Cut flowers for wedding
Matt Underwood
Posts: 1
in Plants
Hi all,
I'm getting married on 1st August next year. My partner and I are both keen gardeners and are planning to grow a fair few cut flowers for the reception. We also thought it would be nice (and cheaper!) to send out seeds with the invites and ask people to grow flowers to bring with them to help decorate. We were thinking probably sweet peas and cornflowers.
Question is this: Can people recommend good varieties which are reliable, easy to grow (especially for people who've never grow anything), give plenty of blooms, and are attractive.
Thanks in advance.
Matt
0
Posts
This is a very romantic idea, but I have to say that if I were coming to your wedding, I might feel a little imposed upon. What if I had no garden? Or a garden that didn't have a suitable spot for these plants? What if, at about the time when sweet peas are due to go out into the garden, I had a two week holiday booked, and nobody to take care of them? Or they fell victim to Mother Nature, and I had to turn up empty handed, feeling like a failure? Maybe people who've 'never grown anything' have made a conscious decision not to do so because they don't want to. I don't grow houseplants because I don't want to. I don't keep a pet (except my bees) because I don't want to.
Much, much better than this, would be if you asked people to bring some flowers from their garden - things they grow anyway. Have them all turn up with a cornucopia of 'stuff' from their gardens, something that expresses them and their style of garden? What a lovely ice-breaker if they all had to do their own table decoration with what they had,and then went round looking at the other tables and discussing the designs - have a competition! (I am not sure how you would plan to have the table decorations done from lots of people turning up with flowers anyway, but presume this would be it).
But also, the practicalities - what if they all turn up at the church/registry office with flowers - where do they keep them? In the back of a hot hatchback parked round the corner? Or next to them on the pew? What will the flowers be like by the time they get to the reception? Do they all have to take their flowers to the reception venue before the marriage ceremony to stop them wilting? Or drive with a bucket of water in the back? Is anyone coming by public transport?
I think it is a lovely romantic idea, and if you want people to grow flowers for you instead of paying for wedding presents, and make this clear, then you'll maybe get a better response, but if you still expect them to buy you a toaster, as well as devoting their less than green fingers to the art of gardening for weeks in advance, it may go down like a lead balloon in some quarters.
But all that being said, I do think that there is something very romantic about informal home-made, gesture led weddings, which is what I had, and it was the most fantastic day in every way, and many people said it was the best wedding they had ever been to, so stick with the idea, but maybe let the guests do their own thing a bit. (And for some of them that will mean picking up a bunch of flowers from Tesco on the way, but that's just who they are).
I think people get far too controlling about weddings. We had a poem read out that my brother in law had written, and a friend read out, but we had no control - just trusted to them. We even trusted the weather and it worked out. So why not let go and see what your friends and relations surprise you with?
It is a very nice idea to give each guest a packet of seeds at the wedding. Maybe beside their place if it is a sit-down meal.
I love the idea! (But all my friends are very practical so perhaps I'd not over think it like Bee)
I agree with Welshonion and BusyBee. It's a bad idea to ask people to grow flowers for your wedding. Perhaps if there are family members or close friends that you know are keen gardeners you could ask them to do it to help you cut costs. Otherwise I would recommend growing them yourself.
Giving them a pack of seeds at the wedding (an alternative type of favour, I suppose) is a lovely idea and takes the pressure off both them and you.
As for what to grow, well sweet peas, zinnias, dahlias, chrysanthemums, something for foliage...the list is endless and I'm sure there will be loads of suggestions. Good luck.