Bouquet advice

[Angi]

Not very veggie, this one. I'm getting married next September (Yay!) and want to use my own flowers in my bouquet. I grow some super dahlias and wondered if anyone knows if they'd stand up to being out of water for a couple of hours without wilting dreadfully. If not, does anyone have any suggestions for something else?

[Chantal]

Hi Angie

I picked my own bouquet when I was married a year ago (14 July) and used cosmos, penstemons, honeysuckle, asparagus fern, ivy and cornflowers. Most of which you'd still get in September.

I was concerned that they'd all wilt so I picked them and dumped them straight in water. They were then tied with a ribbon leaving quite a bit of stem and then put back in the water until it was time to leave. I mopped the ends with some kitchen roll and carried them with me during the ceremony etc, then they went back into a vase of water at the reception. I took them home in the end and had them in a vase for a further week.

I'm not sure about dahlias, but why not have a trial run and see how they last out? I was told that cosmos would immediately wilt (on the day of the wedding ) but took the chance and they were fine.

I hope your day goes as well as mine

[Angi]

Thanks so much, Chantal. I actually grow all those flowers, so may experiment with both them and the dahlias.

[retropants]

I would do as Chantal suggested, and keep them in water for as long as poss. Our dahlias are quite often a bit droopy by the time I've got them home, so on really hot days, I have a bucket of water in the car!!
Good luck & congratulations on your wedding!

[Tigger]

Might be worth an e-mail or 'phone call to Sarah Raven as she's queen of the dahlias. She does courses about wedding flowers so I assume she's found the answer!