Flowers: Affordably in-season
Over the past several years, locavores — those interested in eating food grown locally — have been on the rise.
Increasingly, that interest may be transferring to brides and their choice of blooms.
Still, many brides concentrate first on a certain look before considering whether the flower is in season, said William Santos, owner of Monarch Garden & Floral Design in Petoskey.
“Traditionally, brides always chose white and pink,” said Santos. “Now, they’re willing to go a little outside of the box and want a romantic look, a lush look, and want to add texture to arrangements.”
Last year, said Santos, the big color was orange; this year, it’s blue.
And when brides settle on a flower too soon, before they know what’s available and in season, they can get a little sticker shock. Peonies are one such example.
“Brides like them: they’re fluffy and big,” he said. “When you get local peonies in season at local farmer’s markets, they’re very inexpensive, $3 or $4. When they’re not available, they jump to a $6, $7 or $8 bloom.”
Paul Retherford Wedding Photography
Spring flowers such as tulips increase in cost when out of season, and other seasonal blooms such as hyacinth, peonies, lilacs and fall-colored mums may be entirely unavailable.
That could push some brides to think about what flowers are in season and local.
“Using local is a great choice, and I think that it appeals to me, and I hope some brides, to use flowers that are in-season,” said Jennifer Haf, owner of BLOOM Floral Design Studio in Bay Harbor. “It can be nostalgic, with the flowers blooming at the same time every year, and cost-effective.”
Aside from flowers that simply aren’t available out of season — lilacs, for example — Haf said many flowers are attainable year-round, thanks to a global market.
“There are some price fluctuations, but they’re not huge,” said Haf. “We get things from Australia, Holland and everywhere in between. ... If we get flowers from within the states, it’s even better, and local is best, if that’s an option. The flower market has really become to be on a global scale.”
Flowers available in the summer in Northern Michigan are garden flowers such as zinnias, snap dragons, scabiosa and delphinium.
“Willow is a great option for fall, as well as deep, dark calla lilies, deep red roses and seeded eucalyptus, which is a sage green,” said Haf. “Fall-colored mums are available, and it is a great time to tie in your richer earth tons — plums, ambers and burgundies.”
Both florists agree that winter presents its own difficulties — not only in finding out-of-season flowers, but the shipping difficulties Northern Michigan winters present.
“Winter storms make things complicated,” said Santos. “And sometimes it is so cold, that even if we get next-day delivery, the flowers freeze. ... We have to wrap all our arrangements in plastic to keep them from freezing.”
Something wedding parties forget to consider, too, is taking care in getting photos taken outside: the harsh weather can freeze the wedding party’s bouquets.
“In the winter, we do a lot of silvery greenery with white — dusty miller and different tones of white,” said Haf. “It’s more of a tranquil, but gorgeous, time of year.”
And though brides should keep seasonality of flowers in mind, mainly to keep an eye on their budgets, Santos said brides can be sure florists will work with them to create a look they want.
“For us, there is always someone growing something somewhere,” said Santos. “There is always an option to offer to brides that is similar.”
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