Floral Options for the sustainable bride
The days of thinking the only selection of wedding floral is between real or fake is over. Multiple businesses have put their love for sustainability and science together to bring new, amazing options.
First and foremost, what is the most sustainable option for your wedding bouquet and floral decor?
The answer depends on your desired style and personal preferences.
Florals by Olivia Howard Designs
Let's get real. If you prefer real flowers for your wedding bouquet and decor, focus on locally sourced, in-season flowers and greenery. Locally sourced can be within the town, state, or even country that you are in. As long as it doesn't have to travel across the world to get to your sweetheart table. Talk to your florist about what flowers are in-season during your wedding season. This will ensure a lower carbon footprint and prime freshness.
Getting flowers in-season and local will help with the cost as real flowers can be a bit costly. To additionally help with that factor, I highly recommend weaving greenery into your bouquet and decor pieces. Also, ask your florist about "bud vases" these are a fraction of huge centerpieces and a great way to save money for a more simple style.
PROS AND CONS:
+ Real flowers can be preserved or composted after your wedding. Also, consider donating them to charity funds and hospitals after your wedding day.
- Real flowers will attract insects so if you are scared of bees and go running for the hills, this may be an issue.
- A bit more costly.
+ Real flowers have a genuine aroma that will carry throughout your wedding day as a calming sense.
Florals by Carlos Rivas & Antonio Vieira
Dried flowers show old flowers can learn new tricks! Dried bouquets are another sustainable option you may have not considered. For the florist and particularly the event florist, dried flowers can be re-used and repurposed time after time. If you aren't looking to rent your bouquet or decor, you get to keep your flowers for a long time!
PROS AND CONS:
+ Already preserved so they can be reused or rented.
- A bit more fragile.
- Depending on the flower, there may be no aroma.
+ More affordable than fresh flowers.
Florals by The Cascade Queen
The latest rave in the flower industry, sola wood flowers! Sola wood comes from a tapioca plant root. It is a tropical species of the Euphorbiaceae (spurge) family. The root is cut and peeled and the thin layers are shaped to create flower and greenery dupes! They can also be dyed any color. Sola wood flowers seem to be the best middle ground between fresh and dried flowers. You can go through a local florist, custom order your own, or order from sites such as here where you can buy in bulk for decorating!
PROS AND CONS:
+ Long-lasting and pre-preserved flowers you can reuse.
+ Affordable
- Does come from overseas, bigger carbon footprint.
- No aroma
Florals by Caldwell’s Floral Elegance
Believe it or not, you have the power to make silk/fake flowers sustainable as well. Fake flowers are the most budget-friendly option but come with a big cost to the planet. Just like other plastics, these flowers will last decades if not centuries. Don’t be discouraged. Being sustainable is all about being open to options and a little creativity. Most fake flowers get used once for the wedding day then tossed away.
Here are some ideas on how to give your fake flowers more than one use:
⋒ Don’t stuff your bouquet in a box in the closet. Display them around your home either as centerpieces or in a wedding memory shadow box.
⋒ Make a tradition out of your bouquet! Hang your flowers down to the next family member or friend that gets married and encourage them to do the same. Timeless bouquets will be perfect for multiple weddings even in different styles/color themes.
PROS AND CONS:
- Not biodegradable or compostable.
+ Most Affordable
- No aroma
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