| Decorating with locally grown flowers is a growing | | | | an issue depending on the time of year) |
| trend in wedding planning. Many environmentally | | | | - If you don't know much about what flowers |
| conscious brides want to plan a wedding that is | | | | grow well locally and when they bloom, your local |
| not only beautiful and a lot of fun, but also | | | | county extension office will probably be a good |
| respectful of the environment and supportive of | | | | resource; and they may also be able to connect |
| local businesses. Using locally available flowers - | | | | you with local gardeners who grow the flowers |
| whether from a nursery, greenhouse, or some | | | | you want. |
| generous gardening friends - is one way to have | | | | - If you want organic wedding flowers, be sure to |
| a "green wedding" and also to create a special | | | | ask if the flowers are grown organically before |
| ambiance that imported hothouse flowers can't | | | | you enter into an agreement with someone about |
| match. Live plants and flowers add a special kind | | | | using their flowers. Another option for local |
| of magic to the atmosphere of the ceremony - | | | | wedding flowers that would cost more but |
| and the incredible freshness of locally grown | | | | requires less dependence on the weather is to |
| bouquets adds a blessing of life to your wedding | | | | work with a local nursery or greenhouse. A |
| flowers. | | | | greenhouse, in particular, is a good option if your |
| Local Wedding Flowers | | | | wedding is during a time of year when your |
| Since this trend is so new, though, brides who | | | | favorite flowers aren't blooming. |
| want local (or organic) wedding flowers may need | | | | Some tips to keep in mind: |
| to do a little more work in talking with and | | | | Have a clear idea of what you want before you |
| perhaps educating local businesses to get what | | | | talk to the nursery or greenhouse. They may not |
| they want. Fortunately, brides have a number of | | | | be accustomed to helping out with a wedding and |
| options when using local wedding flowers to fit | | | | may not have time to assist you in fully exploring |
| just about any budget. And as with all other | | | | your options. |
| aspects of a wedding - the sooner you start | | | | Be sure to have a clear idea, too, of your |
| planning, the better! | | | | wedding flower budget, and inform the business |
| Probably the least expensive (but the most | | | | of that budget so you or they won't go |
| labor-intensive) option would be to simply ask | | | | overboard in picking plants. |
| around. Chances are, most brides know quite a | | | | Live plants make a wonderful addition to wedding |
| few people who grow beautiful flowers in their | | | | decorations! Some nurseries and greenhouses |
| yards or gardens and would be happy to supply | | | | have live standing plant arrangements that they |
| the wedding with flowers at little or no cost. | | | | rent out to weddings. |
| Seasonality is a great advantage to this option, | | | | If you know what you want and you like |
| too - you'll only be getting flowers that are | | | | gardening, you may just want to work with the |
| blooming at the same time of the wedding, so | | | | greenhouse to pot your own live flowers and |
| they'll be wonderfully fresh, at their peak of | | | | plants and to keep them at their facility until the |
| beauty and perfume. | | | | wedding. After the ceremony, you'll have potted |
| Some tips to keep in mind: | | | | arrangements to take home or give away to |
| - Be sure to always ask people if they want to | | | | guests. |
| be paid | | | | There are many local wedding flower options |
| - You and/or a helper may have to be the one to | | | | available for the bride willing to be creative and |
| cut, transport, arrange, and store the flowers - | | | | flexible in her planning. The information presented |
| this requires some planning, and it will have to | | | | here just scratches the surface! Using local |
| happen the day before or the day of the | | | | wedding flowers may require more effort than |
| wedding. | | | | simply working with a florist, but the rewards are |
| - Have a backup plan in the event the weather | | | | well worth it. |
| does not cooperate (this will be more or less of | | | | |