make your wedding bloom
if fresh-cut flowers are a must, go organic
Check out nurseries and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in your area for native, local, in-season and organic flowers. Organically grown flowers won’t have any nasty pesticides and help support pollinator populations. Flowers that are native and in season are adapted to the local climate, so they require less water and other resources to grow. Using local flowers also means cutting down on the carbon cost of transportation.
FLOWERS for rent
There are several services that (depending on your location) can help you cut costs by renting you fresh-cut or silk flower arrangements. Fresh-cut flower rentals coordinate with other nearby wedding couples that have the same flower preferences.
Nearly 70% of flowers sold in the United States are grown in Colombia. The transportation and energy costs of importing flowers add to your wedding’s environmental impact.
bouquet alternatives
There are a lot of options to choose from instead of fresh-cut flowers. Instead, get crafty with silk or paper flowers (use recycled sheet music, maps, book pages or gift tissue to make then unique) and eliminate worries about wilting. You can also replace flowers altogether with thrifted lanterns or potted plants that can be taken home by guests.