Tips & Tricks Thursday: Flowers!

When you visualize your wedding, do you see flowers in a bouquet, boutonniere or centre-piece? Include flowers when you're thinking about colour schemes and the general feel of the event.

I want real flowers.

There are several things that you may want to keep in mind if you will be incorporating flowers into your event:

• Time of year: find companies that support local growers such as full bloom floral design (Erin of full bloom will have a workshop at Wed By Hand on DIY flowers) or research flowers that are in-season at the time of your wedding.
• Colours that will surround you, such as those at your wedding facilities or those worn by you, your partner, and other significant people (eg. bridesmaids/groomsmen).
• Surrounding conditions, such as temperature, humidity, wind, chance of precipitation, combined with the length of your event can affect how well your flowers keep throughout the day.
• For bouquet/boutonniere: the size and shape, relative to the person carrying or wearing it, as well as any sensitivities or allergies.
• Environmental effects: if you're interested in organic flowers in Ottawa, one option may be the Collective Conscience.

Just as with other aspects of a wedding, you can go completely the DIY route (see here and here for helpful instructions and photos) or you can work with floral designers, such as blumenstudio or Sparrow Floral. If you'll be hiring a professional, start researching companies and prices when you start planning your wedding.

There are alternatives to the typical floral bouquet. You can carry a single stem of your favourite flower or you can have a wildflower or evergreen bouquet. When you're securing the bouquet together, consider using a biodegradable ribbon instead of wire.

Again, working with flowers that are appropriate for the season and the surroundings at your event (eg. will it be humid or windy?) will make caring for your flowers easier. See here and here for some guidance on caring for your flowers before the wedding. For your centrepiece, old mason jars, vintage vases, or cans make great recycled vases.

Remember to compost your flowers after the event or put them in your green bin. Your bouquet can also make for a great keepsake; you can try to dry them or preserve them yourself, or hire a professional service to do it.

I don't want real flowers.

There are many alternatives to the traditional floral bouquet.

Historically, herbs and spices were used with or instead of flowers. These can be carried as your bouquet or made into boutonnieres, adding a pleasant smell to your wedding; just make sure that nobody is sensitive to the scent.

Bouquets can also be made up of items such as silk flowers, candy, buttons, jewellery, or candles. You can also make flowers from a variety of materials, including origami (see here for an example), tissue paper, cupcake liners, and yarn and paper. See here and here for bouquet alternatives, or check out bouquets on Etsy. Making your own bouquet or arrangements can be time-intensive, so if you go this route, leave yourself plenty of time to practice making the flowers - and making enough flowers - before your wedding.

For the centrepiece, consider using live plants, including potted herbs, instead of cut flowers.

Alternative to the Bouquet Toss?

The typical bouquet toss involves calling out all of the single ladies at your wedding and tossing your bouquet in their direction, with the idea that the lady who catches the bouquet will be the next to be married.

If you're looking for an alternative to this traditional bouquet toss, you can consider honoring someone at your wedding with your bouquet like the longest married couple, the next couple getting married, or a special person.