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Green is the New Black

More and more often during my consultations, I have brides asking for eco-friendly floral options for their weddings. And happily so. The thousands of weddings that take place each year throughout this great yet carbon-producing nation of ours must surely have an impact on the environment. However, it quickly becomes clear that my beloved tree-hugging brides haven’t a clue about what it means to be green when it comes to their wedding flowers.

THE MIAMI CONNECTION

Few people know where the flowers come from that they send to Aunt Muffy after her last facelift or place on the tables at their special affairs. For most of us, we assume that because flowers are an elemental part of nature, they must grow them in some secret garden nearby. The fact is that most flowers sold in the United States are imported from South America, primarily Columbia and Ecuador, then brokered through Miami. From there, they are flown to wholesalers throughout the country and filter down to, well, me. The fossil fuels used to distribute this huge volume of flowers can be described as odious at best. To be truly “green,” you must use flowers that are grown locally and trucked over short distances. In San Diego, we are fortunate to have some of the best flower fields in the country located in our North County and Ventura County. The trade-off is that the variety of flowers is considerably more limited and can be quite a bit more expensive than flowers from South America. So you pay more for less choice, but it’s better for the planet.

CHEMICAL IMBALANCE

It is impossible to talk about eco-friendly harvested products without considering pesticides. The word “organic” automatically implies that flowers we buy are pesticide-free. These chemicals not only harm the workers who grow them, they also ravage the environment in which they are grown. Again, we San Diegans luck out by having several great organic flower farmers right in our neighborhood, such as Kendall Farms and Seabreeze Organic Farm that offer great choices such as organic lavender, protea, alstromeria and a myriad of greens.

BE KIND—REWIND

The easiest and equally important way to be a friend to the Earth when planning your wedding is to recycle. This can be accomplished in several ways. Much like household packaging, floral containers made of plastic, glass and certain metals are recyclable materials. You can also work with a florist who can rent vases that can be used at many more weddings after yours. To your floral designer’s horror and chagrin, being “green” also means forgoing the use of floral foam, which is made of a petroleum product and will likely spend the next gazillion years in a landfill. Perhaps the best way to recycle is to reuse the actual flowers. There is a wonderful organization, Blooms from the Heart, that will pick up centerpieces at the end of your wedding and deliver them to hospice patients all over the city. As an added bonus, your wedding flowers can be tax deductible. Now that’s green.

Eco-friendly florals can be a challenge for both you and your floral designer. But like a hybrid car, I believe you can find peace somewhere in the middle. Awareness is the key. So, to be (green) or not to be? That is the question—and probably part of the solution.

 

David Hahn is the man behind Willem-Aidan, a luxury flower company based in Los Angeles.  See his work at www.willem-aidan.com

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