Going Green

Last month's newsletter was all about the process of making your wedding as green as possible, and this month, I'm going to revisit that theme, but with a twist. Last month, green was a metaphor, meaning low-impact, sustainable, and environmentally conscious; this month, I'm being as literal as possible, using green to refer to leafy, verdant greens, and talking about the many ways you can use them in your wedding flowers.

Traditionally used as filler in mixed bouquets, greens can also add texture and color to single variety bunches. A few shiny green leaves  can also be used to add visual interest to accent flowers like corsages, boutonnières, and the flowers you might want to wear in your hair. Try just tucking a few leaves behind the flowers when creating these wearable arrangements; you can even use leaves taken from the flowers themselves, depending on what type of flowers you've chosen.

For table arrangements, bridal bouquets, and bridesmaids' bouquets, you may need to do something a little fancier. Keep the colors of the flowers in mind when you're choosing your greenery, as the colors of different greens can vary greatly. It's also worth considering the scent of your greens before purchasing them in bulk. We use a lot of Eucalyptus in our bouquets, because its coloring tends to be subtle and beautiful, varying from gray-green to dusky bluish tones, and because its scent is so gorgeous and fresh. But if you fill a room with it, that refreshing scent might become overwhelming and less than festive.

Another green that we like to use is Salal, which is a classic, with broad leaves in a deep and glossy green. You'll find it clustered around the edges of many of our bouquets, adding contrast and polish to their look. It has large leaves, which make it perfect for that use, but less than ideal for placement between flowers within a bouquet. Within bouquets, try something tall and thin like bear grass or micro eucalyptus, or something more delicate and unusual, like amaranthus or baby ferns. One great way to get greenery ideas can be to visit a florist, a farmers' market, or even the floral counter at your local supermarket. You'll be able to see lots of different kinds of greenery up close and personal, giving you a chance to compare colors, textures, and that oh-so-important scent.

Of course, you can also have beautiful wedding flowers with no greenery at all. Some flowers look best in simple arrangements sans greenery, like tall, elegant Calla Lilies, or bright golden Daffodils (which, incidentally, should never be used in mixed bouquets; their stems emit a latex that can harm other flowers). Other flowers, like Roses and Alstroemeria have enough leaves of their own that greenery isn't necessary, although you may want to use it anyway. As with anything to do with weddings, in the end, it all comes down to a matter of taste.

Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions, about this newsletter or just about wedding flowers in general. In addition to the resources mentioned above, you might also want to browse our Wedding Newsletter Archive. If that doesn't help, just give me a call. I'm here all day Monday – Friday, and I'm always happy to hear from brides or grooms-to-be!

Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a great (& green) Saint Patrick's Day!

Best Wishes,

Andrea Ashmore
andrea@flowerbud.com
Event Flower Specialist
Flowerbud.com