I am so excited to be back on the Huntsmill blog and today I have a real treat for you! I have had the privilege to work with Lizzy from The Flower Story on a tropical themed styled shoot we did back in July 2019. Today she’s hear to talk to you all about how to have beautiful but more eco-friendly flowers at your wedding. She’s a true master of her craft so settle in and listen up!
Flowers are such an important part of a wedding. Not only are they beautiful and smell delicious but they work hard for you too. They can bring a colour scheme together and fill your ceremony room with life, movement and texture. They also create memories – the scent of a stunning garden rose will forever transport you back to your wedding day. Plus let’s face it, there is nothing like an arrangement of really good flowers (I admit it, as a florist and flower lover I might be a little biased here!)
Historically weddings and being eco-friendly haven’t gone hand in hand. However, times are changing fast and at The Flower Story sustainability, recycling, re-using and reducing are all very important aspects of the business and we always take time to chat through this with our clients.
If you are planning a wedding and you would like to have flowers but want to be more eco-friendly here are a few things you can think about.
Sourcing flowers
If you are conscious about air miles then British and locally grown flowers are a great option. British flowers are known for their quirky looks and beautiful scent. Each flower will be slightly different but it will be full of character!
British flowers are at their peak between April and September. So if you love an organic, natural look and your wedding falls in the right month ask your florist about using locally grown flowers in your arrangements.
Seasonality is an important consideration when exploring locally grown flowers. Joules from Willow and Thyme has written a great blog post about this here.
Alternatives to cut flowers
If you want to steer clear of cut flowers there are alternatives. Herbs, plants and trees are all beautiful and can be used at your wedding. Ceremony arches made out of birch trees surrounded by foxgloves, grasses and moss look beautiful and after your wedding they can be planted in your garden.
Small potted herbs and plants intertwined with ivy and votives look great dotted down long tables. After your wedding you can create a herb garden that will provide herbs for cooking for months after your big day.
Recycling
Think about the vessels you are using for your flowers. Try and avoid plastic and use glass vases, or even better recycled, glass vases. Don’t feel you have buy lots of new vases or tea light holders for your wedding. You can hire them (your florist will have plenty to choose from), borrow them from a friend or hunt down gorgeous second hand ones in charity shops. Or you can use jam jars or gin bottles. All of these make great vases and look beautiful when filled with flowers.
Single use plastics
Recent studies have shown how damaging floral foam is to the environment. For many years florists have used foam as a way to anchor flowers in arrangements using it in arches, table centres, urn arrangements – pretty much everywhere. Unfortunately it is a non biodegradable plastic which is full of carcinogenic chemicals. It’s pretty nasty stuff.
When you talk to your florist ask them how they are planning to make your stunning ceremony arch or statement urn. A good florist will have plenty of foam free alternatives up their sleeve. Perhaps it will be something as simple as chicken wire and water filled vessels. And not only does this give your arrangements a more natural look your flowers will be a lot happier sitting in water too.
Re-using
Think about what is going to happen to your flowers after your wedding. If you would like your guests to take flower posies home with them this may determine the type of table centres you have. Small hand tied bouquets dotted down your guest tables are easy to scoop out of their vases and give to your guests. Flower filled urns are easy to donate to flower lovers. Flower garlands wound round candelabras can be a little trickier!
And if you are having a statement flower arch or a flower filled milk churn ask your florist to pop all the flowers into buckets for you when they are taking them apart.
And lastly, when your flowers have done their thing don’t thrown them in landfill. Pop them in the compost bin, let them break down and then work them back into the soil.
If you’d like to talk to Lizzy from The Flower Story you can find all her details on our preferred partners page here.
