From bridal bouquets to centerpieces, wedding flowers are an important focal point to wedding day decor. While they are a beautiful and intricate piece of a wedding day vision, wedding flowers are often seen as only usable one day, which is not always the case. You can choose to give your wedding blooms a second life by giving them to guests, repurposing them into keepsakes or donating wedding flowers to local charities. We sat down with Alberta wedding florist, Flowers by Janie, to discuss the importance of donating your wedding flowers and giving them a second life far beyond your wedding day centerpieces.
Janie describes that, “Some people believe wedding flowers are a waste—an expensive indulgence for something that only lasts a day. But in reality, they do so much more. Beyond bringing beauty and joy to your celebration, wedding flowers help set the tone and atmosphere for one of the most meaningful days of your life. And their impact doesn’t have to end there. Many of our clients choose to have their flowers donated to local women’s shelters, hospices, or care homes, where they continue to bring joy and have a beautiful impact on people. It’s incredibly touching to hear the heartfelt gratitude from those who receive them—a reminder that the joy of your wedding day can reach far beyond the wedding day.”
Give Your Wedding Flowers to Guests as Memorable Favors
One special touch to extend the life of your wedding flowers is to encourage wedding guests to take them home at the end of the wedding. Whether you have elaborate centerpieces or simple bud vases, guests can enjoy a small piece of the wedding day by admiring the beautiful blooms at home. “Who doesn’t love receiving flowers, especially stunning wedding floral arrangements? Your guests will be delighted to take home a centerpiece or a bouquet of blooms. Just be sure to remind them not to take any rental vases along with them!,” says Janie.
We’ve seen the rise in popularity of pressed flower arrangements preserved as lasting keepsakes, like: art, jewelry or framed decor. These timeless pieces can be passed down to future generations and will act as precious pieces of beauty to display in your home. Preserving your wedding flowers ensures their beauty will last for a lifetime and stops them from ending up in the compost bin. Work with your florist or one of the preservationists in the Rocky Mountain Bride Vendor Collective to create a memorable wedding day floral keepsake.
Donate Your Wedding Flowers to Local Charities and the Community
Flowers by Janie is a local Alberta florist who regularly works with clients to donate their flowers to local organizations, such as the YW Crisis Shelter. “The women at YW Calgary receive the majority of our wedding flower donations and their impact has had a huge impact on the lives of many women and children,” says Janie. “The YW has provided vases for every women’s room so when we drop off the flowers to be donated they are invited to choose a few blooms to brighten their rooms.” These wedding day blooms not only provide natural beauty to a special day in your life, but continue to provide comfort and a small form of beauty to women who need reminders of joy in their lives.
Janie received a Flowering with Purpose grant from Bloom Trust Co. earlier this spring to assist with donating flowers to the community. Her commitment to the community and providing beautiful blooms makes her the perfect choice for couples wanting to expand their wedding day flowers to something outside of themselves.
“We are so grateful to Janelle, and Flowers by Janie, for her continued support of YW’s Crisis Shelter through her generous gifts of flower arrangements. Having these fresh and beautiful flower arrangements throughout our shelter brightens the environment and makes it feel more like home for women and children who are going through one of the most difficult times of their lives. Residents have commented that seeing fresh flower arrangements in their rooms and throughout our shelter spaces makes them feel welcomed and valued.” – Stacey Ashton, Manager of Shelter Services & Affordable Housing
“As folks from the U.S., coming to Canada to get married was a daunting task. We struggled with which vendors to pick for almost everything. The easiest vendor we chose was Janie. Janie really sold the deal to us when she told us after our wedding, she could donate our flowers to a local woman’s shelter. She listened to our every want and made our wildest floral dreams come true. My now husband was in awe when he saw the florals laid out in our reception space.”
“Our mission at Flowers by Janie is to provide statement flowers that evoke joy and beauty and leave a lasting impression on our clients and their guests. Our clients experience this on their wedding day and have the opportunity to spread even more joy and impact people for good beyond their wedding day when they share their flowers!,” says Janie.
Learn more about Flowers by Janie and work with her to spread joy with your wedding blooms today!
