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Seasonal blooms adorn a candlelit centerpiece for a warm, cozy glow (Courtesy Lavender Hill Wedding and Event Floral)

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Crystals in a white bouquet give the sparkle of a fresh snowfall (Courtesy Stylish Blooms)

April showers may bring beautiful May flowers, but winter blooms make brides swoon.

Seasonal showstoppers like amaryllis, tulips and orchids, crafted into dramatic arrangements, prove these beauties are no stepchildren of summer flora. And while virtually any stem can be imported from warmer climates, flowers that celebrate the season are typically less expensive, more abundant and longer lasting.

"In the winter, brides are looking for a glam look that represents the season's beauty and cleanness," says Melissa Bonoffski, owner of Stylish Blooms in Bristol, Connecticut. Bonoffski uses flowers as a canvas, adding crystals, feathers, silver accents or other bling to give bouquets the sparkle of a fresh snowfall. "It looks like winter when you look at the bouquet," she says. What's more, those flourishes make a big impact against the darker color schemes often chosen for winter weddings.

The definition of a winter flower varies from region to region, but seasonal and year-round choices embraced by floral designers include:

Ranunculus

Stephanotis

Amaryllis

Gerber Daisies

Gardenia

Hydrangeas

Calla Lilies

Poinsettias

Tulips

Chrysanthemums

White-on-white arrangements are crisp and chic. Dawn Hansen, of Lavender Hill Wedding and Event Floral in Huntington Beach, California, tweaks the classic winter-white design by bringing in cooler tones of blues, silvers and sometimes a splash of aqua. "Decorative items such as sandblasted manzanita branches, acrylic ice-shaped ornaments or hanging crystals add in the extra wow factor," she says. Blooms that work well in this combination are white calla lilies, china mums, silvery noble fir and snow-covered tree branches. Take the look up a notch by keeping branches long, tall, and linear. Cluster flowers together on the branches nestled in between the hanging baubles and around the base of the tree. "The finishing touches of the silvery or snow-covered tree branches bring in the wonderful scent of the season," she says.

A monochromatic approach is stunning in any color. Opt for flowers in the same family of tints and shades in varying textures and sizes. Mixing textures is the key. The asymmetry of big fat blooms juxtaposed against their slender and feathery counterparts makes for bouquets and centerpieces that have dimension and movement.

Hansen loves the results of mingling the rich jewel tone colors of the season like wine, merlot, blackberry and crimson. To achieve a sense of abundance, she complements antique hydrangea, dahlia, roses and coffee bean with decorative items like barked branches, red birch, curly willow, crab apples or pomegranates. "Keep the floral design very compact and low and lush to appear as if the container is overflowing and can't take another stem," she says. She completes the look by nestling red votive candles in the arrangement or around on the table. "This design style is just like sitting by the fire with a hot cup of cocoa and catching up with family and friends."

The selection of winter blooms may be more limited but the possibilities are endless. In the hands of an artful floral designer, seasonal flowers "bring the fantasy dream of a winter wonderland wedding all together," says Bonoffski.

Iyna Bort Caruso