Plymouth-based Wildflower Floristry recommend sustainable summer blooms

Lucy Cooper is the creative force behind Wildflower Floristry, a local, independent florist based in Plymouth. We catch up with her for tips on picking sustainable wedding flowers for your arrangements this summer. Lucy says, "The first thing to bear in mind while planning sustainable summer wedding flowers is the varieties themselves. The summer season offers an array of beautiful blooms, all of which lend themselves to many styles and designs. From pretty wildflower daisies, delphiniums and lavender that help create a country garden feel to the beautifully scented garden roses, hydrangeas and peonies best suited to a more classic theme."

She continues, "My top tip when planning your wedding flowers is to pick them according to the season that you're getting married in. As well as having a greater selection of flowers to choose from, you'll also get more value for money because flowers grown and picked in season take fewer resources to grow, are much more sustainable and more reasonably priced than those forced to grow out of season. Finding flower suppliers and florists that sell locally grown flowers and plants (or even grow these products themselves) are always worth looking out for. With so many amazing local growers and florists all over Devon and Cornwall, not only do you get top-quality products but you're also supporting smaller local businesses."

Lucy continues, "Another thing to remember while researching sustainable flower arrangements is to bear in mind the different style of vases, jars and containers available because you can create wow-factor displays using any type of container. For example, you can form a stunning group of flowers and foliage in the middle of each table displayed in pots and jars that you might already have at home which are more sustainable because they're being recycled. They'll look effective surrounded by biodegradable natural confetti and strewn flowers that can be picked to suit any colour and theme. This is a great DIY idea if you wanted to have a go at creating some of the decoration yourself and if you select wildlife-friendly plants, then they can be planted in your garden afterwards as a lasting memory of your special day."

Finally, Lucy suggests, "If you wanted to add some larger arrangements to your ceremony or reception venue, why not ask your event coordinator or florist and see what they have available for hire? This way, you don't need to buy anything and store it, and the items can be delivered to your venue on the day with no hassle. Larger scale arrangements such as archways, garlands and pedestals can all be made with eco-friendly materials and no plastic, featuring locally grown flora and foliage providing an Insta-worthy backdrop."

To check out Lucy's designs and book an appointment, visit https://www.wildflowerfloristryplymouth.co.uk