Submitted by Becky Memmo AIFD
From Farm to Florist…what a wonderful topic for a webinar! I don’t know about you, but I am beyond grateful that such an educational presentation was available to me (for free, for that matter) and all from the comfort of my own home!
As an event designer who has always purchased exclusively from my local wholesaler, this was a great way for me to learn how to incorporate locally grown flowers into my design work. I tend to be very meticulous when ordering for my weddings, so I’ve always hesitated to purchase elsewhere. However, I am 100% on board for supporting domestic small businesses. I was surprised to learn that only 20% of the flowers sold in the US are actually grown here!
One of the farmers suggested to plan one week in advance and to “start small” when purchasing from your local grower for your weddings. By allocating around 10% of your wedding floral budget to include those seasonal/special flowers, you are still supporting your wholesaler with your remaining budget. I thought this was such great advice, allowing you to still support everyone in all aspects of the field!
One of my favorite quotes from another one of the growers was to always consider “what grows together, goes together”. Really taking into account your region and the seasonality of such flowers can be such a great selling point for your weddings. What better way for your couples to be reminded of their special day, than to offer unique blooms that are available from your local farm! Communicating this information to them is key. Every time they see a zinnia, they’ll be reminded of their gorgeous summer wedding and how they supported such a wonderful (local) floral community!
