flowers are among the most loved and the most fragile. Peonies open very quickly in the warmth: an experienced florist buys them in bud and counts the days so they are open on the right day. Sweet peas wilt within hours in the sun. Garden roses drop petals in the wind.
What to ask:
- how they manage peony opening, and what they do if the peonies arrive too closed or too open;
- whether the bouquet stays somewhere cool until the last moment;
- which outdoor arrangements will be in the sun, and for how many hours.
Meadow flowers: lovely, but do not pick them
In May the fields are full of poppies, daisies and cornflowers, and it is tempting to pick them for the wedding. Better not. Picked wild flowers wilt fast, sometimes within an hour, and in some areas there are protected species or private land. Florists use cultivated varieties with the same natural look and far better staying power. If you like this style, our guide to wild and meadow flowers at a wedding explains how to get it.
What tends to cost less, and more, in May
| Tends to cost less | Tends to cost more |
|---|---|
| Meadow flowers and daisies | Peonies in large quantities |
| In-season Italian roses | Sweet peas and clematis, delicate and with more waste |
| Fresh local greenery | Saturdays in high season, fast church set-ups |
| Sharing flowers in church | Set-ups at remote venues or on islands |
May is not the cheapest month. Florists are in high demand and the most wanted flowers, such as peonies, stay premium even in season. Figures depend on the design: to understand how they are built, read our guide to wedding flower costs in Italy.
Colour palettes for May
- Pink and coral: peonies, garden roses, sweet peas. The romantic classic.
- White and green: white peonies, viburnum, white alliums, lots of foliage.
- Meadow: poppies, cornflowers, chamomile, green wheat. Natural, suited to farmhouses and agriturismi.
- Lilac and purple: alliums, clematis, late irises. Modern and bright.
Questions to ask your florist
- When will you confirm the peonies, and what do you suggest if the season is late or early?
- How many events do you have that weekend? Who will be at my set-up?
- Have you worked in this church before? How much time do we have to decorate?
- Will the outdoor arrangements be in the sun? For how long?
- Can we use meadow flowers to keep the budget in check?
Before and after May
Compare May with April, cooler and with wisteria and lilac, and with June, when roses are at their peak and hydrangeas and lavender arrive.
If your date is set, ask for a quote as soon as possible: in May the most sought-after florists are booked early.
