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When picking out your own floral arrangements for your wedding in 2010, think local, and DYI. There has been a major shift in planning ones wedding over the last few years, due to the economy. Many brides are looking for ways to cut costs and DIY. Below are some simple, elegant, cost cutting alternatives to hot house flowers.
Fifty Flowers (an on-line retailer for floral arrangements for brides) reports a twenty five percent increase in sales last year. Flowers can be one of the highest ticket items of a wedding. If you choose a florist, make sure that they are willing to work with you on using what flowers are in season at the time. Tell them you want locally grown. If you are getting married in the spring—think about tulips. June is high season for peonies, and August brings us hydrangeas and sunflowers. Using hothouse flowers that are shipped in from out of the country is not only costly but also bad for the environment.
Simple can be elegant. Having a single flower, rather then a large bouquet can save you a ton of money. An understated calla Lillie (a single stem) speaks volumes over hothouse roses in the middle of January. Using seasonal flowers keeps your budget in check. Consult with your local florist; they are knowledgeable about what flowers are in season during the month you get married. You can also confer with your local farmers market (see the My Links section on the right). There are over seventeen markets in the Hartford vicinity. If you know, for example, that you want zinnias in August, find a grower, and let them know that you want to reserve a certain amount.
Think about using fruit on the tables, in addition to flowers (depending on the time of year) a beautiful bouquet of forsythia for a spring wedding, paired with lemons (yellow theme) is inexpensive and easy to do yourself. Forsythia runs rampant through Connecticut in April. Tie it all together with daffodils, and you have a locally grown, sustainable, green eco-friendly floral arrangement.
For information on local florists check out the knot for floral local vendors.
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