3 Eco-Friendly Wedding Floral MUSTS!
Being a Chicago-based floral design studio, we here at EcoWilde might be a little biased in saying the flowers are a HUGE wedding focal point. Very rarely does a couple go without flowers, and, now, more and more often potted plants (trend alert!) They reflect the beauty of the big day, the couple’s aesthetic, and tell an event’s story. They highlight the beauty of outdoor weddings, soften industrial-style venues, and bring personality to more traditional spaces. Yet, behind all that gorgeous floral there can be significant environmental costs. Luckily, there are some thoughtful ways to have your florals and eat your yummy wedding cake too–preferably with flowers on top!
Book your wedding during the PEAK midwest growing season.
Wonderfully, this includes July, August, and September. Ask your florist to buy locally or choose one that is intentional about doing this already. Booking during this timing gives you access to so many flowers in bloom that are just waiting to be picked on your behalf. Short distance transportation costs–with many growers no more than an hour away–guarantees freshness, secure delivery times, and a much smaller carbon footprint. Did we mention you would be supporting small/local businesses too?
Be flexible with your color scheme, or do without one entirely!
Being open with colors allows you to really go with the flow of the growing season. Specific colors might need to be shipped or could need a much further procurement range. Some colors just don’t exist in nature and so some florals undergo artificial processes. Instead, share the vibe that you are looking for or the feeling you want to evoke. A broad use of color truly customized for your event floral.
Ask about materials
Say “no” to foam. Behind the pretty photos, you can often find a whole lot of foam used by conventional florists to hold up the integrity of arches, centerpieces, and more. Foam just doesn’t die. We don’t want to add to any more landfills. Especially when there are plenty of alternatives that are reusable or compostable, and they do the job just as well!
PLANT BONUS: We mentioned that potted plants are becoming more and more of a thing right? People really got on board with the plants during the lockdown and bringing the plant love to their weddings and guess what? We are here for it! Some couples are integrating plants among their florals and some people are even doing 100% plants. It is a lush and beautiful thing. Afterward, larger plants can be donated to community gardens, smaller plants can be repurposed as event takeaways, and best of all these plants get a chance to live beyond your big day. Now, how much greener can you get than that?