I love summer. I love the warmth, the sun, the sidewalk lemonade stands, and the opportunities to go barefoot. Summer is a time when gardens thrive, but can be a difficult time for dealing with cut flowers, due largely to that same heat I like so much. While summer’s searing days do pose a challenge, the good news is that there are quite a few things you can do to ensure that your wedding flowers will still be gorgeous, and none of them are too hard.

No matter what flowers you choose, you’ll need to care for them differently when it’s extremely hot, but you can also minimize this by choosing your flowers carefully. You’ll want to avoid Roses if at all possible, but Lisianthus can be a wonderful substitute. The delicate, ruffled blossoms are just as romantic, but much less expensive. And though they may arrive looking a bit tired from the heat, they’re quite hardy and will recover extraordinarily well.

Orchids are another fantastic summer option; being tropical flowers, they’re quite used to the heat! No matter which flowers you choose, you’ll want to take care of them well, keeping them consistently cool and extremely well-hydrated. Make sure you’re at home when the flowers arrive, so you can bring them in immediately. Once they’re inside, you’ll want to cut the stems and put them in cold water with plenty of flower food, then find a cool space where you can store them until the wedding. If you don’t have air conditioning, a basement can be the ideal temperature.

You’ll want to leave the flowers in that cool space for as long as possible before the wedding, but avoid refrigerating them, as this can keep them from opening. This is especially important with flowers like Lilies, which have a lot of opening to do. Be sure to check their water regularly, to make sure there’s enough and to make sure it’s clean. If the water appeals murky or dirty at all, replace it with more clean cool water, as this will help the flowers to remain fresh.

Above all, simply keep your flowers cool and make sure to give them plenty of water. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about how to care for your wedding flowers. I’m always happy to hear about success with Flowerbud flowers, and interested in tips and new ideas. If you’re just starting to plan your wedding, take a look at our Newsletter Archive, where you’ll find lots of tips and information.

As always, thanks for your interest in Flowerbud, and have a wonderful summer.

Best Wishes,
Erin Freed
Erin@flowerbud.com
Event Flower Specialist