6. ECO FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS
Of course, flower arrangements are an indispensable part of the wedding day. However, depending on the size of your bridal party and wedding in general, flowers can be the biggest throw-away item from your wedding. When it comes to floral styling for your green and sustainable wedding, consider the following with your wedding planner, wedding venue and florist.
Reuse ceremony arch flowers for your bridal table decoration as this will save you having to fork-out for extra floral arrangements and will continue the theme from your ceremony to the reception.
Choose local and seasonal
Flowers or floral decorations can contribute to the biggest wastage on your wedding day. Choosing local and seasonal flowers and greenery means smaller carbon-footprint, lower delivery costs, and more natural and organically looking arrangements. If your favourite flowers are out of season or are exotic, it might be tempting to ship them to your chosen destination and be done with it.
Try imagining the result though — will it look natural and in its place? Will it contribute to the overall ambiance of the place? Usually, the answer is no, and choosing varieties that are native to the area is actually more appealing.
Potted flowers as table decorations
Choosing to decorate your dining tables with potted flowers and herbs is a wonderfully eco-friendly idea. They can later be donated to the local conservatory or taken home by the guests and yourself. Beautiful way to preserve memories and share a passion for natural world.
Avoid floral foam
Floral foam is widely used by florists due to its ability to prolong the life of flowers (it soaks up water), and the possibility to create truly extraordinary shapes and arrangements with flowers. However, the problem is that it’s not biodegradable and actually toxic, and most of it ends up being down the sink or in a landfill where it never decomposes. More conscious and forward-thinking florists use foam-free ways to make their arrangements, such as chicken wire and flower frogs, all of which are multiple-use and help create more natural, organically looking free-form arrangements. Also, request that your florist try not to use cellophane with the delivery of your bouquets.
Compost & recycle
If you do use cut flowers in your decorations, make sure to discuss with your florists what happens to it all after dismantling. More often than not, flowers are thrown away right after, regardless of their state (and let’s face it, they are usually in perfect condition by the end of the night and can last at least a couple more days). If the flowers look fresh, you can agree to donate them to a nursing home or let the wedding venue use them for their other events in the near future.
A great way to handle the waste is to also turn used flowers into compost.
Discuss this with your venue and find the solution that works best for all parties.
The florist may be able to repurpose them so work with your venue to ensure that they are handled with care after your wedding ceremony or celebration.