Weddings and flowers go together like confetti and champagne, right? You basically can’t have one without the other. The bouquets, the centrepieces, and the dreamy floral arch at the altar, all add to the magic. But here’s what no one tells you. By the end of the night, once the cake has been eaten, the last slow song has played, and someone’s drunken uncle has been escorted off the dance floor, those gorgeous, expensive blooms?
Well, most of them end up in the bin. Okay, sure, there’s the heated real vs. fake debate when it comes to flowers, so those fake ones will obviously get repurposed again (especially if you rented them).
But when it comes to living flowers, entire bouquets, table arrangements, and massive floral installations were admired for a few hours and then chucked out. Actually, just like uneaten food, flowers are one of the most wasteful parts of a wedding.
So, faux flowers are supposedly not eco-friendly, but at the same time, live flowers go to waste at the end of the day. So, where’s the balance here? How can you make sure that this aspect of your wedding can be eco-friendly?
Choosing Seasonal and Locally Grown Blooms
For starters, not all flowers are created equal. Some have been flown across multiple time zones, pumped full of preservatives, and wrapped in plastic before they even make it into a bouquet. It’s basically the floral equivalent of fast fashion, sure, it’s pretty, but with a massive carbon footprint.
Now, not all flowers are like this, of course. For example, locally grown, seasonal flowers? Well, that’s a whole different story. They’re fresher and more vibrant and haven’t travelled thousands of miles to get to the venue. Plus, they last longer because they haven’t been cut two weeks ago and stored in a refrigerated truck.
But that’s not the only thing either, because they also just look better. Flowers that are meant to bloom in the wedding season always feel the most natural and effortless. Just think about it this way: a spring wedding with delicate tulips? Well, that’s perfect, in-season, and that alone is more eco-friendly.
Why Not Consider Dried Flowers?
Sure, by all means, fresh flowers are gorgeous, but let’s be honest, their shelf life is tragic. One minute, they’re blooming; the next, they’re looking sad and droopy, and by morning, they’re destined for the bin. But when it comes to dried flowers, though? Well, there’s no reason for them not to last the long haul. A lot of people use these for boho-themed weddings, but honestly, it doesn’t need to be only for this sort of theme. Plus, they’re pretty easy to find (and to make, too).
Actually, a great example would be Beards & Daisies flower delivery since they offer beautifully arranged dried bouquets (and fresh flowers, too, of course). But just think about it: there’s no headache when it comes to a dried bouquet and no stress about it wilting. Instead, your dried flowers can be displayed in a vase at home, turned into a floral wreath, or even framed as a keepsake. It’s the easiest way to make wedding florals part of married life instead of just a one-day accessory.
Repurposing Flowers Throughout the Day
It’s a fairly easy hack, right? Well, flowers shouldn’t just be admired once and forgotten. A little planning goes a long way in ensuring they get their moment in the spotlight more than once. For example, are you going to have a stunning floral arch at the ceremony? It doesn’t need to stay there once the vows are exchanged. If you can, just try to move it to the reception entrance, and suddenly it’s doing double duty.
How about pew-end flowers? You can pop them into vases, and they’re instant table centrepieces. Actually, even bridesmaid bouquets can double up as extra decor by placing them around the venue. But yes, this mostly works if your ceremony and reception are in the same venue, but you probably could rearrange for them to be moved if you’re venue hopping, too.
Look into Giving Wedding Flowers a Second Life
There’s no reason wedding flowers should have a strictly one-day-only policy. Once the party’s over, they can still be put to good use (usually, that’s the case). Depending on where you liv,e flower donation programmes are a great way to pass on fresh flowers to hospitals, care homes, or charities, bringing a little joy to people who need it. However, you might need to reach out to places in advance to donate.
Plus, for those who want to keep a few blooms (which most brides do), then drying or pressing petals is a simple way to turn them into a keepsake. How about framed pressed flowers? Well, they’re gorgeous. How about dried petals in a candle? Well, something like that is even better. Sometimes, you can even reach out to resin artists, and they can create a lovely wedding memento for you.
You Need to Start Thinking Beyond Traditional Cut Flowers
So, not every floral element at a wedding has to be cut, arranged, and doomed to wilt. There are so many other ways to bring in that natural, romantic aesthetic without adding to the waste pile.
For example, why not consider potted plants as centrepieces? Depending on the theme and venue for your wedding, this is something that you could potentially do. Plus, this could even double as a wedding favour, as guests could take these home and replant them.
How about herb arrangements mixed with florals? They smell incredible and can be repurposed in the kitchen after the wedding. Even greenery-heavy installations, like hanging ivy or floral chandeliers, feel just as dramatic as fresh blooms but without the same level of waste.
But think about it this way; sometimes, the most eco-friendly wedding flowers aren’t flowers at all.
Yes, by all means, flowers belong at weddings. They bring warmth, beauty, and that extra bit of magic to the day. But the idea that they only have value for a single evening before being thrown away? That’s outdated. There are ways to reuse flowers and prevent waste (and waste of money, too); you’ll need to think outside the box, of course.
