Tips for Environmentally Sound Wedding Flowers

February 9, 2009 by Mandy Schmitt
Filed under Featured, Wedding Planning

If you think that greening the flowers for your wedding is an easy task, you may be in for a surprise. After our experience (Part I, Part II) we assembled this list to help you on your journey to find both style and sustainability in your wedding flowers.

Choose a florist that has experience in or can guarantee environmentally sound wedding flower. Emily Anderson, Eco chic Wedding author, recommends floral designer Livia Cetti, owner of The Green Vase.
Choose flowers that are cultivated in a sustainable method. Think organic vegetables and fair trade coffee. Fair Flowers Fair Plants (FFP) is a new initiative to stimulate the production and sales of flowers and plants cultivated in a sustainable manner. FFP offers a search feature so that you can find FFP certified growers and retailers in your area.
Choose flowers that are fair trade certified. Fair Trade Certified Flowers label “on your bouquet means that flower workers, most of whom are women, can put food on their tables, send their children to school, invest in community development, and use sustainable farming methods” according to TransFair USA. Click here for of list of certified vendors.
Use local flowers. You may have to sacrifice local for regionally and domestically grown. Avoiding flowers are flown in from another part of the US or another continent will help you lower your carbon footprint.
Choose flowers that are native and in season in your area. You will have a better chance that you’ll be able to find them from a local or regional grower. Most states have native plant societies that can be great sources of information. Here are a few Georgia Native Plant Society, California Native Plant Society, Native Plant Society of New Jersey, Native Plant Society of Texas, Native Plant Society of Washington
Use flowers and greenery from your back yard. Some florists will also allow you to supply your own flowers for them to use in your arrangements. For example, hydrangeas are popular wedding flowers that bloom readily in the late spring and early summer.
Avoid the use of invasive species. Invasive species are devastating our local streams and rivers. Most of these invasives have been introduced for landscaping and aesthetic purposes. By avoiding using them in your wedding you are avoiding being part of the problem. Visit the National Invasive Species Information Center for more information.
Use potted plants for table arrangements. These can be great gifts for special people in the wedding. Be sure to go for native plants and avoid invasive species.
Use edible arrangements and fruit. My Eco Chic Weddings offers a fun and attractive faux rose table centerpiece made of cupcakes! Do It Yourself Weddings and Earthly Affairs.com show you how to elegantly use fruit as centerpieces. Edible Arrangements also offer a delicious alternative to the traditional.
Use the same flowers at your rehearsal dinner and reception. Reduce, reuse, recycle. J
Structure your floral decorations so that guest can take them home after the wedding events.
Compost the floral arrangements that are not used after the wedding events.