{"id":887354,"date":"2025-04-21T10:46:37","date_gmt":"2025-04-21T15:46:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/floristsreview.com\/?p=887354"},"modified":"2025-05-06T15:34:15","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T20:34:15","slug":"green-weddings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/floristsreview.com\/green-weddings\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cGreen\u201d Weddings"},"content":{"rendered":"[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”]\n\t\t\t[et_pb_row admin_label=”row”]\n\t\t\t\t[et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]\n

These florists inspire us to adopt more eco-friendly and sustainable practices for wedding designs.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Kat Castagnoli, AIFD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As floral designers know, flowers can have a huge impact on a wedding in the best way. But did you know those same gorgeous blooms can be a detriment to the environment? From the large amount of water and pesticides used to grow them to the quantity of waste produced from their disposal afterwards, wedding flowers and their components are a surprisingly significant contributor to environmental pollution and one\u2019s carbon footprint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The use of floral foam\u2014a longtime staple of practically every florist\u2014has become one of the biggest concerns, according to research from the Sustainable Floristry Network<\/em> (SFN), an Australia-based independent education and membership organization that strives to create a more sustainable, nature-positive florist industry. Each floral foam brick contains roughly the same amount of plastic as 10 plastic bags, according to the SFN. When foam breaks down and the water from it is poured down the drain, it releases tiny plastic particles called microplastics, which contaminate our water systems and soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s worth mentioning\u2014before we go further\u2014that the terms \u201cenvironmentally friendly,\u201d \u201ceco-friendly\u201d and \u201csustainable\u201d often get used interchangeably when technically they are different. In general, these closely related terms refer to minimizing harm or damage to, and even helping, our planet and its environment. But to clarify: \u201cenvironmentally friendly\u201d and \u201ceco-friendly\u201d more specifically pertain to reducing the production of waste, reusing, recycling, composting, safe disposal and biodegradability. \u201cSustainable\u201d refers to avoiding or minimizing the depletion of natural resources and even replenishing or regenerating those that are used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Molly Culver<\/strong>, of Molly Oliver Flowers<\/em> in Brooklyn, N.Y., has given our planet a great deal of thought. \u201cGoing the sustainable route in floristry is a way of honoring and protecting the soil, water and ecosystems that co-produce the flowers we love and rely on for our livelihoods,\u201d she says. \u201cI believe change has to come from the ground up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"seasonal
Design by Molly Oliver Flowers. Photo by Sarah Bode Clarke<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Culver, who runs a \u201cgreen\u201d flower studio that specializes in weddings and events, says when she first began dabbling in floral design, she noticed there was a lack of options for couples seeking eco-friendly approaches to wedding flowers. \u201cWhen I started my business in 2012, I knew I would invest in products grown and produced with sustainability in mind and attempt to build systems that created as little waste as possible,\u201d she explains. \u201cOur [environmentally friendly] approach has been built into everything we do since day one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This includes sourcing locally or domestically grown flowers; using reusable, foam-free mechanics like flower frogs, chicken wire and water tubes; curating a diverse inventory of vessels that can be reused after each event; and rethinking her studio\u2019s waste management practices. \u201cWe made an arrangement with a local urban farm in 2013, and we\u2019ve composted nearly 100 percent of our organic waste ever since,\u201d adds Culver. \u201cOur clients love this about our business and feel great knowing we are not sending a ton of unnecessary waste to landfills.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exploring Alternatives<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Designing wedding bouquets or centerpieces in an eco-conscious way doesn\u2019t mean compromising creativity or client expectations, according to TJ McGrath<\/strong>, of TJ McGrath Design<\/em> in Plainfield, N.J.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI always try to sell a vision to my clients that can be executed in water, in some way, shape or form,\u201d says McGrath, who takes pride in sustainably showcasing New Jersey-grown flowers for bespoke weddings and other events. \u201cI\u2019m referencing elevated designs here, and I just don\u2019t see a reason to not figure out a way to sell something you can achieve foam-free.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

McGrath says when he must create an installation for a wedding, a hanging design for example, and a water source is near impossible, \u201cI design it to consist of materials that can handle minimal water and incorporate a mix of mechanics.\u201d Some of these mechanics include reusable chicken wire inside of containers or as an armature or base for bouquet designs; chicken wire \u201csausages or burritos\u201d rolled with grasses, moss or inexpensive greens to design into for arch and hanging pieces; tension stem grids or knotted branch \u201cnests\u201d or compostable alternatives, like New Age Floral\u2019s<\/em> biodegradable OshunPouch, AgraWool\u2019s<\/em> Sideau biodegradable floral foam and Phoam Labs\u2019<\/em> bio-based Phoam floral foam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"table
TJ Mcgrath. Myra Roman Photography<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Of note, Smithers-Oasis<\/em>\u2014creator of the industry standard floral foam\u2014is also making strides in a marketplace clamoring for more sustainable options. According to president and CEO, Robin Kilbride<\/strong>, AAF, the company, which invented floral foam in 1954, has felt a responsibility to reinvent it as new raw materials have become readily available. \u201cOur global research team has been pursuing this project for many, many years,\u201d she says. OASIS\u00ae<\/sup> Renewal\u2122<\/sup> Floral Foam, a new plant-based alternative that boasts a 56 percent carbon footprint reduction, recently launched and will be available for purchase later this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

McGrath explains that when he opened his flower business, he committed to finding substitutions to traditional floral foam. \u201cAll that has done is force me to be creative, sharpen my communication skills and find alternative ways of doing things,\u201d he says. In fact, he has become an example for other florists on Instagram, with many reels showing him using alternative mechanics like chicken wire while designing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe hard decision was deciding to share openly on social media everything I was learning about the industry, but I felt really strongly that it had to be shared,\u201d McGrath adds. \u201cNow that I knew more and knew better, I absolutely had to try to do better, even if that meant failure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"table
TJ McGrath. Bo Shim Photography. Collab with Zela Events<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

As you can see, more and more companies, including the institutions that are the backbone of our industry, are developing innovative products that address the concerns of environmentally conscious florists and consumers. Today, florists have more choices of design mechanics than ever, and the innovation is sure to continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coaxing Change<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Sheilan Mueller<\/strong>, of Yarrow & Spruce<\/em> in Denver, the sustainability conversation in floristry has often felt intimidating. \u201cSome spaces focused on \u2018calling out\u2019 rather than \u2018calling in,\u2019 and we wanted to shift that narrative,\u201d she says. The \u201cwe\u201d Mueller refers to includes two other environmentally conscious floral designers: Emma Van Vranken<\/strong>, of Emma Lea Floral<\/em> in Golden, Colo., and Kim Zimmerman<\/strong>, of Rowdy Poppy<\/em> in Denver.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"ceremony
Rowdy Poppy Design<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Over coffee and continued conversation, the Colorado-based trio created the Sustainable Florist Club\u2014a community built on collaboration, support and education. \u201cOur goal is to create a welcoming space where florists can explore sustainability at their own pace and feel empowered to make meaningful changes,\u201d Mueller explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"wedding
Design by Yarrow and Spruce. Harwell Photography<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Van Vranken echoes this sentiment, noting that her own transition into sustainability started small by designing away from floral foam and seeking out locally grown flowers. \u201cThe more I learned about our industry and the impacts of our choices as designers, the more invested I became in making my business intentionally sustainable, rather than just casually adopting some sustainable practices,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zimmerman adds: \u201cI don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like to design a wedding non-sustainably, to be quite honest. Yes, I was trained in school using floral foam, but I never used it in my business. Because I started out trying to set the right habits and processes for sustainability, it feels easy and natural to do it this way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"bridal
Emma Lea Floral.Liz Osban Photography<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Courtney Pino<\/strong>, of Abby Garden (AG)<\/em> in Scarborough, Maine, agrees. She says it\u2019s a lot simpler today to execute more sustainable wedding designs. \u201cIt\u2019s a muscle that takes time and practice to develop and flex, but now it just feels natural and intuitive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"ceremony
AG Floral.Jenn Meija_Darling Photography<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Her best tip? Collect different mechanics (like chicken wire, water tubes, etc.) and multiple vessels that you can rent on repeat. This will drive your profit while you pivot to more sustainable practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis will give you more income to purchase expensive materials like flower frogs or pay for labor to disassemble designs for compost and reuse,\u201d says Pino, whose award-winning New England event studio specializes in flowers for fine-art weddings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want to mitigate how much is disposed of in an anaerobic environment, which means no single-use materials [like zip ties],\u201d explains Pino. \u201cIt may seem inconsequential, but there is a (slow!) snowball effect. As a more sustainable florist, we have reduced our landfill contributions by over 80 percent!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Community Connections<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Holly Lukasiewicz<\/strong>, of District 2 Floral Studio<\/em> in Omaha, Neb., creating beautiful wedding designs while prioritizing eco-friendly practices\u2014such as abandoning the use of synthetically bleached, dyed, glittered or painted botanicals\u2014has become a holistic practice, both personally and professionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy motivation while creating is in offering my community meaningful moments of beauty and connecting them to nature through as low waste means as possible,\u201d says Lukasiewicz. \u201cIt is an inner-connected, soul-level practice for me that feels honest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Beautiful
District 2 Floral Studio.Emily Steward Photography<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Inspired by reading Robin Wall Kimmerer\u2019s book, Braiding Sweetgrass<\/em>, which explores Indigenous wisdom gleaned from the natural world, Lukasiewicz has seen how sourcing flowers locally offers a mutually symbiotic relationship for people, the planet and the local economy in the following ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n