A Green Thumb for a White Wedding

One important, yet easily overlooked detail is the flowers.  The flowers can be one of those particulars that set the tone of your wedding.  Although it is tempting to forget about the flowers until the “more important” matters are taken care of, careful planning in the beginning stages of organization can prove fulfilling and cost efficient.  It is difficult to argue when I say that nothing goes better with a white wedding gown than white flowers.  Here are some inexpensive, yet beautiful suggestions for turning a green thumb into a white wedding.

Although rain makes an unwelcome wedding guest, moist climates are ideal for growing the Impatiens Fiesta Ole Frost, more commonly known as Busy Lizzie. The Busy Lizzie is a stunning, snow-white flower destined to brighten any occasion.  When planted in spring, this impatiens will blossom just in time to beautify your summertime wedding.  This particular flower is not known to have problems with pests or disease and will provide loveliness to your garden for months.  

For those of you residing in extremely hot or extremely cold climates, unfortunately Fiesta Ole is not for you.  This flower is somewhat delicate and will not stand up to drought or extreme temperatures.  It also requires partial shading as well. In the right climate, Fiesta Ole Frost will provide a nearly effortless backyard arrangement; as an added benefit, you will have an eye-catching garden which will spark memories for years to come.

For a gorgeous flower that will withstand almost any climate, I suggest the Campanula persicifolia Grandiflora Alba, in laymen’s term the Peach-leaf Bellflower.  This graceful, breathtaking stalk will appear to bow to you as you make your way down the “aisle”.  Growing to as much as six feet tall, this resilient flower provides vibrant color and elegance for an early summer wedding. Taking its shape from peach leaves, this bellflower makes a lovely addition to any garden with reasonably rich soil.  With one application of fertilizer, the Peach-Leaf Bellflower requires little else to grow into the flower of your dreams.

For flowers that smell as good as they look, I would advise the Philadelphus Snow White Fantasy (Mock Orange) or Datura metel Belle Blanche (Angel’s Trumpet).  The Mock Orange is a double flower bloom which is suitable to most environments and smells like orange blossoms.  It grows from six to eight feet high and needs little fuss to keep it looking beautiful.  With one fertilization and gentle pruning per year, the Philadelphus will flower year after year.  As the name suggest, when added to your yard, the aromatic fragrance and towering stance will leave you feeling like a princess on your early-summer wedding day. 

The Angel’s Trumpet emits a scent similar to honeysuckle and is especially fragrant at night.  It is a rapid growing plant which blooms in early summer.  It grows best in mild weather areas and may reach as high as four feet.  The Belle Blanche requires more work than other flowers I’ve mentioned, but as with anything in life, hard work brings great rewards.  Imagine the feeling you’ll get when nature itself is rendering your bridal chorus.  It will feel absolutely heavenly.

Speaking of heaven, a carefully selected floral halo will have you looking as angelic as your yard.  The specimen I have found most suitable for the task is the Syringa Sister Justina, or Lilac.  Well known for its intoxicating fragrance, the Lilac can be used to make a lovely hair piece.  Coupled with an elegant gown, such a hair piece would make any bride look simply enchanting.  Lilacs are a simple, relatively inexpensive way to bedeck any hairdo.

If you prefer a less fragrant flower, I would recommend the Phalaenopsis, more commonly known as the Moth Orchid.  Moth Orchids are easily grown and fare well as houseplants.  They are charming and elegant without adding redolence.  They would make the perfect ingredient for a scent-free hair charm.  This variety of orchid blooms for months at a time and will give lasting splendor long after your wedding is concluded.

Let us not forget that ever-important bouquet; no wedding would be complete without one.  No flower says love better than a rose, in this case the Rosa Moondance, a type of Floribunda Rose.  This magnificent rose is fairly easy to grow and will supply a distinctive, aromatic smell to your bouquet.  You will find such a rose to be resilient, moderately trouble-free, and invaluable.  It can be used in numerous capacities as the finishing touch in every area of your wedding.  The Moondance can be used as a centerpiece, as a lapel flower for the groom and groomsmen, in corsages for your bridesmaids, anywhere a flower is needed.  The Rosa Moondance is truly the perfect flower for any occasion.  

Planning a wedding can be complex, planning your flowers doesn’t have to be. With a bit of forethought, you can create a landscape that will glow on your wedding day almost as much you do and at a fraction of the fee you would pay a professional landscaper.  In return, you will have a garden that is the envy of the neighborhood.  When it’s all over you’ll have to admit that there is nothing like a green thumb to help you achieve a white wedding.