Growing my own flowers?

charbakes

So my mother's family is from France, in the lavender district, and when I graduated high school I moved to France for a year and lived with my maternal family. When I came back I brought lavender seeds gifted to me by my grandmother. I have several lavender plants grown from the seeds and they're totally beautiful.

I'm strongly leaning toward using this lavender for my bridesmaid bouquets and possibly boutonnieres. I've never had trouble with my lavender and it's always bloomed beautifully in May, like clockwork. I know there are risks with this, and I was wondering what sort of backup I should have in case my lavender gets diseased or for some reason doesn't bloom. I don't want to pay a florist for more than my own bouquet, so I was thinking maybe little purses or a cookie bouquet? Something I'd be able to throw together quickly.

TheSlowskys

What about 3 hydrangea stems tied together? You can pick them up from a grocery store. I don't know what a cookie bouquet is but I'm not a fan of non floral "bouquets"

Maggie0829

What is a cookie bouquet?  Is it actually made out of cookies?

GoodLuckBear14

Please consider the lavender.  More people than you realize are severely allergic to it and would have to leave your wedding.

Sue-n-Kevin

I think growing your own flowers is a great idea, BUT, I'd seriously consider having a back up plan. I have huge lavendar plants, as well as lilly of the valley, lilac bushes, tulips, rose bushes, all sorts of great flowers for bouquets. HOWEVER, they all depend on Mother Nature and frankly she has been a bit temperamental in recent years. Like you, my various flowers always bloomed like clockwork the first couple of weeks of May, until they didn't when we had milder winters, 7 days of 90 degrees in March, followed by a hard frost this year (which killed 90% of the cherry crop in northern Michigan).

If I felt as strongly as you do, I might look into making arrangements with a local florist (or online via Sam's Club or Costco), and ordering a bunch of baby's breath. It has a nice natural airy look, doesn't affect allergies, and if you have lavendar to add with it, great....... if not, you still have something fairly easy to put into bouquets for your BM and small sprigs for the groomsmen. You could supplement something sturdier if you wanted, but it's not necessary.

Good luck.

charbakes

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_flowers_growing-my-own-flowers?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:28Discussion:43e08402-26f2-42df-9d4b-71d00ea0a0b8Post:62a8da9d-1294-4e77-9664-2f4197ce28f6">Re: Growing my own flowers?</a>:
[QUOTE]Please consider the lavender.  More people than you realize are severely allergic to it and would have to leave your wedding.
Posted by GoodLuckBear14[/QUOTE]

I know all my guest very well, as well as their allergies (I own a bakery that specializes in accomidating special diets, and as such I have huge lists of what everyone is allergic to) and no one is allergic to lavender.

And a cookie bouquet would be made out of cookies. I saw photos of one and it was adorable. Probably flower shaped cookies on sticks. I'm a baker so it would make sense.

annmarie714

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_flowers_growing-my-own-flowers?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:28Discussion:43e08402-26f2-42df-9d4b-71d00ea0a0b8Post:a5161ccd-f540-4b0e-b122-97a2a45b857c">Re: Growing my own flowers?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Growing my own flowers? : I know all my guest very well, as well as their allergies (I own a bakery that specializes in accomidating special diets, and as such I have huge lists of what everyone is allergic to) and no one is allergic to lavender. And a cookie bouquet would be made out of cookies. I saw photos of one and it was adorable. Probably flower shaped cookies on sticks. I'm a baker so it would make sense.
Posted by charbakes[/QUOTE]

The cookie bouquet sounds tacky, TBH.

kmmssg

My DH would so be waiting for someone to leave a cookie bouquet unattended.  he makes the Cookie Monster look like a rookie.  I'm serious.

If none of your attendants are allergic to the lavendar and the fragrance won't be overpowering when they are trying to eat, it sounds lovely.  

Sue makes very good points here though regarding the weather.  Here in MI and other states too, our crops and flowers and fruits were devastated by the wierd hot weather in the Spring. The strawberry farm I've gone to for 25 plus years lost all of their apples, peaches, and cherries due to the weather.  When the strawberries were done, they closed for the rest of the season.  I live in apple orchard Heaven and we have lost it all due to the wierd weather.  It is good to keep this in mind.

Since you are 10 months out I would really encourage you to get a small flower budget set aside.  Have you checked out Sam's Club bridal flowers online?  You can get a killer deal on bouquets, etc for cheap.

reppunzel

I love the lavender idea, and what a lovely tribute to your heritage!  I hope to use lavender and rosemary in the bridesmaids' bouquets, and maybe some small bunches for decor.  My mother grows it, but that won't be enough, so I'll be talking to local growers/farms that I've met at the farmer's market -- you may want to see what's available in your area.  Would you consider using dried lavender as a back-up?  Different from fresh, but still beautiful.  I also like PP's hydrangea suggestion.