ADVICE & STYLE
Farm to (Wedding) Table
Let lo c a l a b u n d a n ce b e t h e g u i d i n g fo rce behind the flowers for your celebration
T
he farm-to -table movement, in terms of food, has become widespread over the last two decades as more and more people discover the benefits of supporting local agricultural systems. The same awareness with local flowers has been a little slower to catch on, especially in the wedding industr y, but fresh, chemical-free blooms grown in your community deser ve a place at the table as well.
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Fi e l d to Vase
In the Zone
The decision to feature local and seasonal materials at your event is a direct investment in the farms and farm workers in your community and a positive alternative to the environmental and health issues linked to imported flowers. In their short journey from field to vase, local flowers use less fuel for transportation, less energy for refrigeration, and less packaging than their imported relatives. If local flowers aren’t available at the time of your wedding, you can work with a florist to source certified US Grown or Fair Trade flowers (traceable farms that follow social and environmental growing standards).
When planning to create your own event flowers, begin by educating yourself on seasonal availability direct from farms. Options range from pre-order bulk buckets of mixed varieties, individual stems, single variety bunches, or first-come, first-ser ved bouquets. Instagram is a great resource for weekly crop updates and you can scroll back through farm feeds to see offerings in the weeks before and after your scheduled event date. The selection at different farms will var y depending on the farmer’s personal taste, what grows best in their climate, and what sells well in their market.
Hey Rhody WEDDINGS AUGUST 2021 |
HeyRhody.com
Photos by Jill Rizzo
By Jill Rizzo
