There is no doubt that flowers have a special beauty. We have created to express our joy, gratitude and love by giving flowers. And where better to do it than at a wedding. However, there are decorators who point out – decorators like flowers, but don't like to see what happens to these flowers after the wedding. That is why more and more often couples choose to ask their guests not to give cut flowers at the wedding - instead offering alternative ways to congratulate them.

Donated flowers are not necessary at all

Wedding decorator Iluta Piternika / MintDeco, while decorating a wedding, has come to the realization that gifted flowers are not necessary at all.

"If the young couple has chosen decorators for their wedding, then both can be sure that there will be many beautiful coordinated flower arrangements in the celebration hall, and the donated flowers will not be needed at all. Often, the donated flowers are placed on the floor in a corner and often spoil the overall visual image of the celebration place.

Especially if, for example, we have a very well-thought-out burgundy-red wedding, but someone has come with yellow gerberas. Then you have to think about where to hide these yellow gerberas without offending the little ones. Gifted flowers can save the day in low-budget weddings that don't have a decorator. These donated flowers are placed on the tables and arranged around the celebration room to create a sense of celebration," Iluta shares their experience.

Newlyweds often don't even see the flowers given

Not to give cut flowers - this practice has been followed for a long time in many parts of the world, because people understand that no one will take proper care of the flowers, at least on the wedding day. Therefore, the decorator Iluta Pitrenika invites couples to think about this already when preparing their wedding invitations - the invitation is the right place to give instructions to the guests about this issue. "Let's be honest - after the ceremony, at the height of their emotions, most often the young couple does not even see what flowers are given to them. They end up in the hands of the ushers and then at the place of celebration. If the young couple has planned a honeymoon immediately after the wedding, they often also ask the guests not to give flowers, explaining the reason, in the invitations. In my experience, there are already many weddings where the invitations clearly state - flowers please do not give

It has been asked to be replaced with books for the new family's budding library, wines to be opened on the wedding date of each month, homemade jars of jams and pickles for the new family's pantry. Often, the intended flower money is asked to be directed to animal shelters for the purchase of food or for some other noble charitable purpose," says Iluta.

Instead of flowers – jars of jams and pickles

Evija and Mārcis, for example, invited their guests to give them homemade jams and pickles instead of flowers.

"We chose this flower alternative because we really don't like big flower beds, which unfortunately have to be thrown away two days later.

We wanted to receive something more permanent and practical. The idea of pickles/jams came to mind quite by accident, thinking about what we both like. The surprise was that many had put a lot of effort into the design, so even long after the wedding (we had enough stock for two winters), taking a new jar out of the fridge, it was nice to read what was written on which and thus remember the wedding day," say Evija and Mārcis about their choice.

Non-traditional flowers - wine bottles

On the other hand, Zane and Jānis invited the guests to give them bottles of wine, and later they also prepared special wine shelves for them at home.

"The idea of replacing the classic wedding flowers with wine given by guests is wonderful, and I definitely recommend it to everyone who is still in doubt whether to specify red or white flowers in the invitations. You should not be shy to deviate from the traditional course, even if it seems that one of the guests will not understand or even condemn.

These same guests will be truly delighted the next time they visit your home when they are treated to one of these special drinks for you. These non-traditional flowers will also be a great continuation of the holiday both as a couple and in the company of special people. Plus, it's a great way to get your friends thinking about you early. My husband's cousin and his wife even specially went to Champagne to bring us real champagne for the wedding. There were many more special bottles that the guests had chosen with great care. And we had no choice but to build special wine shelves in the house to store all these treasures," says Zane.

Residual value - books

But on their wedding day, Lelde and Mārtiņš chose to replace the flowers with another lasting value, namely books. "Since we planned our dream wedding far from home, in the invitations we asked the guests not to bring flowers, but books - they have lasting value, they do not wither. I really like flowers - both noble roses and a velvet flower in the meadow. And just thinking that the flowers brought by the wedding guests will not receive my proper joy and care in the excitement of the wedding day, we decided to ask not to give flowers. The guests were happy about such an idea," recalls Lelde.

Instead of flowers - help for four-legged friends

The guests of Agnes and Edgar's wedding were also only happy about the invitation indicated in the invitation - to bring food to the animals in the shelter instead of flowers. A special wheelbarrow was even set up to put all these gifts.

"We thought it was important that the money spent on flowers goes to a more useful purpose and we decided to combine it with charity - an opportunity for us and our guests to help our four-legged friends. Everything worked out and the guests also appreciated this decision," Agnese and Edgars remember.