How to Recycle Leftover Wedding Flowers

Nothing brightens a wedding more than those beautiful bouquets of flowers. But what do you do with them once the ceremony is over? Why waste the gorgeous and often expensive blooms? Put them to good use.

Donate

Churches can often make good use of leftover wedding flowers. Some can use them for other brides on a much tighter budget, or they could use them for altar decorations, or for other activities. Ask if the church is holding a wedding after yours and if they could use the flowers.

You could also donate the flowers to a retirement home or long term care facility. Those who are housebound to the facility would certainly enjoy the lovely arrangements. One thing I remember from visiting long term care facilities is that even those who lost their mental faculties still enjoyed the flowers and plants. It has such a relaxing effect on people.

Re-Use

If you use silk flowers in any of the arrangements, rearrange them into smaller bouquets to decorate your home. We used silk flowers for the reception tables and it was a nice reminder of our special day later when we re-used them in a basket arrangement for our home.

You could also arrange them into a wreath. Wreaths are great for the new couple, especially those who are settling into their first home or for the parents who would like a keepsake from the wedding. Wreaths are fairly simple to make, even for those who are not craft-savvy. Here is a good link to quick start guide for making wreaths: Save-On-Craft's Guide to Wreaths.

If you are using real flowers, drying them is a good option if you want to keep them for a longer amount of time. Drying the flowers may not be an option with certain varieties but the hardier blooms, such as roses may hold up well. For further information on drying flowers, see Proflowers.com.

Honor a Loved One