Franklin Dean
Flowers are a key part of any wedding, but what happens to them after the ceremony? Many people can't bear to throw away their floral arrangements, so they find ways to repurpose them. Some people dry or preserve their flowers, while others donate them to local organisations, charities, or friends with upcoming weddings. Some couples give their flowers to guests as gifts, while others repurpose them as home decor. There are also companies, such as Petals for Hope, that offer flower donation services, creating new bouquets and arrangements to deliver to those in need.
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What You'll Learn
Give flowers to guests as gifts
Flowers are a beautiful part of any wedding, but what happens to them after the big day? Many people choose to give their flowers to guests as gifts, allowing them to be enjoyed by others. Here are some ideas for giving flowers to guests as gifts:
Bridal and bridesmaid bouquets
Bridesmaid bouquets, wrist corsages, and boutonnieres are often given to the bridesmaids and groomsmen who wore them during the wedding. This is a simple way to repurpose the flowers and give your wedding party a thoughtful gift that they can either preserve or repurpose as they wish.
Guest favours
You could give away flowers to your guests as favours. This could be in the form of small bouquets or single stems, perhaps with a personalised note attached. You could also encourage guests to take centrepieces and floral arrangements home with them, although be mindful of any rented vases or containers.
Donate to a good cause
If you don't want to give the flowers directly to your guests, you could donate them to a local charity or organisation, such as a senior living facility, hospital, or women's shelter. Petals for Hope, for example, accepts flower donations in most US states and creates new arrangements to deliver to community members in need.
Repurpose for home decor
Flowers can be repurposed into home decor pieces, such as floral wreaths or centrepieces, allowing you to preserve the magic of your wedding day. You could also dry or professionally preserve your flowers to create lasting artwork for your home.
Share with friends
If you have friends with a wedding or other special event coming up, they may appreciate receiving your leftover flowers. You can help them create a unique look by repurposing your floral arrangements into fresh new designs.
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Donate to a local charity
Donating your wedding flowers to a local charity is a great way to spread the joy beyond your special day. Many organisations and charities will gladly accept flower donations, and you can even arrange for them to be repurposed for someone else's special event.
There are a few ways to go about this. Firstly, you can contact your local florist to find out what is available in your area. Florists will often have connections to local charities and organisations that would benefit from flower donations. You can also get in touch with charities directly to ask if they would like a flower donation. Charities such as Hope Blooms in North Dakota welcome gently used flower arrangements and will rearrange them into table centrepieces for those in need. Petals of Hope is another organisation that offers flower donation services in most US states. They create new bouquets and arrangements from donated flowers and deliver them to community members in need. They also host flower-arranging workshops in children's hospitals, nursing homes, women's shelters, and more.
If you are unable to find a suitable organisation or charity, you can always ask a trusted friend or family member to be in charge of flower donations. They can take the flowers to local nursing homes, women's shelters, or cancer support centres, for example, to spread cheer and brighten up these spaces.
It is important to make a plan for flower donations before your wedding day and to communicate this plan to your wedding planner or the trusted person in charge. This will ensure that your flowers go to good use and bring joy to others, rather than being wasted.
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Repurpose into home decor
If you're looking to repurpose your wedding flowers into home decor, there are several options to choose from. Firstly, you can dry your flowers by hanging them upside down in a dark closet. This will allow you to preserve the beauty of your wedding flowers and use them in various decorative ways.
One idea is to create floral wreaths or wall hangings from the dried flowers, which can be hung on doors or walls, adding a touch of charm and nostalgia to your home. You can also place the dried flowers in vases or decorative bowls, creating stunning centrepieces for your dining or coffee table. These centrepieces will serve as a reminder of your special day and provide an elegant aesthetic to your living spaces.
If you're feeling creative, you can even press and frame individual flowers, creating lasting floral art pieces that showcase the beauty of your wedding flowers. Alternatively, you can embed flowers in resin to craft unique jewellery items that you can cherish and wear, transforming your wedding flowers into elegant accessories and sentimental keepsakes.
Another option is to repurpose your flowers for future events and celebrations, such as anniversary parties, baby showers, or christenings. You can create event-themed centrepieces, decorate gifts, or design floral backdrops, infusing your special moments with the magic of your wedding day.
Lastly, if you have friends with upcoming weddings or special occasions, consider sharing your flowers with them. With a few additional blooms, you can help them create fresh new designs, spreading the joy and elegance of your wedding flowers to other memorable events.
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Give to bridesmaids and groomsmen
Bridesmaids usually carry a bouquet for the ceremony, and you can give them a matching corsage to elevate the look. The maid of honour can have a special bouquet or corsage to distinguish her from the other bridesmaids. The bride and bridesmaids may also choose to wear floral accessories in their hair, such as flower crowns or hairpins.
Groomsmen routinely receive matching boutonnieres that complement the bridesmaids' bouquets. The best man can receive a special boutonniere to signify his role in the ceremony. Boutonnieres are miniature bouquets worn on a suit jacket or tux. They are usually worn by male guests, but there is no rule that they can't be worn by any guest in a suit.
If you want to keep your wedding flowers, you can dry them or have your bouquet professionally preserved. Drying can be as simple as hanging your flowers upside down in a dark closet. You can also compost your flowers and return them to the earth.
If you want to give your flowers away, you can donate them to local organisations or charities, or give them to friends and family as a thank you. Petals for Hope is one such organisation that offers flower donation services in most US states. They create rearranged bouquets and deliver them to community members in need.
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Dry or preserve flowers
There are several ways to dry or preserve flowers from your wedding. Here are some methods to consider:
Air Drying
One of the easiest ways to preserve your wedding bouquet is to let it air-dry. Simply unwrap the bouquet and cut away any tape or ties. You can then hang the bouquet upside down in a dry, warm, and dark space, such as an airing cupboard or boiler room. If you have a large bouquet, it may be better to take it apart and hang the flowers separately in smaller bunches to ensure proper air circulation and reduce the chance of mould. You can also use silica crystals, available at many hobby shops, to dry the flower heads, which will give stunning colour results. However, you won't keep long stems with this method.
Pressing
Another simple preservation method is to press the flowers. First, select the flowers you want to press and arrange them on clean wax paper. Then, place the wax paper inside a heavy book, such as a phone book or textbook, and weigh it down with something heavy. Leave the flowers to dry and press for two to four weeks. Pressed flowers can be framed and displayed, but they won't retain their original three-dimensional shape.
Silica Gel and Wax Dipping
You can also preserve flowers using silica gel or by dipping them in wax. These methods help retain the colour and glory of the flowers. However, they are not long-term solutions, and the flowers will only last for a few months.
Freeze Drying
Freeze drying is another option for preserving your wedding flowers, but it is not the cheapest method. You can either use a freeze dryer or dehydrator yourself or engage a professional service for better results.
Resin
You can also preserve flowers by encasing them in resin to create items such as ring holders, paperweights, coasters, and trinket trays. The flowers need to be completely dry before being placed in the resin, and you will need to purchase the resin and moulds from a craft shop or online.
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Frequently asked questions
There are many ways to give flowers away at a wedding. You can give flowers to your wedding party, including bridesmaids and groomsmen, as a gift for them to remember the ceremony. You can also give them to friends celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, or other special events. Another option is to donate them to a local nursing home or a funeral home for people who can't afford their own flower arrangements.
If you plan to give flowers away at your wedding, make donation arrangements during the planning stages and leave your wedding planner or a trusted friend or family member in charge of flower donations. You can also repurpose your wedding flowers into home decor pieces, such as floral wreaths or centerpieces, to preserve the magic of your ceremony.
If you don't want to give your wedding flowers away, you can dry them or have your bouquet professionally preserved. You can also compost them or use them to take Instagram selfies.
