From Kingscliff 2007 to Now: Why June Weddings Beat the Summer Heat (and the Flowers to Prove It)

Why June is Actually Perfect for a Tweed Coast Wedding

I remember sitting in our little florist shop on Marine Parade in Kingscliff back in June 2007, staring out the window at this impossibly blue sky, thinking to myself, why is nobody getting married right now? The shop was dead quiet, as per usual in winter. We could count the number of customers on one hand. But the weather, I mean the weather was perfect. Low twenties, barely a cloud, none of that sticky humidity you get in summer.

Turns out most couples were waiting for spring or summer, which I understand, sort of, because that's what everyone does. But here's what they were missing.

June on the Tweed Coast is the driest month of the year. Seven average rainy days, compared to eleven in February. Temperatures sit around 21 to 22 degrees, which is comfortable for everyone, including your grandmother in that outfit she's been planning for months. The sun sets around 6pm with these soft pastel colours that photographers absolutely lose their minds over. I've lived here for almost 19 years now and I still get caught staring at those winter sunsets over Cudgen Creek, same as I did the first time we drove across that old rickety bridge in 2006.

The thing is, back when we had the shop, we didn't really understand why June weddings made so much sense. We were too busy trying to figure out how to pay rent and convince people to buy organic skincare alongside their birthday flowers. It wasn't until years later, after we'd built up Lily's Florist and started talking to venue owners across the region, that the penny properly dropped, not literally as we had barely anything in the till back then :)!

What We Saw Coming Through the Shop Door in June

Our florist supplier back then and contactor who made all our flowers (remember we were and are not florists), a lovely woman who worked from her home in Kingscliff and would deliver fresh arrangements to us every morning, she used to get quite animated about winter flowers. Not excited in a loud way, more like a quiet sort of pride.

"The natives are at their absolute best right now," she told me one freezing morning, and by freezing I mean about 14 degrees which is practically arctic by Kingscliff standards. She was holding up these banksias with the most incredible texture, alongside some leucadendrons in this rich burgundy colour that I can still picture clearly. "People don't realise what's available in June because they're not looking."

She was right. And it took me years of running an online flower delivery business across Australia to properly understand why.

Here's the thing about winter flowers in Northern NSW that most people don't grasp until someone explains it. Our winter is different. We're subtropical, which means the cold doesn't bite the same way it does in Melbourne or even Sydney. The frosts are rare, the days are still sunny, and the flower growers in the region can produce blooms that wouldn't survive further south. It's a sweet spot that I honestly didn't appreciate when we were running the shop because I was too busy worrying about whether our baby was crawling into the fridge display. As you can see by the pic below, far left, she (Asha) is NO baby anymore.

The Flowers That Actually Thrive in June Around Here

Let me tell you what's actually in season, and more importantly, why it matters for your wedding.

Australian Natives

Banksias are the obvious choice, and for good reason. They're sculptural, they last forever, and they photograph beautifully against the hinterland backdrop. But the reason they work so well for June weddings specifically is that they're at peak condition. The cooler weather means they hold their form without wilting, which is not something you can say about summer blooms left out during a February ceremony. I've seen too many wilted roses at summer weddings to pretend otherwise.

> View our range of native Australian flowers

Grevilleas come in these vivid reds and oranges and pinks that add serious texture. They're not traditional bridal flowers, which is exactly why they stand out. Wattle brings that cheerful yellow burst, and it's incredibly hardy. Leucadendrons and proteas, which are technically South African but grown widely in Australia now, are structure flowers that make a statement without screaming for attention.

The Romantic Winter Blooms

Ranunculus is peak in late winter, which means June is right in the zone. These have those delicate layered petals that look soft but hold up remarkably well. Hellebores, sometimes called the Winter Rose, add a romantic garden style touch that works particularly well at hinterland venues like Plantation House or Farm & Co. Sweet peas are fragrant and ruffled and bring that old fashioned romance without looking dated.

Tulips are a winter staple that most people don't associate with our region, but they're available and they're elegant. Simple, clean lines, available in almost any colour. Anemones are dramatic and whimsical, perfect if you're going for a moody palette. Stock is beautifully scented and comes in dusty pinks, whites, purples and mauves.

The reason this matters practically, and this is something I wish someone had explained to me when we were doing flowers in the shop, is that seasonal flowers are fresher, they're more affordable, and they don't require importing from overseas which adds cost and uncertainty. When you try to get peonies in June, which are technically a late spring flower, you're paying premium for blooms that may have travelled halfway around the world and might not last through your reception.

What the Wedding Venues Are Seeing

Another florist friend of ours, who we met when we lived in Pottsville and is in Melbourne now, who used to work at some of the most beautiful wedding venues on the Tweed Coast. Osteria in Casuarina, Ancora on the waterfront in Tweed Heads, Botanica at Plantation House in the hinterland, and Farm & Co out in Cudgen. Between them, they'd see hundreds of weddings a year, and Tarshy has been watching the trends shift for a long time now.

"Winter used to be our quiet season," Tarshy told me recently. "But couples are waking up to what we've known for years. The light in June is extraordinary. Those golden hour photos you get at 4pm, with the sun low and soft over the hinterland or the water, you can't replicate that in summer when the sun doesn't set until half past seven."

Tarshy makes a good point about the photography, but there's another practical element he mentioned that I hadn't thought about before.

"Your flowers last all day in June. At Farm & Co, we do these long lunch receptions outside, and in summer you're watching the florals on the tables start to droop by 2pm. In winter, they look as good at sunset as they did at the ceremony. That matters more than people realise until they see the difference."

This is one of those practical details that doesn't make the wedding magazines but makes a real difference on the day. Your florist puts hours into those table arrangements, the last thing you want is them wilting before the speeches.

Tarshy also mentioned something about the venues themselves that connects back to flowers.

"At Plantation House, you've got the orchard and those incredible views over Mount Wollumbin. In June, the light is warmer, the colours are richer, and the native florals from the region complement the landscape rather than competing with it. At Ancora, the water takes on this silver quality in winter that's completely different from summer. Smart couples are choosing their flowers to match the season and the venue, rather than fighting against it."

Practical Tips for Your June Wedding Flowers

Work With a Florist Who Knows the Region

This sounds obvious but it matters more than you'd think. A florist based in the Tweed Heads or Byron Bay region will have relationships with local growers, they'll know what's genuinely in season, and they'll understand how the subtropical climate affects flower longevity. When we were running our shop in Kingscliff, the difference between a locally sourced arrangement and something trucked down from Brisbane was stark. The local flowers lasted longer and looked fresher because they hadn't spent hours in a van.

Trust the Expertise

I learned this the hard way in 2008. A customer came into our shop absolutely set on a particular flower for her daughter's birthday, something I can't even remember now, but it was definitely not in season. Our florist supplier gently suggested alternatives that would look similar and last longer. The customer refused. The result was underwhelming, expensive, and the flowers were wilted by the next morning. The point is, if your florist suggests winter blooms for your June wedding, there's a reason. They're not trying to upsell you or cut corners. They're trying to give you the best result.

Consider the Venue's Natural Setting

If you're getting married at Farm & Co in Cudgen, surrounded by macadamia orchards and sunflower fields, native flowers and earthy tones will complement rather than clash. If you're at Ancora overlooking the water, softer romantic blooms might suit the Mediterranean atmosphere. If you're at Osteria in Casuarina, close to the beach, you've got options either way. The mistake is picking flowers in isolation without thinking about where they'll actually sit.

Budget for Quality, Not Quantity

Seasonal flowers are generally more affordable because they don't need importing, which means your budget goes further. But here's what Tarshy said that stuck with me: "I'd rather see a bridal bouquet with six perfect winter roses than twenty mediocre imported stems. The photos will tell the difference." He's right. Fewer, better quality flowers styled well will always look more impressive than an overwhelming arrangement of average blooms.

Plan for the Conditions

June evenings can get cool, especially in the hinterland. This is actually good news for your flowers because they'll hold up beautifully, but think about your ceremony timing. Late afternoon ceremonies work brilliantly in winter, catching that golden hour light that Tarshy mentioned, and your bouquet will look perfect throughout. Early morning ceremonies in the cooler temperatures mean your flowers stay fresh all day. The one thing to avoid is leaving arrangements in direct sunlight for extended periods, which applies in any season really.

A Quick Note on Wedding Related Flower Deliveries

While Lily's Florist doesn't do wedding floristry directly, we've been sending flowers all over Australia since 2009, including to countless wedding guests, bridal party members, and congratulatory deliveries to newlyweds. If you need to send flowers to someone involved in a June wedding on the Tweed Coast, our network of over 800 partner florists includes experienced local operators who understand exactly what's in season.

What started in our little shop on Marine Parade (as per pic above), me and Andrew trying to figure out how to help all those callers who wanted flowers delivered to places like Murwillumbah, and Byron Bay, has grown into something we're genuinely proud of. Every order still goes to a real florist with a real shop, made by trained hands, delivered by local couriers. No warehouses, no Australia Post overnight shipping, no production lines.

That model exists because of what we learned running a florist in Northern NSW. The same lessons about seasonal flowers, local knowledge, and quality over quantity that apply to wedding floristry also apply to the flowers we send every day through our partner network.

> Learn more about us and out network here

June on the Tweed Coast is something special. Andrew and I still live here, almost 19 years after driving across that old timber bridge into Kingscliff for the first time. The winter light still catches me off guard some afternoons, the creek reflecting colours I couldn't describe properly if I tried. If you're planning a wedding here in June, you're choosing one of the most beautiful times of year in one of the most beautiful places in Australia. Your flowers should reflect that.

This industry perspective was shared by Siobhan and Andrew Thomson, co-founders of Lily’s Florist, who have been part of the Australian floral community since opening their first shop in Kingscliff in 2006.