Weddingbee Blog

Much to the initial dismay of my FMIL, we will be using homegrown flowers almost exclusively. MIL Husky is a master gardener; her sprawling sunken garden can put the publishers of Fine Gardening to shame. So her disappointment didn’t stem from our desire to grow our own – it’s because we live in a very dry climate that prevents us from growing many of the bright blooms that she’s accustomed to growing in the Pacific NW. Our growing environment considerations really limit what our arrangements can contain.

(MIL Husky’s fears, clockwise from top left: source, source, source, source, source)

But there are many options for those of us living in dry climates, and we’re not stuck with the blooms of yuccas and the needles of cacti. Need proof? We are currently (or soon to be) growing everything here:

(from top left: dahlias, maiden grass, rudbeckia, zinnia, Chinese lanterns, red dahlias, autumn leaves, scabiosa stellata)

So, logistically, how can we make sure all of our flowers won’t face an early demise - before the wedding?

1. We’re growing a lot of our flowers in large pots. When we have unexpected weather, like spring snow or hail, we can move them inside. We keep ours in the mud-room, but a garage, basement – even a covered patio would work. The main concern here is keeping the snow or hail from directly contacting the blooms.
2. A Drip Irrigation System, particularly one with a timer. This does not have to mean expensive – any local garden or hardware supply store should be able to get you going for under $25. Tutorials for setting them up can be found all over Google.
3. Keep pets away! I had finally convinced Mr. Husky to adopt a sweet shelter pup, and then I remembered my flowers. Now we’re waiting until after our honeymoon. If you already have a little rascal (or five), find a way to keep them from digging.

The day before the wedding, we will cut all of our blooms, and start arranging. I’ve shared my plans with MIL Husky, and she’s thrilled that she won’t have to watch tumbleweeds blow across the aisle!

Are you growing any of your wedding flowers? What steps are you taking to make sure you have a bouquet? Are you supplementing your homegrown florals with any wholesale or store-bought blooms?