George Boyle
Flowers are a key part of creating a dream setting for a wedding, but they often end up in the trash at the end of the night. Repurposing flowers is a great way to preserve the magic of the ceremony and save money. Flowers can be reused in a variety of ways, from creating home decor pieces to making botanical jewellery. Couples can also donate their flowers to local nursing homes, hospitals, churches, or funeral homes to spread joy beyond their wedding day.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reuse at the reception | Use flowers from the ceremony as centrepieces or decorations at the reception |
| Donate | Give flowers to a local nursing home, hospital, funeral home, or church |
| Create keepsakes | Dry flowers and frame them, press them into a book, or turn them into resin or botanical jewellery |
| Repurpose | Create potpourri, wreaths, or other home decor |
| Give as gifts | Allow guests to keep bouquets and corsages, or give flowers to family and friends |
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What You'll Learn
Donate to a nursing home, hospital, funeral home, or church
Flowers are cheerful and colourful, and they make people happy. They can leave a long-lasting impression and have been proven to make people feel less depressed and anxious, resulting in higher life satisfaction and enjoyment. Donating your wedding flowers to a nursing home, hospital, funeral home, or church is a wonderful way to spread happiness and bring joy to others.
Nursing Homes
Nursing homes are a great option to consider when donating your wedding flowers. The elderly residents will surely appreciate the beauty and fragrance of the flowers. Imagine the smiles on their faces as they receive a surprise delivery of vibrant blooms. Not only will the flowers brighten up the space, but they can also provide comfort and companionship to those who may be feeling lonely or isolated.
Hospitals
Flowers can play a comforting and uplifting role in hospitals, bringing a sense of warmth and positivity to patients, visitors, and staff. They can be especially beneficial in wards where patients may be experiencing high levels of stress, anxiety, or depression, such as oncology or palliative care units. Donating your wedding flowers to a hospital can help create a more welcoming and soothing environment for those going through challenging times.
Funeral Homes
Funeral homes may also appreciate donations of flowers, as they can provide comfort and beauty during difficult times. Flowers are often used to express sympathy and offer solace to those grieving the loss of a loved one. Your wedding flowers can be rearranged into smaller bouquets or centrepieces, bringing solace and a sense of peace to those attending funeral services.
Churches
Donating your wedding flowers to a church is another thoughtful option. Flowers are often used in religious ceremonies and can enhance the beauty and solemnity of the space. They can be used to decorate the altar, creating a more inspiring and uplifting atmosphere for worshippers. Additionally, churches may have outreach programs or partnerships with local charities, so your flower donation could benefit multiple causes and bring hope and happiness to those in need.
When donating flowers, it is important to plan ahead and research the donation policies of the organization you wish to support. Some organizations may have specific guidelines or preferences for flower donations, and advance notice will help ensure they have the capacity to accept your donation.
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Give bouquets to guests as gifts
Giving bouquets to guests as gifts is a thoughtful way to share the joy of your wedding day with your loved ones. It is a way to offer a piece of your bliss and a beautiful memento of the ceremony. There are several ways to go about this:
Bouquets and Corsages
Bridesmaid bouquets, wrist corsages, and boutonnieres are simple wedding flowers to repurpose. You can give them to the bridesmaids and groomsmen who wore them or anyone else with a special floral piece, like the parents of the bride or groom. These individuals can then choose to preserve the flowers in a shadow box or repurpose them as they wish.
Miniature Bouquets
If you don't want to give away the larger floral arrangements, you can repurpose existing decorations into miniature bouquets or floral arrangements and gift them to your guests. This can be done by drying the flowers and creating new arrangements or by mixing fresh flowers with dried ones to create centrepieces for guest tables at the reception.
Potpourri
You can create personalised potpourri with your wedding flowers. Choose flowers with a strong fragrance, such as roses, lavender, or herbs like rosemary. Add a dash of essential oils and tuck the potpourri into decorative sachets or bowls. This makes for a unique and aromatic gift for your guests.
Resin Keepsakes
Another way to preserve your wedding flowers is by creating resin keepsakes. Dry the flowers and carefully arrange them in a mould, slowly pouring resin over them. After 48 hours of drying, you can unmould your crystallised memory and display it as a paperweight or coaster, forever reminding your guests of your special day.
Dried Bouquets
A simple way to repurpose your wedding flowers is by drying them. Hang fresh blooms upside down to air dry for 2-3 weeks, then spray them with hairspray to set the arrangement. You can also use floral foam inside a complementary frame to nestle the bouquet stems, creating a beautiful wall hanging that guests can treasure.
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Create home decor, jewellery, or resin keepsakes
Wedding flowers can be reused to create home decor, jewellery, or resin keepsakes. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Home Decor
If you want to preserve your wedding flowers as home decor, one option is to dry them. Air drying is a simple method that doesn't require any special skills or equipment. You can carefully hang fresh blooms upside down to air dry for 2-3 weeks, removing any leaves that fall off. Once dried, you can spray the flowers with hairspray to set the arrangement and then display them in a vase or frame them. Choose a frame that complements your décor – metallic and neutral tones work nicely. You can use floral foam inside the frame to gently nestle the bouquet stems, securing them with hot glue if needed.
Alternatively, you can press and preserve your wedding flowers. Place the flowers between the pages of a heavy book or a flower press. Allow them to dry completely, then spray them lightly with a clear acrylic sealant. You can then frame the pressed flowers or use them to create other home decor items such as coasters, bookends, or ring holders.
Jewellery
To create botanical jewellery from your wedding flowers, you will first need to press and preserve the petals as described above. Once dried and sealed, carefully trim any excess stem or foliage, leaving just the flower heads. Store the pressed, sealed flowers in an airtight container until you are ready to incorporate them into necklaces, earrings, or bracelets.
Resin Keepsakes
Creating a resin keepsake is a unique way to preserve your wedding flowers. First, dry each flower, then mix the resin well, avoiding bubbles. Slowly pour a thin layer of resin into a mould, just covering the bottom. Gently place your flowers, sporadically filling the mould. Pour more resin over the top, filling any gaps and ensuring full coverage. Allow 48 hours for drying before unmoulding your keepsake and displaying it in your home.
These are just a few ideas for reusing your wedding flowers to create lasting memories of your special day.
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Make potpourri
Wedding flowers can be reused to make potpourri, a medley of dried flowers, herbs, and spices, often scented with oils to enhance the aroma. Here is a step-by-step guide to making potpourri:
Step 1: Choosing and Preparing the Flowers
Select the wedding flowers you want to repurpose. Roses, lavender, and berries are popular choices for potpourri due to their fragrance and visual appeal. If using fresh flowers, pick them in the morning after the dew has evaporated, avoiding any with bruised or damaged petals. You can also use dried flowers or buy dried petals to save time.
Step 2: Drying the Flowers
There are two common methods for drying flowers: air-drying and oven-drying. For air-drying, hang the flowers upside down in a cool, dark place for 2-3 weeks. If oven-drying, preheat your oven to 200°F (93°C) and place the flowers on a baking rack in the oven for 1-2 hours until fully dehydrated.
Step 3: Preparing the Petals
Once the flowers are dried, remove the petals gently to avoid damaging them. You can use either individual petals or whole flower heads, or a combination of both for visual interest.
Step 4: Mixing the Potpourri
In a bowl, mix the dried petals with spices and herbs like cinnamon, cloves, bay leaf, thyme, or lemon balm. You can also add fruit peels, such as oranges or other citrus fruits, for a kick of fragrance.
Step 5: Scenting the Potpourri
Add essential oils or fragrance oils to enhance the aroma. You can use scents like vanilla, sandalwood, or floral fragrances. Stir the mixture gently to combine the scents evenly.
Step 6: Storing and Displaying
Store the potpourri in an airtight container or paper bag for four to six weeks to allow the scents to blend. Then, display your potpourri in decorative bowls, vases, jars, or sachets around your house or in your drawers to enjoy the lovely fragrance.
Making potpourri is a wonderful way to preserve the scent and memory of your wedding flowers, creating a lasting reminder of your special day.
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Reuse flowers from the ceremony at the reception
Repurposing flowers from the ceremony at the reception is a great way to save money and be eco-friendly. If your ceremony and reception are in the same venue, it's easy to move the flowers, but if not, you'll need to plan how to transport them. Here are some ways to reuse ceremony flowers at the reception:
Floral Arch or Backdrop
If you have a floral arch or backdrop at the ceremony, you can reuse it as a photo backdrop at the reception. Set it up behind a small sweetheart table to highlight the newlyweds, or in a space with chairs or a bench for guests to take photos. Alternatively, you can remove specific flowers from the arch and place them around the reception in different arrangements.
Aisle Flowers
Flowers placed along the ceremony aisle are often the right size to be reused as centrepieces on round reception tables. If you don't have room on the reception tables, place them on the memory table or sweetheart table as decor.
Centrepieces
Ceremony flowers can be reused as centrepieces on guest tables at the reception. Place them on a wooden slice or tray, with tea lights and added greenery.
Favours
Instead of letting flowers go to waste, offer them to guests as favours. You can provide bud vases or paper for guests to make their own small arrangements to take home.
Donate
If you don't want to keep the flowers, consider donating them to a local nursing home, hospital, funeral home, or church to bring joy to others.
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