I absolutely love decorating with natural elements. Ever since I was a little girl, I would be the designated table-setter, often searching outside for the perfect centerpiece.
Floristry has always been a huge part of the events industry; in particularly, weddings. Over the years, the floral industry has gotten a lot more expensive. If you’re hosting a 150+ event, you can easily end up spending $30K on arrangements now-a-days. Also accounting for inflation rates and skyrocketing venue prices, it has become much harder financially to afford your dream wedding.
I am on a mission to find creative ways to bring down the price of hosting a rad event without cutting environmental corners.
Today, I’m focusing on the floral industry. First and foremost, if you have access to a flower farm, that’s the best option. Here in Asheville, there are tons of organic flower farms, offering event floral design, bulk orders, and even CSAs. It is much more affordable to connect with a farm that can supply flowers in bulk for your event. Then, if you really want to get thrifty… you can check your local consignment shop or estate sale for fun vases. After that, all you need is help putting together the arrangements – which is my favorite part! I read about someone who had a tradition of gathering all the ladies together hours before a wedding to arrange the flowers. This could easily cut your event price tag in half.
Simply speaking, by supporting your local farmer, you are not only lowering the carbon footprint of your event, but you are also helping your local economy. When deciding on a florist, asking whether their flowers are imported is very important. Currently, the United States imports about 80% of their flowers from Latin America (Ecuador and Colombia predominantly). According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, imports on fresh cut roses alone totaled $800 million in the year 2022. These giant corporate farms spray tons of chemicals on their buds, so they can last the long journey to get to you. Spraying pesticides not only puts chemicals directly into the soil and surrounding water, but it also harms the workers that are in these unsafe conditions, typically with no protective gear.
Just as eating in season is important in lowering your footprint, thinking seasonally when it comes to supplying your flowers is also huge. Find out which flowers bloom in your area during which season. Then, depending on the time of year of your event, you can craft an idea of what you’re looking for, to share with your farmer or to grow your own!
If you’re interested in starting your own flower garden, there are tons of resources out there! I love following @floretflower on Instagram. She runs an organic and sustainable flower farm, writes informational books, breeds seeds and hosts workshops. Another resource I have found helpful is reading The Flower Book by Rachel Siegfried. This beautifully-illustrated book is split up by season – detailing certain species, including how to grow, care, and arrange them.
When I first found out about the floral industry’s secrets, I was appalled. It inspired me to be more intentional with my dollar. I hope this post has been helpful for you, too.
Thanks for listening,
Claire Madden
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