Tuberose: The Underrated Wedding Flower That Transforms Golden Hour Bouquets
Tuberose may be the most underrated flower for wedding bouquets—and that’s exactly what makes it so special.
For this styled shoot near the shores of South Holston Lake in East Tennessee, a talented group of photographers envisioned a romantic bouquet with a soft, airy color palette and a size no wider than the waist. The setting was pure magic: the sun dipping low over the hills, the light shifting into that dreamy golden hour glow that feels tailor-made for Blue Ridge microweddings and mountain elopements.
As luck—and seasonality—would have it, some truly exceptional blooms were flowering at that moment on our farm and I was so happy to create something truly unique and of-the-season for these artists. Ruby pink buckwheat brought subtle pops of color and interest. Robust dahlias added depth and structure. Dancing cosmos and cheerful zinnias lent a playful, late-summer romance. It was already a recipe for beauty.
But the true hero of this bouquet was a single, unexpected stem—one of my personal secret weapons for wedding designs that stop people in their tracks when they experience them in person: double tuberose.
Why Tuberose Is a Floral Designer’s Best-Kept Secret
Tuberose may not yet be a household name in the wedding flower world, but chances are it already feels familiar. For centuries, tuberose has been prized in fine perfumery for its rich, intoxicating fragrance. If you’ve ever fallen in love with a floral perfume and couldn’t quite place why, there’s a good chance tuberose played a role.
Tuberose shares a fascinating trait with jasmine and night phlox: it’s a night-blooming flower. These blooms reach their peak openness—and fragrance—around dusk. Notice a pattern? Night-blooming flowers are often white. Their luminous color and powerful scent help nighttime pollinators find them in low light.
And what a gift that is for evening celebrations.
For sunset ceremonies, golden hour portraits, and intimate Blue Ridge weddings, tuberose truly shines. As the light softens and the air cools, its fragrance seems more pronounced and utterly perfect in the moment, wrapping the festivities in something unforgettable.
Designing With Scent: Creating a Wedding Day Memory
Scent is one of the strongest triggers of memory. Long after the flowers have faded, a fragrance can instantly transport you back to how the day felt. Including tuberose in a wedding bouquet doesn’t just elevate the design visually—it creates a lasting sensory memory.
And the beauty of tuberose is that a little goes a long way.
For this East Tennessee styled shoot, just one stem of double tuberose was woven into the bouquet. That single stem was enough to transform the entire fragrance profile of the arrangement, adding depth, warmth, and intrigue. The intrigue is my favorite part! It’s happened too many times to count that I’ve had someone smell a bouquet with tuberose, look up with astonishment and joy on their face, and ask, “What is that?!”
Model Hannah (Hannah Murray Photography) is wearing a gown by AW Bridal. I can’t get over the dreamy light of summer dusk in this photograph by Sam Bond Photography.
The Art of Harvesting Tuberose for Wedding Bouquets
Tuberose also offers incredible versatility in design. Individual flowers open gradually from the bottom up along the raceme, allowing the bloom to evolve beautifully over time.
Personally, I prefer harvesting tuberose when only two or three rows of flowers have opened at the base. The unopened ombré-shaded buds above create a soft effect that feels lush and romantic. Those sculptural buds add texture and a sense of abundance—perfect for microweddings, garden-inspired celebrations, and mountain elopements where every detail is intentional.
Locally Grown, Intentionally Designed
At Strawberry Moon Blooms, we grow specialty cut flowers like tuberose right here in East Tennessee, allowing us to design with blooms you won’t find in other designs. These flowers are fleeting, seasonal, and deeply connected to place—just like the most meaningful celebrations.
Whether you’re planning a Blue Ridge mountain elopement, an intimate lakeside microwedding, or a golden hour ceremony surrounded by nature, incorporating specialty flowers like tuberose creates a wedding floral experience that feels elevated, personal, and unforgettable.
If you ever have the chance to experience tuberose in person, I’d love to hear what you think! It has a way of surprising people—in the very best way.
