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So, you're a bride with impeccable taste who wants to infuse the beauty of nature into your wedding, and you also have a passion for getting your hands dirty and cultivating things from scratch. Well, my lovely, you're about to embark on an exciting (flower) journey if you're considering growing your own wedding flowers!
Today, we're delving into the realm of sustainable seasonal flower gardening and delving into the possibility of cultivating your own DIY wedding flowers. Prepare to unleash your inner gardening skills and add a heartfelt touch to your extraordinary day!
Can you grow our own wedding flowers and still keep your sanity?
As wedding costs continue to rise and couples are searching for ways to save money, many brides are considering the idea of growing their own wedding flowers. With the right guidance, it's absolutely possible to do just that.
I've personally been growing my own flowers for years now – I even grew flowers for my own wedding 10 years ago! It's truly incredible how easy it is to get started and how fulfilling the experience can be.
On average, for a simple flower scheme, couples can spend £1,500 to £2,000 on flowers for their wedding if hiring a florist. So instead, why not consider the option of growing your own wedding flowers? All it takes is a few packets of seeds, some time, and a bit of garden space.
Now, I want to give you a heads up: growing your own wedding flowers is not a task for the faint-hearted. It requires dedication, careful planning, and a touch of humour (and maybe a sprinkle of insanity) to make it a success. But don't worry, I'm here to guide you through this blooming adventure!
The benefits of DIY wedding flowers
Let's discuss the advantages of choosing the DIY approach. Growing your own wedding flowers can be a fulfilling and enjoyable experience for the hands-on bride. Here are just a few of the perks of growing your own wedding flowers.
Cost savings
First and foremost, let's talk about the cost savings. By growing your own flowers, you can potentially wave goodbye to those hefty florist bills and say hello to a more budget-friendly celebration.
Growing your own wedding flowers can significantly reduce the cost of your flowers. Depending on the size of your wedding and the type of flowers you choose to grow, you may save hundreds or even thousands of pounds compared to buying flowers from a florist.
You can find more information about whether it is cheaper to DIY your wedding flowers in this post.
Plus, the best part is that you'll have complete control over the quality and appearance of your blooms. Now that's what I call flower power!
Seasonal flowers
If you've spent any time with me, you'll know how much I value seasonal, sustainable flowers. There's something incredibly special about flowers that are in season – they bring me so much joy. And if you're interested in growing your own wedding flowers, you'll become a true expert on the different seasons.
Embrace the ever-changing beauty of nature by selecting seasonal flowers that perfectly match your wedding theme. From lovely peonies to gorgeous dahlias, there's a wide variety of floral wonders just waiting for you to explore.
Choosing seasonal flowers doesn't mean you have to stick to traditional floral arrangements. Not at all! It simply means you can choose the “style” of floral display you desire, to create the mood you want to create, incorporating the colours you love. You just need to be a little flexible with the flowers you use.
Let's say you adore peonies and to add a touch of romance to your wedding, but you're getting married in September. No worries! There are many types of dahlias that have a similar appearance to peonies and flower abundantly in September, making them a great substitute. Or perhaps you envision something light and delicate, like a meadow filled with cow parsley, but you're getting married in August. In that case, ammi majus is the perfect choice.
Generally, florists don't use dahlias or ammi majus because they don't travel well or last long in the vase. However, by growing your own flowers, you have the freedom to choose seasonal blooms that wouldn't typically be available through florists.
If you’re looking to buy seeds (aff), I have seeds for the easiest to grow cut flowers in my shop.
Sustainability
And let's not forget about the sustainability factor. By choosing locally grown, eco-friendly flowers, you're not only doing your part to protect the planet but also adding a touch of green goodness to your big day.
Growing your own flowers is a more sustainable and environmentally friendly option compared to buying imported flowers. Purchasing flowers that are not locally grown often has a significant impact on the environment and contributes to unsustainable practices in the flower industry.
Some of the sustainability and eco-friendly issues associated with buying flowers include the long distances they travel, the use of chemicals, the strain on the environment due to large-scale farming, and the amount of water used in the areas where they are grown.
By opting for locally grown, sustainably produced flowers or growing your own flowers, you can reduce the environmental impact of your wedding flowers and support more eco-friendly practices in the flower industry.
Personal touch
Growing your own flowers adds a personal touch and allows you to unleash your creativity, making your special day truly unique and unforgettable.
By growing your own flowers, you have the freedom to select the flowers, colours, and arrangements that perfectly match your personal style and wedding theme. You can even grow flowers that hold sentimental value, like the ones from your first date or engagement.
Being actively involved in every step of the process, from planting to harvesting to arranging, gives you a hands-on experience that makes your wedding flowers even more special and significant.
Therapeutic
Growing your own wedding flowers can have a positive impact on your mental and physical well-being, providing therapeutic benefits and creating a memorable and personal experience for your special day.
When the stress of organizing your wedding day becomes overwhelming, gardening and working with plants can be a helpful way to reduce stress and improve your mental well-being.
The process of planting, caring for, and nurturing the flowers can help you focus on the present moment, bringing a sense of calm and reducing stress and anxiety. Additionally, the physical activity and connection with nature can bring a sense of peace to your mind.
Moreover, the physical activity involved in tasks like digging, planting, and cutting can contribute to improving your overall health and fitness.
Finally, witnessing the growth and blossoming of your flowers can fill you with a great sense of pride and accomplishment, boosting your self-esteem and overall well-being.
The challenges of DIY wedding flowers
Now, let's get real for a moment. Growing your own wedding flowers isn't all sunshine and roses. There are challenges along the way, but hey, what's life without a little adventure, right?
I grew my own flowers for my wedding 10 years ago. This was before I really understood anything about growing cut flowers. So I have experienced the joy they can bring, but boy, they also add to the stress. Growing your own wedding flowers comes with its challenges. Here are just a few to bear in mind.
Timing
Timing is crucial in the world of flowers. You'll want to carefully plan the growth of your flowers and ensure they reach their peak on your wedding day. It's like conducting a beautiful symphony of petals and stems!
A great starting point is to have a good understanding of which flowers are typically in bloom on your wedding day and which ones you'd like to use.
If you are looking for flowers on a specific day, annuals are easier to control than perennials. Especially if the flowering time of your favourite perennial is short – yes, I’m thinking of you beautiful peony.
With annuals, you can arm yourself with knowledge of the time it takes for the seeds to bloom. Work backwards from your wedding day to calculate when to start sowing the seeds, usually about 12 weeks in advance. As a backup plan, I would also suggest sowing a series of the same seeds two weeks earlier and two weeks later than your calculated ideal date. This way, you'll have some extra flowers in case the weather conditions are too hot, too cold, or too dry.
These extra flowers don't need to go to waste. Early flowers can be used for practice arrangements, and late blooms can be brought into your house to remind you of your big day.
If your wedding is in mid-summer or later, you can probably give yourself just three months to have your flowers ready. However, if you're having a spring or early summer wedding, you may need to start sowing in the autumn to ensure you have blooming flowers, as growth opportunities are limited during the cold winter.
And remember, Mother Nature can be quite unpredictable. From rainstorms to heatwaves, she'll keep you on your toes. But hey, who doesn't love a good plot twist?
Time and effort
Time and effort are also important factors in this lovely adventure. You'll need to dedicate time to planting, caring for, and harvesting your flowers.
Depending on the number of flowers you'd like to have, this may require a considerable amount of your time, along with all the other tasks involved in planning your wedding. Apart from growing the plants, you might need to dedicate a significant amount of time, around 2-3 days before your wedding, to create the final arrangements.
Sharing the workload with friends, family, and neighbours can greatly help in reducing the pressure on you and can contribute to ensuring that your flowers bloom successfully.
Make sure you consider the potential cost savings in comparison to the time and effort required to grow your own flowers.
While a florist might seem expensive, they put in a lot of effort for that price. Having someone else take care of making your venue look beautiful could be worth the extra cost if you don't have the time or if you're unsure about your floristry skills. This last point is especially important if you want a high-end, professional, perfect look.
Letting your design embrace the wildness of nature and opting for a loose, relaxed style will make your life easier. As the one thing that will be guaranteed is that you will have stems that are a bit wonky, flowers that are different sizes or in different stages of bloom and perhaps a bit nibbled on. Expecting rigid perfection will only lead to disappointment.
Space availability
Growing your wedding flowers is such a wonderful endeavor that requires a dedicated space for planting. It may only be possible for some, but the results are truly worth it!
Of course, the size of your wedding and the kind of arrangements you envision will have a significant impact on the number of flowers you'll need. You can find more information on determining the right quantity of wedding flowers here.
If you're planning on having a few rustic table decorations, you won't need much space at all. However, if you also want to include bouquets for the bride and bridesmaids, buttonholes for the wedding party, and flowers for the church and reception, then you're looking at a different level of flower quantity. Keep in mind that all the flowers should be at their peak simultaneously, which means you'll need a bit more space. You can use this helpful resource to calculate the space you need for your wedding flowers.
The amount of space you have will determine the number of flowers you can grow. Whether these flowers can take centre stage for your entire wedding or play a supporting role depends on the effect you want to create. It's all about bringing your vision to life!
Unpredictable conditions
Growing a healthy plant depends on various factors, such as heat, water, soil, and pests. It's important to consider weather conditions like heavy rain, drought, or extreme temperatures, as they can affect the growth and blooming of your flowers. While a long hot summer may make you feel good, it could potentially cause a delay in your flowers reaching their peak.
If you're consistently growing flowers throughout the season, this shouldn't pose a significant problem as you can adapt and go with the flow. However, if you want all your flowers to be ready on a specific day, it can be a bit challenging.
The key is to recognize and plan for these potential issues in order to avoid any last-minute panic, especially if you have a wedding coming up.
You can consider spreading your DIY wedding flowers across multiple family and friends' gardens, practicing succession planting, or even having a backup of different flowers that are more resilient. One thing is for sure, planting more flowers than you think you'll need will save you a lot of stress.
Seasonality
You can grow DIY wedding flowers throughout most seasons. However, it is important to consider the limitations and be realistic if you wish to have flowers grown and available for your wedding in your garden.
For those planning winter weddings, it is important to manage expectations regarding the availability of flowers. Instead, you can create stunning statement pieces using foliage, branches, and berries. Just like how we make our houses look magical during Christmas, you can certainly make your wedding look amazing too.
The same principle applies if you have a specific flower in mind for your arrangements. If that flower is not typically in bloom during your wedding season, it may be a bit challenging to grow it. Unfortunately, we can't cultivate spring flowers in autumn, and vice versa, no matter how much the supermarkets make it seem possible. To make things easier, you have two options: either choose a different date when your desired flowers are in bloom (I know, a bit dramatic), or opt for similar-looking flowers that are actually in season. I'm confident that you will find a suitable alternative that will bring joy and beauty to your special day.
Have a plan B for your DIY wedding flowers
As with any situation where you may not have complete control, sometimes things don't go according to plan, and unexpected challenges may arise. That's why I always suggest having a backup option – just in case!
Take a moment to think about what alternatives could work for you and how you can access them. For instance, you could consider reaching out to a local florist. Keep in mind that this option may require some advance planning, as the florist will need time to schedule you in.
Another option could be to explore local flower farmers or flower markets in your area. Check out Flowers from the Farm for a list of local flower farmers. Many of flower farmers offer buckets of flowers, which could be a wonderful choice. Make sure to find out their opening hours or booking requirements to determine your cutoff dates. If those options don't work out, you can also check what your local supermarket or florist has available.
If your garden flowers are not blooming, another backup plan could involve using artificial flowers. These can be purchased in advance and arranged to match your desired design. Nowadays, high-quality artificial flowers look incredibly realistic, and it's unlikely that anyone will notice the difference in pedestal arrangements. Keep in mind that they may come at a higher cost, but they are reusable.
By considering your alternative options ahead of time, you can ensure that you're prepared and avoid any last-minute panics.
Are you ready for your DIY wedding flowers journey
So, my dear bride, are you ready to embark on this flower journey?
Growing your own wedding flowers is a unique and rewarding experience that allows you to infuse your special day with your love for nature. It's a chance to create personalised, sustainable floral arrangements that reflect your style and values.
Even if you decide to do only a small part of the floral work yourself, you might get the bug to continue growing flowers.
So, grab your gardening gloves, channel your inner green goddess, and let's grow some DIY wedding flowers and make your wedding day bloom with beauty, laughter, and a touch of seasonal charm!
Disclaimer: Sanity not guaranteed, but a bloomin' good time awaits!
