As a wedding florist, I am often asked about the process of growing flowers for wedding bouquets.
In this blog post, I will walk you through the steps involved in growing
flowers for a summer wedding bouquet, from seed selection to the final arrangement.
I will also share some tips on how to choose the right flowers for your wedding and how to personalise your bouquet.
Growing the Flowers
1. Seed Selection: The most important stage. The journey begins with carefully selecting premium-certified seeds for the chosen blooms.
2. Planting: The seeds are usually sown in well-prepared soil, often in heated greenhouses, ensuring proper spacing and depth between seeds.
Regular watering and monitoring for pests and diseases are crucial during this phase.
3. Nurturing: As the seedlings grow, they require consistent care, including
regular watering, fertilizing, and weeding. The plants are also pruned and
staked to support their growth and maintain their shape. The plants are checked daily.
4. Harvesting: Once the flowers reach their peak stage, they are carefully
harvested, often early in the morning to preserve their freshness.
Preparing the Wedding Bouquet:
1. Conditioning: The harvested flowers are immediately placed in water to
prevent wilting and extend their vase life. Specific flower food will be added to keep the water clear.
They will also go through a process known as "conditioning," which involves removing the guard petals, recutting the stems at an angle, and taking off the leaves below the waterline.
2. Design and Arrangement: The florist carefully selects the desired flowers and
foliage, considering the couples's preferences and the overall wedding theme.
A Mood board will be prepared in advance and sent to the couple to verify the proposed flowers.
The florist begins by selecting a prominent flower and then incorporates various textures, shapes, and sizes to construct the arrangement around it.
3. Assembling: The chosen flowers and foliage are wired and taped together to
form the bouquet. The florist may use various techniques to create different
shapes and textures, such as cascading, hand-tied, wired, or gathered.
4. Finishing Touches: The bouquet is often wrapped in ribbon or other decorative
elements, and the stems are trimmed to the desired length. The florist may
also add embellishments like family brooches or memory photo charms to personalise the bouquet.
Timing: The entire process, from seed selection to bouquet preparation, can
take several months, so it's important to plan a while ahead.
Sustainability: Numerous florists focus on utilizing locally cultivated, seasonal flowers to reduce their environmental impact.
Personalisation: The bouquet can be customised to reflect the couple's unique
style and preferences, incorporating her favourite colours, flowers, and symbolic materials to reflect their culture.
For example, Thistles reflects a Scottish ancestry.
The process of growing flowers and preparing a wedding bouquet is a labour of love,
requiring careful planning, a huge amount of skill and practice, attention to detail, and a deep appreciation for the beauty of nature.
I hope this blog post has given you a better understanding of the process of growing
flowers for a summer wedding bouquet. If you are planning a summer wedding, I
encourage you to work with a florist who uses locally grown, seasonal flowers.
This will help to reduce your environmental impact and ensure that your bouquet is as
fresh and beautiful as possible.
If you'd like to know more about my wedding floristry services, feel free to reach out to me today. I'm more than happy to address any questions you may have and assist you in crafting the ideal bouquet!
Steph & Tim x
01273 951745
Email chirpeeflowers@gmail.com