You’ve just received a bouquet of cut flowers, and you want them to last as long as possible. Taking proper care of them will ensure that they’ll stay beautiful for several days (or even weeks in some cases), just like the first day you received them.

Your flowers need a home right away so transferring your bouquet to a vase should be done as soon as possible. Prepare a clean vase, preferably plastic, ceramic or glass, that’s large enough to handle all of the blooms. Crowding them will encourage the growth of bacteria and shorten their lifespan. Fill the vase with clean lukewarm water (or cold water if they were originally bulbs) and add the flower food that is often included in the packaging. If you didn’t receive any, you can add a bit of sugar to the water instead. It’s important not to combine old flowers with new ones, since harmful bacteria may be transferred by doing so.

After you’ve gently unwrapped the cellophane or paper around the bouquet by cutting it open with scissors, remove any damaged flowers and trim the lower leaves off of the stems so none will be submerged in water when placed in the vase. Then, using a sharp knife or pair of scissors, cut about 2 cm diagonally off the bottom of the stems underwater. This should be repeated if the bottom of the stems appear rotted or slimy.

For all flowers, clean the vase and change the water every couple of days.

Place your completed bouquet away from draught, direct sunlight and heaters. It is also recommended that the flowers not be placed near fruit, since ripe fruit emits gases that are believed to be harmful.

And remember: if you’re buying cut flowers, you should always select ones that not only look fresh, but that have also been picked at the right time. For example, lilies are usually harvested while the blooms are still closed, so don’t be surprised if you receive some in your bouquet. They’ll eventually open up and last longer because of this. On the other hand, most dahlias and chrysanthemum are cut when fully open since they don’t generally open further.

If you didn’t get a chance to put your flowers into a vase immediately, and they’ve started to wilt and become limp, then simply trim a couple cm off the stems underwater, wrap them in paper, and chill for about couple of hours. This will freshen them up and restore their beauty.

In the time before your wedding day, you’ll probably be overwhelmed with preparing everything needed to make your day as perfect as you hope it to be. That’s why it’s vital that you find the right florist who can fulfill your requests on time and with precision - a florist that you won’t have to hunt down every time you need to talk to them and who won’t deliver on their promises.

The best time to contact a florist for your wedding flowers is as soon as you have set the exact time of your ceremony and reception, as well as their location(s). Often times, the florist will be able to provide helpful information about flowers and colours appropriate for the season. They may also have knowledge of the site where your ceremony and reception is scheduled to take place. And if they don’t, you can always ask them to visit the location so that they have a better idea of what type of arrangements and how many will be required.

Contacting a florist for your flowers can be anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, or years, before the big day. Generally, the sooner, the better. This will allow you to go over everything with your florist in a more leisurely manner, rather than rushing through everything at the last minute. At 416-Florist.com, one couple even came in 2 years beforehand! Doing so gave them more than enough time to discuss what they wanted and select the flowers that they found conveyed their individual style the most. They were also able to work within the budget they originally set, which can be one of the most challenging obstacles.

Budgeting
Just about every couple has a specific amount of money set aside for their wedding expenses. Unfortunately, this budget is not adhered to and in many cases, the couple ends up spending way more than what was originally planned. You can avoid this by hiring a florist that understands your perspective and has sufficient professional experience to work within your proposed budget. And if you keep in mind that wedding flowers aren’t the main attraction - it’s actually you and your partner that is – than you might not go overboard.

While there are so many flowers to choose from, you may want to limit your selection to the ones that will be in season at the time of your wedding. Flowers in season generally cost less because there are more of them, and they may not have to be shipped from out of town (which can add to the cost). For example, if your wedding is in May choose tulips and daffodils and if it’s in October, sunflowers are at their peak. On the other hand, some flowers, such as roses and orchids, are available year-round.

Another way to stretch your dollar is to choose simple rather than extravagant arrangements which highlight the beauty of each bloom. Designed correctly, simple arrangements can be quite elegant. Or, (if you must) splurge on just a couple of arrangements.

Finally, try decorating the venue(s) with an assortment of potted plants rather than cut flowers. Potted plants not only last longer, but can also double as mementos of your wedding for your guests.

416-Florist.com is a Toronto based florist that has been providing wedding flowers for over a decade.
From start to finish, we’ll be there for you.