What are some sustainable options for flowers?

Dried flowers, preserved flowers or faux and silk flowers are a great alternative to wedding floral arrangements.

Such great insights already shared here!

To build on those, avoiding floral foam is one of the most important steps towards more sustainable floristry. As others have mentioned, alternatives like flower frogs, moss, and reusable vessels are fantastic for creating structure. Another sustainable option is using biodegradable bags filled with organic hydration materials, such as coconut coir. These are particularly useful when vases can’t be used and help avoid the need for plastic water tubes, which are wasteful and harmful to the environment. 

Choosing local, seasonal flowers from micro farms can be more sustainable too. These farms reduce the carbon footprint of imported flowers and tend to use more eco-friendly farming practices, like avoiding pesticides and reducing packaging waste. Flowers that are naturally suited to the local climate also tend to last longer and require fewer resources.

In addition, it's important to choose a florist who practices sustainability across the board, such as recycling plastic sleeves and other packaging materials. As a bride, you can help by hiring vessels instead of purchasing new ones, or offering to return materials like chicken wire or reusable vessels after the event. Small actions like this can make a big difference in reducing waste.

Finally, one of the most sustainable approaches is remaining flexible with flower types and designs. This allows florists to work with what's truly in season and sustainably sourced, helping to ensure eco-friendly techniques are used, while still creating naturally beautiful and unique arrangements.

Siobhain x

I love that more people are asking this question!

There are two main answers, the first is to limit the use of plastics. This means floral foam primarily but also extends to so many other things like cable ties, packaging and ultimately where the florist or stylist is sourcing their blooms.

Local farms do not package florals in plastic sleeves, so it really helps to source local for this reason and so many others - less travel for the flowers, often less use of pesticides and generally local farms tend to be smaller businesses and more sustainable in their practices than larger international entities.

Choosing a floral style that incorporates natives is a good one, as they love the Aussie conditions and they also last a long time, so they are a great choice for gifting after the wedding to put a smile on someone's face.

I have written a guide to native flowers, which goes into sustainability a bit. Let me know if you'd like me to send you a copy.

Hope this helps.

Hi there,

For me, the main way to be more sustainable is to avoid the use of floral foam in your arrangements. Consider the following designs:

• bud vases 
• flower frogs in ceramic bowls
• urns  / compotes which have chicken wire or reusable plastic pillows
• ceremony features which use a combination of urns, low pots/ trays and arbours / floral towers with moss and chicken wire.

Did you know that Prince Harry and Meghan's wedding was all done without floral foam? I actually learnt this sustainable technique from the London florist Philippa Craddock when I did a 5 day workshop with her in London.

For more information, reach out via the contact form on my website - https//:gatheredfloral.com.au

Catherine x

What a great question!
Here are 4 things you can ask your florist to incorporate into your wedding flowers, to increase the sustainability factor!!

1. ZERO floral foam, ask your florist to use sustainable mechanics, materials thta are reusable or biodegrable. Floral foam is a micro plastic that NEVER goes away

2. Opt for locally sourced, in-season blooms. They will look their absolute best because they are in season, you'll be supporting local flower growers, and their carbon footprint is smaller

3. Talk to you florist about what designs can be repurposed across your day. Get the most out of those beautiful blooms 

4. Consider what you would like to do with the flowers after the wedding, eg. guests to take home, donate to a hospice the next day