Will my flowers be ok?

rasp.berry · May 2012

Would you keep your flowers in vases overnight at your venue?

My venue is closing our ceremony/reception location to the general public at 1 pm on the Friday before the wedding. I don't have a planner or a DOC, so I'm trying to avoid having my mom running around like a crazy lady the morning of the wedding (ceremony starts at 1130, so there's not much time).

We'll be doing the decorating on Friday and my thought is to get the flowers all set up ahead of time in their vases and leave them at the venue overnight. As long as there is sufficient water in the vases, they should be fine, right? I mean I was going to just leave them at my house overnight in vases anyway, so there shouldn't be any difference? The only thing I'm worried about are the flowers for one part of the centrepieces. We are putting a hydrangea bloom into that flower styrofoam stuff and then into a teacup. I'm not sure that those foam things can hold enough water to sustain the hydrangea overnight.

As it is, my mom is already going to have to set up the dessert and drink table so I think adding putting the flowers in their vases to the list will be too much. We've only got 8 tables, so if she only needs to place the hydrangea into the teacup, that's likely manageable.

Thoughts?

midgetthemighty · May 2012

Personally, I wouldn't leave them overnight but I don't have any experience in this so I could just be jumping the gun.

We're having the guys set up the decorations for the reception hall the morning of while we're getting ready. This is common practice in my circle and seems to work quite well. I'm making detailed directions on where each type of centerpiece and such needs to go. Would that work for you so your mom can relax?

rasp.berry · May 2012

That's a thought, thanks Midge. I'm not worried about the placement of everything because all of the vases, dessert stands, etc will be set up the day before - it's just a matter of putting the flowers and everything else where they need to go.

jfellows82 · May 2012

We also have an early wedding and will be taking the flower arrangements to the reception site on Friday afternoon. You don't want your mom to be stressed that morning and you want her to have time to get ready with you.

I agree with you on the hydrangeas. Is there any reason it needs to be put in the foam? Could you just put it in water?

hose85 · May 2012

All I can add is that I know hydrangeas are very thirsty flowers, so you might want to google how much water they will need for the night and make sure you have that. You wouldn't want to get to your venue the next day and they be limp and brown!

kristin183 · May 2012

Personally, I would not want them to sit out overnight.
I will have all my flowers in the fridge until the morning of.

They might be fine.. just not something I would want to do.

lobster93 · May 2012

Those foam flower things hold a good bit of water. I would think they'd be fine. I would assemble them on the day before and leave them in the fridge. Good luck girlie.

diamondx423 · May 2012

I've heard hydrangea are very "thirsty" flowers, so I would be afraid to leave them overnight.

rasp.berry · May 2012

I spoke to the florist that I purchased them from and he recommended that I don't put any of the flowers in the fridge - the reason being is that they absorb less water, meaning they'll dry out sooner so they won't be refrigerated at all.

jfellows - the reason we're doing floral foam is that I don't think that the hydrangeas will sit well in the tea cups on their own. I won't know until I try it and see, TBH. I figured the floral foam would give it a bit more "stability".

michelletobin · May 2012

Maybe you could set them up the night before and when your mom goes to set up the drink station she could just add water to the flowers? That way she doesn't have more to set up but it only takes a few minutes to add water. Just a thought. They should be fine overnight if someone just adds a bit more water the morning before the wedding.

brittneyh4 · May 2012

Mine will also be in the fridge. If that's not an option, I would definitely keep them overnight with you so you're able to make sure they have plenty of water. The guys are also helping set everything up morning of, that's how our circle works as well. Is there someone else that is willing to help your mom so she doesn't get overwhelmed?

michellep1 · May 2012

My thought is, when I have flowers at my house, they're fine for a few days and still look fresh. I do have to agree with PPs though that hydrangeas "drink" a lot, so you might want to fill it with as much water as possible and then refill in the morning.

Is your venue inside or outside? If outside, I wouldn't leave them, as you could have bad weather or small animals to contend with.

kimiandgary · May 2012

We have done a few flowers for weddings and I wouldn't recommend this. But if you must, be sure the room you keep them in is VERY cold - like "bring in an AC for that room only, crank it up and close all doors and windows" cold.

I would ask the guys or some extended family if they can step in and help your mom so she isn't the aforementioned crazy lady.

brittneyh4 · May 2012

Kimi's post gave me nightmares of American Wedding (from the American Pie movies) where her flowers all wilted/died.

GwenDL13 · May 2012

Could you put the hydrangea's in their styrofoam balls, and then put all of them in a big bowl full of water so that they "float" on top? That way they'd have water all night and then the next morning all your mom would have to do it fill up the teacups and plop in the flowers. Maybe? Good luck!

MMRoberts11 · May 2012

Could you put everything in a refridgerator? This will help slow down how much the hydrangea's drink and will keep them looking their best for the day of. If not, soak the styrofoam as much as possible the night before and bring a squirtable water bottle to spray them the morning of.

Will my flowers be ok?

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