As originally seen in The Colorado Wedding Magazine
by Maréa Janae
If the wildflower tattoo sprawling across my right arm and the fact that I’m more often than not seen clothed in a floral-print fabric aren’t a dead giveaway, I’m kind of in love with flowers. I would argue that, in their full blooming glory, flowers and love are two of the most beautiful natural phenomena on this gorgeous green earth. Thus it only makes sense that flowers and weddings are an inseparable match, dating back as long as can be remembered. The desire to adorn yourself and your festive space with bright blooms seems simply an intuitive way to portray the love blooming inside of you.
While at first glance, it may be hard to imagine how something as natural as flowers could have any negative environmental impacts, unfortunately that’s not the case. Between heavy use of harmful pesticides, carbon emissions created by refrigerating and shipping fresh flowers halfway around the globe, and plastic waste created in the packaging and displaying of the arrangements, the hidden harm caused by the floral industry quickly adds up. But don’t lose heart! You can have an earth-conscious wedding that is bursting with beautiful blooms! When it comes to eco-friendly floral options, there are many ways to go green and no single “right answer”; if you’re choosing to be mindful of the planet, you’re doing it right! Let’s talk about what a few of those options are, whether you opt to keep it classic with live cut stems or explore another alternative.
What kind of flowers will you use?
While you may have assumed that live cut stems are your only option for wedding day floral arrangements given their overwhelming popularity, there are actually several other options, each with their own environmental and aesthetic benefits. Keep reading to hear our hot take on the four best eco-friendly floral options out there.
Wood Flowers
If you’re looking for the wedding flower option with the lowest carbon footprint, wood flowers are your best bet. They are usually made from a plant grown in Southeast Asia, harvested and processed by hand, and shipped across the ocean by boat. Due to their renewable sourcing, the lowered emissions from transit, and the fact that they’re completely biodegradable, a wood flower bouquet may produce 90% less emissions than one made from imported fresh flowers! (1) Just be sure yours are colored with natural dyes and attached to wooden stems to avoid unwanted waste and ensure their compostability.
Wood flower arrangements, like those crafted by Denver-based florist Payte's Petals, can provide a different but no less gorgeous look and feel for your wedding bouquets and centerpieces. They may be a great way to change things up and give your event a unique, natural aesthetic. Another major plus is that you can display the flowers in your home for years to come!
Silk Flowers
“Silk” flowers, which are typically made not of silk but rather synthetic materials such as plastic and latex, may not seem like an eco-friendly pick, but let's dig a little deeper. We have a lot to say about this topic, so it deserves its own blog post! CLICK HERE for an article all about one of the newest and most budget-friendly floral trends, silk flowers.
Potted Plants
While you can’t exactly replace your bridal bouquet or groom’s boutonniere with them, potted plants can be a great alternative for your ceremony decor and reception centerpieces. Purchase some potted succulents, house plants, or even flowers from a local garden center, replant them in pots that match your color scheme, and use them to add life and color to your wedding decor. Afterward, you can decorate your home with these beauties, which is about the most eco-friendly decor choice you could make! Or you can gift them to your guests as their wedding favor, making it a cost-effective keepsake that they'll cherish for as long as they can keep their new plant alive!
Freshly Cut Stems
I get it - if you’re a flower lover like me, you know that nothing can truly replace the sweet aroma of freshly cut flowers on your wedding day. If having live flowers to adorn your celebration is a non-negotiable for you, there are plenty of ways that you can put the planet first with your big day blooms. CLICK HERE to follow along as I share a few key lessons I’ve learned from the florists I’ve interviewed and worked alongside through the years.
So much more could be said on the topic of sustainability within wedding florals, but I hope what I’ve shared will at least spark your interest, inspire fresh ideas, and get the wheels turning for you to consider how to truly put the planet first, both with your floral arrangements and in other important aspects of your big day. No action is too small. Every earth-conscious decision you choose really does make a difference as we work to shift the tide and move the wedding industry to a more sustainable future. If you have any questions about how to make your wedding more mindful of Mama Earth, drop them in the comments below!
Sources
https://silkstemcollective.com/environmental-impact-of-sola-wood-flowers/
https://silkstemcollective.com/eco-friendly-wedding-flowers-carbon-footprint-study/
U.S. National Park Service; Mote Marine Lab, Sarasota, FL.
Sustainable Florists Interviewed:
Gather Mountain Blooms
Calliope Floral
Flintwood Floral
Kind Floral
Middlemist
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