There are plenty of ways to have beautiful wedding flowers on your special day. Here are some eco-friendly ideas to add to the mix!
While they're always stunning, not all wedding flowers are sourced or grown in environmentally friendly ways. If this is something that matters to you, then it's important to know what your options are. We've listed some of them for you below!
Sustainable Growth
It's easy to think that all flowers are eco-friendly by their nature, due to their links to… well, nature. However, lots of florists often use pesticides to keep away creatures like insects, which isn’t great for biodiversity. The chemicals they use can also be a cause of water pollution.
Some growers are using organic fertilisers like fish emulsion, which is much better than any chemical-based equivalent for people looking to be more eco-friendly. Speak to your florists about where they source their flowers and try to buy your wedding flowers from whoever best shares your values!
Image courtesy of Christin Noelle
Certified Flowers
If you know what to look for, then buying eco-friendly wedding flowers becomes that bit easier. Look for certified labels and Fairtrade Marks, all of which guarantee fair terms on trade. While these tags can highlight worker's rights, they can also draw attention to things like eco-friendly production methods.
Image courtesy of NeONBRAND
Avoid Chemicals and Plastics
Many florists use foam blocks to keep the stems of floral decorations and bouquets in place. However, these often contain plenty of toxic elements such as formaldehyde and barium sulphates, which cause irritation in the eyes and skin. For an eco-friendly alternative, use vases or jars for floral displays, while chicken wire can be used to keep the stems safe and secure.
Image courtesy of Linda Lee
Paper Wrappings
Your dream bouquet is bound to look nice and natural on the day, but when they’re delivered, the bad news is that they might be all wrapped up in plastic! Well of course that's not eco-friendly, so it’s a good idea to ask your florist to wrap the flowers in paper instead. It's a small change, but it has significant results!
Image courtesy of Lizzie @amianyuhua
Paper Flowers
Flowers don't need to be the real thing to be pretty. If you go down the DIY route, you can make your flowers from reusable and recyclable papers instead. They can also be quite unique to your day because your flowers can then fit your chosen colour scheme.
Image courtesy of agustinbg
In-Season Flowers
If your heart is set on real flowers, choosing in-season options is the best way to go. This is because a lot of commercially grown flowers sit in fridges for preservation or are flown all around the world, which comes with a hefty carbon footprint! Source locally grown flowers as they'll be in-season, fresh, and most likely cheaper too!
Image courtesy of Free Photos
Local Florists
If in doubt, buy from your local florist! You can make special requests and enquiries, and the flowers you're ordering are more likely to have been grown locally. If you’re not sure, don’t be afraid to ask. Of course, you’ll also be side-stepping all the emissions that online deliveries can cause, too!
Image courtesy of Adrienn
Are you planning an eco-friendly wedding? Take a look at our guide on sustainable wedding ideas for more inspiration!