6 Creative Ways to Use Flowers in Your Seattle Wedding
/By Courtney Fisher, guest blogger
Flowers are a fabulous way to express your originality and sense of style at your wedding. We have six suggestions on creative ways to up your flower power on your special day.
Use native and seasonal flowers
You’ll save money and reflect your surroundings by choosing seasonally available flowers grown in your venue’s area. Native blooms don’t cost as much as the out-of-season varieties grown in greenhouses. It’s also cheaper to buy flowers locally than to transport them from other areas. A popular trend in the Pacific Northwest is the “farmer florist,” where florists grow the flowers they use in their arrangements themselves. This is what we do with the Simple Goodness Farm cocktail garden, where we grow edible flowers fit for the Pacific Northwest growing conditions and perfect for our farm to bar cocktails. It’s hard to get more local or seasonal than that! Get inspiration from local botanic gardens on your area’s perfect picks.
Give plants as guest favors
Flowers that pull double duty as decor and wedding guest favors are creative and economical. How about bud vases or small succulents with escort cards that get your guests to their tables, then go home with them as their wedding favor? Or boxed centerpieces of stems or buds that also serve as guest favors? For a fall wedding, tie place cards to mini pumpkins or gourds. They’ll decorate the reception tables then provide a festive favor for your guests.
Garnish wedding refreshments with fresh flowers
Add a fun floral note to your nuptials with fresh flower garnishes in your drinks. Use edible flowers, making sure they haven’t been sprayed with chemical pesticides or fertilizer (hint: use organic flowers!) Happy Camper Cocktails uses only fresh flowers from Simple Goodness Farms. The flowers add flavor as well as charm. Examples of edible flowers include lavender, roses/rose petals, marigolds, pansies, and common (or English) daisies. Another cool idea? Freeze flowers in ice cubes to use in drinks. That’s another service we offer thanks to our partnership with Creative Ice.
Photo and cocktail by Belinda Kelly, Happy Camper Cocktail Company
Wear flowers
One of the most traditional ways to wear flowers is in your hair, and you’ll have no problem finding plenty of inspiration on the internet. Other floral wardrobe touches include fresh blooms attached to your wedding shoes or wedding clutch. Get your bridesmaids involved by having them wear floral leis as necklaces or bracelets (your florist can make these using non-tropical flowers like marigolds or zinnias). Another way to incorporate flowers is the fresh trend of floral prints for bridesmaids’ dresses or groomsmen’s ties.
Hang floral decor
Elevate your wedding decor with hanging floral accents. If your venue allows it, incorporate flowers into overhead lighting (i.e. chandeliers) or architectural elements. Hang floral arrangements in your outdoor tent, either on the poles or from the ceiling. Instead of centerpieces on the table, string them above the tables for added vertical interest. Upside-down garden boxes are a creative touch, as are hanging stems and other greenery. Attach flowers to arches or canopies to create a fresh focal point where you’ll be exchanging your vows.
Create a floral wall
Speaking of focal points, how about a floral wall? These make spectacular altar backdrops for your ceremony. At the reception, use one as the backdrop for your head table, wedding cake table, selfie station or any area you’d like to emphasize. Your floral wall can do double duty If your ceremony and reception are at the same venue. Floral walls can range from simple designs to expensive installations with full floral coverage. Floral or greenery walls also make a great backdrop for champagne toast walls or escort cards with an entry cocktail, as seen on the Instagram of local florist Oak and Fig Floral.
So there you have it: six ways to get creative with your wedding flowers. Pick your favorites that will be the perfect reflection of your big day!
Guest Blogger Courtney Fisher is a designer and wedding planner who enjoys incorporating nature into indoor and outdoor weddings. When she’s not working on a wedding, she’s writing about the latest trends in floral and dress designs.