Anniversary Flowers by Year: Your Guide to Buying the Right Flowers

38% of men surveyed have forgotten at least one anniversary; that number's 30% for women. So if you've ever forgotten one yourself, you're definitely not alone.

Whether you've just gotten married or have been together for decades, maybe you want to make grand gestures from now on, to show you remember and care. One way to do so it to get your significant other a beautiful fresh bouquet.

But did you know there are different flowers for every anniversary? In this article, we'll give you the anniversary flowers by year so you know which ones to get your spouse.

1st Year: Carnation

The first year of your marriage is the honeymoon phase, where everything feels brand new and fresh. Your love is just beginning to blossom, so it's no surprise that the carnation is the flower for your first anniversary.

This small flower comes in a wide variety of colors and symbolizes admiration and innocence. It also represents your commitment to one another for the rest of your lives. Their vibrancy shows that you'll have years of joy and passion together.

2nd Year: Cosmo or Lily of the Valley

Both of these flowers look a bit more mature than the carnation, but are still small and dainty. You're bound to have gone through tremendous growth in your first 2 years of marriage, and the cosmo (or lily of the valley) show the purity of your marriage, as well as the dedication you've both put in.

Cosmos come in various shades; mostly white, red, pink, and purple. On the other hand, lily of the valley also comes in various colors, such as blue, purple, green, and yellow. But the classic for the latter is white.

3rd Year: Sunflower

A bouquet of sunflowers is guaranteed to put a smile on anyone's face. With its big black-brown center and cheery yellow petals, sunflowers radiate energy and strength.

This makes sunflowers the perfect 3rd year anniversary bouquet. Their thick stems represent the strength and stability of your marriage. And because sunflowers turn their heads during the day to follow the path of the sun, this represents the loyalty in your relationship.

Another interpretation of the sunflower is you've maybe been through trials and tribulations in the first years of your marriage, and both of you have a positive outlook for bright and cheerful times in the future.

4th Year: Geranium or Hydrangea

Both the geranium and hydrangea have clusters of flowers that give bouquets lots of volume. They represent how your marriage has grown in the past few years.

Other meanings for these flowers are appreciation and gratefulness. By year 4 of your marriage, you've learned each other's quirks and have settled into a routine probably. These flowers let you show that you appreciate your spouse's company and wouldn't have it any other way.

5th Year: Daisy

If you think about the daisy, it may seem like a simple flower at first. But if you look at it closely, it actually has quite a complicated structure. This represents many marriages in their 5th years.

Again, it may seem like you've settled into a routine with your loved one. Whether or not that's ideal for you, daisies remind both of you that while life may seem mundane, there's still plenty to discover, about yourself and the world.

Daisies can also symbolize "forever love," gentleness, and innocence.

6th Year: Calla Lily

Calla lilies have an almost opposite look as daisies. They're tall and mature, emanating beauty.

These flowers symbolize the growth of your relationship, as well as wisdom and beauty. While they mostly come in a shade of white, you can also find them in hues of pink.

7th Year: Freesia

For your 7th wedding anniversary, you should give freesias. These flowers have a unique petal shape that gives bouquets a special touch.

Like many of the other flowers on this list, freesias represent trust and faithfulness. They come in all sorts of colors, so you can put together a fantastic bouquet.

8th Year: Lilac

By your 8th year together, you'll probably need a gentle reminder of how your relationship was like in the beginning. Lilacs represent young love, so it's perfect for this wedding anniversary.

This is a great year to look back fondly on your marriage and recall all your first memories together.

9th Year: Bird of Paradise

This exotic flower will add a touch of something special to any room you display these in. This flower symbolizes faithfulness and thoughtfulness. Plus, it celebrates the glory of your love.

The bird of paradise is magnificent, which represents how amazing your marriage is.

10th Year: Daffodil

This is yet another simple flower on the list, and for good reason. When life gets complicated, sometimes what you need is something simple.

A bouquet of daffodils can symbolize how everything came together in both your lives to create 10 wonderful years of memories.

Other Anniversary Flowers

Here's a quick list of the other flowers you should get for the rest of the years:

• 11th year: tulip
• 12th year: peony
• 13th year: chrysanthemum
• 14th year: orchid
• 15th year: rose
• 20th year: aster
• 25th year: iris
• 30th year: lily
• 40th year: gladiolus
• 50th year: yellow roses and violets

Give Anniversary Flowers by Year for a Special Touch

Now that you know the anniversary flowers by year, you won't have to stick to getting your loved one a bouquet of roses every anniversary. Instead, you can give a bouquet with meaning. Not only does it switch things up yearly, but you can explain what each one represents, which can show your spouse you really appreciate your marriage.

If you're looking for an Atlanta florist to put together a wedding anniversary bouquet, then take a look at our selection of fresh flowers. We have same-day delivery available!

Blue For You: 11 Bridesmaid Bouquets in Beautiful Hues of Blue

Did you know that shades of blue take two of the spots in the list of 9 hot wedding color combos for 2020? If you're planning a wedding this and you've got blue on your mind, you are in good company! 

Blue isn't a traditional wedding flower color, so you might have to get creative when it's time to design your bridesmaid bouquets, boutonnieres, and floral arrangements. While blue isn't a commonly seen flower color, blue flowers represent peace, openness, and sincerity, all traits necessary for a successful marriage! 

Here are 7 options to incorporate blue flowers into your big day!

1. Blue Hydrangea

Hydrangeas scream "summer." They are a quintessential summer flower and look gorgeous in bouquets. You can go with an all-hydrangea bouquet or mix in some other flowers, like roses, ranunculus, peonies, or greenery.

The blue color of the flowers depends on the acidity of the soil where they are planted, so you can choose a bolder, deeper hue or more of a pale blue, depending on your color palette. 

2. Grape Hyacinths

Don't let the name fool you. Grape hyacinths are more blue than purple and are a unique bouquet choice because they aren't your traditional flower with a stem and a large flower at the end. Instead, hyacinths have multiple small flowers on a stem. They look lovely in a bouquet on their own, or like hydrangeas, mixed with roses or ranunculus. 

They have a sweet smell too, so you can enjoy the scents of spring and summer every time you catch a whiff of the bridesmaid bouquets! 

3. Succulents 

Succulents might not immediately come to mind when you think of wedding flowers, but they are a unique choice and can absolutely work in a bouquet! Blue succulents come in a variety of hues and can be mixed with other succulents, greenery, or even more traditional flowers. 

They are a great choice for boho-chic weddings.  

4. Cornflower

If you are looking for a bold, bright blue flower, cornflower might be the choice for your bouquets! Cornflower is in season during the spring and summer, and look beautiful on their own or mixed with other flowers. 

Blue cornflower, daisies, and sunflowers make a splashy summer bouquet sure to wow your guests! 

5. Carnations

Carnations aren't just the cheap, filler flower that it has come to be known as. Instead, you can use mini-carnations to make a huge, statement bouquet for not a lot of money. You or your florist can get really creative with carnations to make them look much more expensive than they actually are. 

Carnations can be tinted to match your wedding colors, so you can control how blue they are, whether you want bold and bright or just a light hint of blue along the edges. 

As an added bonus, carnations symbolize love and fascination! 

6. Larkspur

Like hyacinths, larkspur is a flower that has many blooms along the upper end of the flower's main stem. If you want to add height to your bouquets, larkspur is a good choice.

It's also versatile as you can mix it with garden flowers like roses, hydrangeas, and scabiosa. Or, you can take a more wild approach to your bouquets and mix it with daisies, snapdragons, or wax flowers.  

7. Mums 

Like carnations, mum can pack a big punch without a hefty price tag. They are a great pick for fall weddings and are so versatile. Bundles of button mums look great in bouquets or boutonnieres and fuji and football mums will give you the big, bold look you might desire in your bouquets or centerpieces. 

8. Delphinium

Many people think that delphinium and larkspur are the same flower, but they are not! Delphinium flowers are densely packed on the flower stems and the individual blooms are much larger than larkspur. Although they are similar, they are different flowers but can be used in much of the same way. 

9. Dutch Irises 

If you're looking to add a splash of yellow to your blue wedding flowers, consider dutch irises. The bluish-purple blooms have a shock of yellow in the middle, adding an unexpected flourish to your flowers. They are long-lasting flowers and look great in a vase, centerpiece, or bouquet. 

10. Blue Lilies

If you want something unique and rare in your bouquets, a blue lily is one option. Blue Egyptian water lilies are tropical and exotic looking flowers that would really make beach wedding bouquets pop! 

Lilies also mean humility and devotion and are the wedding flower for the 30th anniversary! Why not set the stage for decades of marriage with your flower choice? 

11. Filler Flowers  

If you don't want to go full-on blue for your bouquets, you might consider using some blue filler flowers to accent white, peach, or yellow main flowers. Blue comes in so many shades and is so versatile, you can add it to many different color combinations. 

If you want some blue accents in your bouquets, blue aster (which has a very daisy-like look), Queen Anne's Lace (which has a very pale blue tint), blue Limonium, or statice (which is a purple-blue color) can bring pops of blue to your bouquets and floral arrangements. 

Blue Looks Good on the Sky...And Your Bridesmaid Bouquets 

Picking your wedding flowers is often an overwhelming decision. There are so many colors, flower types, and price points to consider. These ideas for blue bridesmaid bouquets should help you narrow things down based on what aesthetic and price point you are looking for. 

When you're ready to talk to a florist, we can help. Take a look at our portfolio to see what we've done for other brides and grooms and make an appointment with our in-house consultants today!