WASTE NOT WANT NOT Nathalie Somerset from Somerset Blooms (https://somersetblooms.co.uk) says: Sustainability is at the forefront when we curate wedding flowers. From the blooms themselves to the mechanics used to make installations, we consider the environmental impact every step of the way. Using British-grown seasonal flowers ensures no air miles are used in the supply of your flowers. So, when you’re thinking about when to get married, consider blooms you particularly love and wed during their growing season. A majority of flowers in Britain are available throughout the summer months but beauties like peonies, which have a short life span in June, and muscari aren’t. I explain the benefits of repurposing venue flowers to my clients during consultations, where we discuss creating versatile pieces to transport from ceremony to wedding breakfast to reception. Repurposing a small number of designs is much better for the environment than buying a collection of them. The fewer statement pieces, the less to dispose of after the wedding. Throwing flowers away leaves a large footprint as they’ll often end up in landfill. To reduce your fresh flower waste, you can have your flowers pressed and preserved to enjoy for years to come or you can add them to the compost heap, providing they haven’t been sprayed or dipped in chemicals during the growing and conditioning process. GREEN FINGERS Rachel Peers at La Beau Fleurs (www.labeaufleurs.co.uk) says: Creating eco-friendly design pieces for your wedding is a great way to support the sustainability movement, which we can see become more important to our couples every year. And there are so many ways to incorporate guilt-free styling into your designs without any impact on the aesthetics of your beautiful floral backdrop. A great way to reduce your carbon footprint when planning wedding florals is to replace the man-made floral foam often used in wedding work with a natural material such as moss or some soft malleable twisted willow. Why not consider incorporating some beautiful hired vessels and vases in your venue styling? This is a great way to create an understated yet elegant and sustainable design. Not only does it reduce your carbon footprint, it also keeps your flowers incredibly hydrated meaning they’ll look at their very best from morning through to the evening, especially important during the summer months. A big one for us in our quest for sustainability is repurposing your flowers throughout your entire day, meaning those which may have otherwise only served one purpose can be reused by our team with some careful thought and planning. This not only cuts down on wastage but it offers our couples the opportunity to get the very best value from their flowers. If sustainability is playing a part in your wedding planning, your flowers are a great place to make a positive impact. LOVE LOCAL Chloe from The Oak Tree of Peover (www.oaktreeofpeover.co.uk) says: We’re always looking for new ways to encourage our couples to be as sustainable as possible on their wedding day. Many are becoming more aware of the impact their celebrations can have on the environment and we’re happy to help if they’re not sure where to start. One of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint is the use of virtual invitations and websites instead of paper. You can still have beautifully designed invitations but send them via email. Many of these website also help you track your RSVPs. Check out Paperless Post and GreenVelope. We also discourage the use of single-use items such as flip flops, fans and foam glow sticks. As much fun as they are, these plastics take hundreds of years to decompose and have a detrimental effect on the environment. Try asking guests to bring a pair of flats if you’re going to be dancing into the early hours and don’t want sore feet! Think local and seasonal for everything. Not only will flowers and food produce be cheaper and fresher, but it’ll have travelled fewer miles thus cutting down on carbon emissions; plus of course you’ll be supporting local business. We work alongside some fantastic suppliers in the area who see the value in sourcing seasonal and British goods and will help you plan the menus and floral designs of your dreams. www.steviejayphotography.co.uk 60
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