27 Bright Ways to Use Citrus in Your Wedding

If you're looking for an easy way to brighten up your cold-weather celebration, try incorporating fresh citrus touches. Yes, your favorite fruits, including lemons, oranges, limes, grapefruits and kumquats, double as delicious style details! Peak citrus season occurs during the winter, but the fruity finds feel right at home when used as decor elements at a spring or summer wedding.

Citrus varietals are available in some of our favorite hues for warm-weather nuptials, so they can both complement a spring or summer color palette or entirely redefine a fall or winter celebration. And while they're totally stylish, they're also very affordable. That means you can cut down on pricier blooms and include the cost-effective fruit for that extra splash of visual interest.

You'll be pleasantly surprised how many opportunities you have to add a hint of citrus to your wedding day: From boutonnieres and centerpieces to favors and cake decorations, adding citrus can transform mundane details into something unexpected and exciting. And no matter what time of year you plan to tie the knot, using citrus as a wedding-day accent is an easy and fresh way to add bright pops of color to your wedding reception.

Ready to consider these fun, colorful ideas for your own special day? Then click through to see 27 exciting ways to use citrus throughout your wedding!

A kumquat garland is the perfect colorful accent when paired with a neutral tablescape. Cute mini sprigs of the citrus fruits are a great way to decorate each setting, too!

These bright oranges and grapefruits stand out even more when paired with pretty pink centerpieces.

Citrus makes a great favor, too. This couple packaged ripe grapefruits for a delicious end-of-the-night treat.

Colorful kumquats pair perfectly with elegant pink-and-white peonies to make a pretty centerpiece at this bobo-inspired bash.

Cake-A-Licious upgrades a classic, white wedding cake by adding a few punchy yellow lemons.

Affix simple, calligraphed escort cards to a bright orange for a fun yet affordable escort card option.

Orange accents are a playful part of this rustic peony centerpiece.

Event planner Claudette Hogan uses lemons to anchor hot pink place cards at each seat.

A greenery and orange garland stands out against this elegant black-and-white reception table.

Delicate miniature lemons are the perfect place card accent at this romantic wedding reception.

Trendy greenery chandeliers get a fruity upgrade with the addition of lots of oranges at this citrus-inspired reception.

Campbell Studios uses oranges for a special element in this pretty, rustic centerpiece of garden roses.

A mini arrangement of white ranunculus, oranges, and kumquats are used in place of traditional escort cards.

Simple centerpieces comprised of citrus, cactus, and air plants, which were arranged by Sweet Marie Design, fit the cool vibe of this modern loft wedding.

Self-Serve Lemonade

During cocktail hour, it’s thoughtful to have a self-serve drink station to help alleviate long lines at the bar (you’ll want to serve chilled water alongside something sweet, like lemonade).

Citrus Aisle Decorations

Olive branches and fresh oranges help give the ceremony space a modern Tuscan feel.

Potted Citrus Tree Aisle Decor

A clever aisle idea: placing potted citrus trees (dwarf ones!) along the ceremony aisle to add a zingy punch.

Rustic Bouquet with Citrus

The combination of Juliet garden roses, white spray roses, privet berries, and kumquats feels fresh, organic, and textural.

Tangerine Escort Cards

This couple’s wedding featured a recurring citrus theme, including these unique (and edible) escort cards: laser-cut acrylic “leaves” etched with guests’ names and table numbers and affixed to real tangerines.

Citrus Boutonniere

A citrus theme doesn’t necessarily have to mean informal or casual. Here, a boutonniere fashioned out of kumquats, olive leaves, euphorbia looks perfectly chic against the groom’s formal tuxedo.

Whiskey-Lemonade Cocktails

Love citrus? This whiskey-lemonade libation sounds like a delicious signature cocktail, especially when served with a locally sourced honey for a touch of sweetness.

Lemon & Thyme Wedding Cake

Inside, this three-tier confection features lemon-thyme cake layered with lemon curd and vanilla buttercream; the exterior is covered in lemon buttercream and decorated with candied lemon slices and fresh thyme.

Sugar Kumquats

Instead of sugar flowers, why not accent your wedding cake with sugar fruit? A talented baker can create incredibly realistic-looking fruit embellishments, like these tiny sprigs of kumquats that are actually fashioned from sugar gumpaste.

White Florals with Kumquats

Fresh kumquats add a dash of whimsy and a dose of color to this lush, garden-inspired floral centerpiece.

Citrus Escort-Card Stands

Work with your stationer to create escort cards resembling vintage postcards, then insert them into fresh tangerines to use as holders (so perfect for Florida or California weddings!).

Citrus Trees

Looking for something a bit more unusual than a centerpiece of flowers? Decorate your dinner tables with these adorable miniature kumquat trees in rustic wooden crates. Bonus: They can be planted at home after the wedding’s over.

Bold & Vibrant Bouquet

If you’re hoping to carry a bright and bold bouquet, we love this lush design featuring vibrant magenta peonies, peach tulips, mock orange, smokebush, and fresh kumquats.