Features Business Marketing
Saying “I do” with locally grown flowers

Sept. 29, 2016, Guelph, Ont. – Fall is just around the corner and as the leaves begin to change, so do the flowers that are in season. Soon, everywhere you look there will new brides planning the happiest day of their lives and a big part of wedding planning is choosing the right flowers to fit the bride (and groom’s) vision.
 
Flowers set the feel of the wedding and whether they are bright and bold or soft and subtle, the floral arrangements, bouquets and boutineers are an important part of any wedding. Luckily, brides do not have to look too far when trying to pick the right flowers.
 
“Ontario greenhouse growers produce a wide variety of flowers that are perfect for the big day,” says Dejan Kristan, marketing director for Pick Ontario. ”For autumn weddings, flowers and plants like asters, celosia, sunflowers, chrysanthemums, zinnia, sedum, eucalyptus, and succulents can add lots of interesting texture and a seasonal look to your arrangements and bouquets.”
 
HERE ARE KRISTAN’S TOP FALL WEDDING PICKS

• Matsumoto asters are a cheerful addition to any bouquet. Their bright yellow centers give them a daisy-like charm.

• Celosia plumes are great for boutonnieres, and add brilliant colour and feathery texture to arrangements. 
    
• Use tall sunflowers to add height and a bold splash to mixed arrangements. A fun flower that is also so recognizably “autumn.”

• Chrysanthemums are another classic bloom that radiates with the beauty of the fall season, especially when using them in warm tones of reds and oranges.

• Succulents are not only trendy, but also extremely hardy and you can enjoy them long after your wedding day is over. They add unique shapes and texture to your arrangements.

• Talk to your florist and experiment with hardy stems like the silver dollar eucalyptus, curly willows, and rose hips. All add soft colour and something special to your bouquets and table arrangements.

• Spray roses offer the beauty and fragrance of roses, but on a charming miniature scale. Each branched stem has multiple blooms, which make excellent fillers in large arrangements.
 
LOCALLY GROWN FLOWERS

It is highly recommended for brides and grooms to choose locally grown flowers. By doing so, the longevity of the flowers is highly maximized and they can be enjoyed even after the day has passed.

Local flowers also tend to have more fragrance than those imported, as their scent comes from natural chemicals that they release into the air. Imported flowers often lose these chemicals during their long transportation, so the shorter the trip the longer the scent of the flowers will last.
 
“Flowers are one of the most essential parts of any wedding and fall is the perfect time to experiment with soft colours, unique textures and various types of blossoms,” adds Kristan. “I don’t think there is a better way to enhance the happiest day of your life than with fresh, locally grown flowers that smell like they’ve been picked that morning.”
 
For more information, please visit www.pickontario.ca. Follow @pickOntario on Twitter and Instagram, and like them on Facebook.
 
ABOUT PICKONTARIO

PickOntario is an initiative developed by Flowers Canada (Ontario) Inc. to raise awareness, interest and demand for Ontario-grown cut flowers and potted plants. When you pick Ontario, you are supporting the more than 200 greenhouse farmers who employ approximately 9,000 people in our province. The growers in Ontario work hard to produce quality flowers and use the latest trends in technology and growing techniques to ensure their products are delivered fresh to local retail establishments, daily.