Donating Flowers After Weddings and Events

Hi flower lovers, Alexa here! Today, I want to share my thoughts and experiences with donating flowers after weddings and events. As a florist, I find this to be an incredibly rewarding way to give back to the community while also ensuring that the beauty of flowers extends beyond the event.

What Happens to Event Flowers?

After a wedding or event, my team returns to clean up and retrieve rental items like candles, arches, and vases. Any leftover flowers that aren’t taken home by guests are donated to local organizations, such as hospices or hospitals. It’s a wonderful way to share joy and prevent beautiful blooms from going to waste.

Flowers often have plenty of life left in them after an event, especially since I pride myself on sourcing the freshest flowers. Knowing they can brighten someone else’s day is a feel-good moment for everyone involved—clients included.

How It All Started

I began donating flowers last season and found it to be one of the most fulfilling parts of my work. After pitching the idea to a few clients, the positive response was overwhelming. From there, I called local hospices and retirement facilities, and they were thrilled to accept donations.

This year, I’ve expanded to include hospitals, especially now that COVID restrictions have eased. Cancer treatment centers and long-term care facilities are some of the new recipients. The volunteer teams at these places are incredibly grateful and distribute the flowers to brighten patients’ rooms and common areas.

Planning Ahead for Donations

One thing I’ve learned is the importance of planning flower donations during the design process. For example:

• Compote Arrangements: I use a plastic liner inside compotes, making it easy to remove the flowers and donate them without giving away rental items.

• Clear Glass Vases: For these, my team deconstructs the arrangements and creates wrapped bouquets to donate.

While this process takes extra time and labor, I’m happy to cover all associated costs. It’s my way of using my business to give back.

The Donation Process

Here’s how it works:

1. Wedding Day: On Saturday, my team executes the event. Afterward, our strike crew returns late at night to bring the flowers and rentals back to the studio.

2. Sunday: I’ve set new boundaries to take Sundays off for personal time and mental health.

3. Monday: My team cleans rental items, organizes the studio, and prepares the flowers for donation. Monday mornings are when we deliver flowers to hospitals, hospices, and other organizations.

This schedule allows me to maintain a balance between work and life while ensuring the donation process runs smoothly.

Final Thoughts

Donating flowers has been an incredibly rewarding experience for me, my team, and my clients. It’s a small way to spread joy and beauty while giving back to the community.

If you have questions about donating flowers or know of local organizations that would love to receive blooms, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d love to hear from you!