As more people become aware of global warming and the effects human consumption is having on the planets, many wedding vendors are starting to work more sustainably and ethically. Thankfully, this includes florists! Read on for why you choose choose an eco florist for your wedding and my top 5 Sydney eco florists.
What’s so good about an eco florist?
It can be overlooked, but the amount of waste and carbon emissions from floristry can really add up. Especially when flowers are sourced from overseas and need to be flown to Australia (those supermarket flower arrangements!). I truly want to encourage my couples to consider making eco choices for their wedding as much as possible and this includes choosing an eco florist.
Not only do flowers contribute to carbon emissions, but many flowers are harvested unethically. This means that the workers picking your wedding flowers may be recieving an unlivable wage for their time meaning they can’t pay for safe shelter, buy enough food or properly clothe themselves. It’s modern day slave labour and unfortunately, is very common in labour intensive workplaces like plant fields and fruit orchids.
Thankfully, there are Sydney based florists who can give you the flowers of your dreams who focus on sustainable sourcing and ethically harvested flowers.
Film and Foliage
Eco floristry with wild organic, foraged and dried textural styled floral arrangements for weddings and elopements with a focus on mindful and eco-conscious practices. Film and Folage find inspiration from forgotten and discarded foliage with texture and rawness added from foraged, wild pieces.
Blue Mountains Floral Design
Wild-spirited, free flowing and organic, Blue Mountains Floral Designs is a studio based wedding and event florist.
Trish, the designer behind the arrangements, has sustainability and an eco-ethos engrained in her bones and not only works sustainably, but strives to lead a sustainable and eco life too. She works with foraged, locally sourced and environmentally sustainable product which means her clients can feel good knowing that they are doing what’s best for the beautiful Blue Mountains, surrounds and the earth.
Biophilia Blooms
For the non-traditional but eco-conscious couples who want wedding flowers without all the waste. Bold, modern and contemporary designs featuring contrasting colours, textures and flowers to embody each couples personality and essence.
Saint Fleur
Etheral, whimsical, and modern floral design with a focus on eco friendly and zero waste practices. Saint Fleur is on a mission to reduce their environmental footprint left from floristry while also creating beautiful, structural, modern installations and floral arrangements.
Wherever possible, Saint Fleur supports local flowers growers mostly from NSW but sometimes from wider Australia. Preferring to work with flowers in their natural form, Saint Fleur tries to avoid dyed, bleached or imported flowers while completely avoiding plastic-based, disposable floral foam.
Although their methods can be more time-consuming and labour intensive, they instead are focusing on looking after and caring for the earth by using reusable materials.
Poppy and Fern
Based in the Byron Bay Hinterland, Poppy and Fern is a sustainable florist service and organic flower farm focusing on the slow flower movements with a focus on returning to sustainable flower farming practices.
Wherever possible, the arrangements and florals Jess creates are sourced from her farm (called The Field). By the end of 2020, Poppy and Fern aims to grow 90% of their wedding flowers in The Field.
What Happens To The Flowers After The Wedding?
So you’ve had your eco-florist come in and set up all your flower installations and now you’re wedding is over. This means there’s a whole heap of flowers that are either going to be thrown away or left to wilt at the venue (probably also going to be thrown away).
Before your wedding day, make sure you chat with your florist to discuss what will happen after the day has finished. Ask if they will be dismantling the installations and separating the wire from the green materials. Ask what will happen to the left over flowers – will they be thrown away or composted? Can you donate any to and local charities or hospitals?
It’s definitely worth asking!
