I can see what you mean about having an elegant dress, and then having sunflowers in your bouquet! It doesn't *quite* go together. Sunflowers are a bit more informal.

That being said, I think the colors are gorgeous, and can be very elegant in themselves, if the flowers are not quite so.

My concern would be, would you have flowers that late? When in October is the wedding?

Dahlias can be more elegant, and bloom for me fairly late although I can't remember off the top of my head HOW late - at least late September, I think. I once grew an absolutely gorgeous dahlia called End of Summer, which did not even begin to bloom till the end of fall, lol - way into October and even November (although it was a very warm autumn that year). Unfortunately the color probably wouldn't do well for you. However, there are lots of red, yellow, and orange dahlias to choose from. I would just go to a vendor's site (Dan's Dahlias, Swan Island, Frey's) and just look through their pictures.

Goldenrod (solidago) is a nice fall flower, and of course mums and asters can be had.

As for sunflowers, there are lots to choose from. I grow two that are a deep, brownish red - Velvet Queen and Prado Red. One of them is really almost brown - might actually be ugly if it weren't so unusual, and it can be used to complement other sunflowers.

I've also grown Earthwalker, Bees Knees, and Pastiche, which are bicolor/mixed color sunflowers. Sparky is a kind of cool, quilled sunflower. And then a quick search at T&M showed a sunflower called Claret which was described as having a "gorgeous metallic sheen", and Little Dorrit, which has beautiful big centers.

There are so many sunflowers. Again, I would go to a vendor site such as T&M or Johnny's and just search through their offerings.

Let's see... I don't suppose you would have helenium that late? Or maybe heliopsis? Monkshood? Sedum? How about some pansies - the large icicle pansies can be quite eye-catching.

Ooh, I just thought of something - how about ornamental kale? They come in pinks, purples, reds and whites, and can be absolutely beautiful - and don't forget the smaller, cut-flower kales. Like roses in fall - gorgeous!

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=ornamental%20kale&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

I would also do a google search for fall wedding flowers. I'm sure you would find lots of ideas, aside from the orange roses from the florist, lol.

Good luck. Please let us know what you and your niece decide. What an exciting project!

:)
Dee

Here is a link that might be useful: cut-flower kale

Thanks for so many great suggestions! I've printed them out.

I love chocolate cosmost for weddings! They bloom here even after a light frost. I grow them as annuals, although about 30% do return for me. They're also great bouts!

They look great with zinnias (wine/crimson) and dahlias (burgandys/oranges). You might add cream dahlias, asiatic lilies -- which if planted in July/early August should be ready. Some of the shorter duration asiatics would make it by then, unless you have a hard frost.

Also, lisianthus is in all sorts of great colors, including cream, and they take all year for me...outdoors without a hoophouse though...

Good luck,

Wendy

Cherokee Sunset Rudbeckia is a mix of colours including gold and brown

Thanks for the extra tips.

We'll be watching the frost dates closely this year. Late spring freeze has been as issue.

Maybe my sister will spring for a hoophouse????