How Not to Waste: Giving Second Life to Your Wedding Day or Party Flowers

“In the marvelous month of May when all the buds were bursting, then in my heart did love arise.” – Heinrich Heine

Are you all of a sudden finding yourself filled with joy and wonder? Are you feeling a sense of renewed hope in your day? Do you catch yourself in the best of moods lately? There is no secret to this blissful state of mind… Simply take a look around you! Everything in nature is thriving with life and color, approaching its most vibrant moment of the year. Welcome to the glorious height of Spring!

That’s why we love the month of May so much. It gives us a new sense of purpose and inspires us with its endless kaleidoscope of colors, blooming flowers everywhere, and the fragrant scents that fill the air.

It is also the time for new beginnings and celebrations. May Day gatherings fire up the festive feeling around the world, Mother’s Day brings a sense of gratitude to this time of year, and the wedding season rolls into full swing.

“Spring is nature‘s way of saying, “Let’s party!” – Robin Williams

It is true! The abundance, as well as the demand for flowers during May and summer months skyrockets to its peak in conjunction with the above celebrations. For weddings alone, the average cost of flowers in the U.S. is around $1,400, with most couples spending between $700 and $2,500.

Among all that joy, what makes us sad is the limited use of most flowers purchased during this season. The large majority of all flowers are only needed for one occasion or purpose and then discarded without much thought. Considering how much effort and care goes into growing them, this is not an ideal outcome for the labor of love farmers like us put into our work. Tessa Corp’s roses can last up to two weeks from the moment of purchase if handled properly and maintained daily.

Our team in Tessa Corp, put our thinking caps on to offer a few suggestions for how to extend the life-cycle of your beautiful blossoms and their capacity to bring joy to more people. Whether you used them in your wedding, party, or celebration, picked them in your local flower shop, or got them as a gift, we ask you to consider the following ideas:

1. Re-gift for a good cause.

Most centerpieces and decorative arrangements used for weddings, galas and large corporate events are made for those one-day events only. After you enjoy their beauty, consider donating these flowers to a local hospital, shelter, elderly home or a non-profit organization that will have a use for them. These “second hand” flowers are sure to put a smile on the faces of many more and give you the satisfaction of facilitating more happiness and being less wasteful.

2. Compost to create nutrient-rich, “garden gold.”

Whether for your own garden or a local urban farm, you can compost your wilting flowers and other organic matter to turn them into a nutrient-rich supplement for your soil, known as humus. This mixture, once ready, can be used to fuel plant growth in your flower or veggie garden or top-dress your lawn. Learn more about composting here.

3. Make flower crowns.

It’s sad to watch your flowers slowly die. Have some fun with them instead. Invite your children and/or friends to join you and get artsy together. Take lovely photos of your beautiful creations for an unforgettable afternoon of everlasting memories. Watch this video for a quick and easy flower crown tutorial.

4. Dry your flowers to preserve them.

Love your flowers so much and want to preserve them forever? Try drying them! Dry flowers have many uses – you can decorate your home with them, make your own potpourri, add them to homemade bath salts and skin scrubs, include them in thank-you cards (for your party/wedding attendees), freshen your bedroom drawers and more. Check out more cool ideas here.

We at Tessa Corp don’t let beautiful things go to waste. A small percentage of our flowers that may be considered “imperfect” is used to adorn our office spaces and farm facilities and is later cycled back into our nourished soil through the process of composting.

We hope you like the ideas presented in this article and give them a try. Please share any other methods that can help extend the life of flowers in the comments below.