Summer time and the living is easy! Long gone are the howling winds of winter and here come the lazy, sunny, days that stand so bright in childhood memories. Summer weddings are the most popular, so you may need to choose and order your flowers earlier than other times.

Florists are sure to be dealing with several weddings at once no matter what date you choose, so make sure you give them plenty of time to handle your order. The good news is that flowers to celebrate this time of year really include just about everything.

Some colors to look at are those cool blues and bright yellows that mimic the sun and sky. Bold favorites like strong purples, deep reds, and brilliant oranges are really at home during this season. You won't risk freezing more tropical flowers and your chances for good weather for an outdoor wedding increase. All of these factors really increase the opportunity to use all sorts of flowers for a summer wedding.

Sunflowers, radiating in an arc out of a mahogany basket, can bring the look of the rising sun to your morning wedding. Black Eyed Susan and tendrils of Climbing Ivy would make colorful pew bows for an afternoon service. Night Blooming Jasmine adds an exotic scent to an evening event. Dramatic stalks of Holly Hock and Foxglove can be arranged in white urns for the front of the church or in glinting, cut glass vases for the reception tables. Orange, red, or yellow Roses in the bride's bouquet and hair reflect the bright days of the season. Pair all that fire with deep green ferns or white Lilly of the Valley and their vibrant color will really shine.

Give some thought to these flowers to give a summer wedding some sizzle.

• Hyacinth
• Sunflowers
• Foxglove
• Rose
• Lilies
• Bachelor Buttons
• Geraniums (pink, red, white, blue)
• Moss Rose
• Poppy (red, orange, yellow)
• Columbine
• Holly Hock
• Carnations
• Daisy
• Berries (Blueberry or Raspberry)
• Pansy

Outdoor weddings are more common in the summer months and location can be a place to start when choosing your summer wedding flowers. If your perfect spot offers panoramic views or a natural backdrop of flowers, think about using contrasting colors or different blooms in the same shade. For example, if your ceremony will be in the Rose section of the local botanical garden, you might want to use a few of the same Roses and then deep blue flowers in your bouquets and pew bows. The blue in your flowers will highlight the waves of color that nature is providing, but the contrast will bring your guests attention back to the ceremony. If you are planning a beach side ceremony, look to the sea for summer colors that inspire. The deep blue of Bachelor Buttons or Iris would sit brightly on a sandy background of creamy Tulips. If the Caribbean is more your idea of a beach celebration, look at the fiery red and sunny yellow that Poppies can bring. Wild Flowers tied up in lace and raffia will carry your country theme easily for a western wedding. Clematis and Climbing Roses are summer winners that easily bring romance to arches, arbors and swags. Norfolk Pines in rustic barrels and laced with Daisy garland would add a rustic touch to your mountain wedding. Rose Topiaries, blooming for a daytime wedding or strung with twinkling white lights for an evening affair, deliver elegance and an intoxicating sent to the reception area.

Summer weddings range from formal intimate affairs, to all out fiestas, and everything in between. Don't let all your summer wedding flower choices intimidate you. Dive right in and let your choices reflect the unique spirit of your wedding.