💐 Behind the Stems: The Heart and Hustle of Wedding Flowers

🎂 It’s My Birthday!
Today, June 10th, I’m celebrating another trip around the sun — and what better way to mark it than by sharing a little bit of my own story? I fell in love with wedding flowers back in 2022 when I designed and grew the florals for my own September wedding. That experience was the spark that started it all. So in honor of my birthday, I’m reflecting on where this journey began — and sharing one of the most meaningful weddings I’ve had the privilege to design since.

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If you’ve ever received a wedding bouquet — or even just admired one from afar — you know how magical it can feel. But what you don’t see is everything that happens behind the stems: the early mornings, the late-night arranging, the hauling, the hydrating, the emotional weight, and the joyful tears.

This May, I had the honor of designing wedding flowers for one of my very best friends. It also happened to be just two days after the most demanding weekend of the year for flower farmers: Mother’s Day.

And yet, I said yes.

Because there was no way I could let anyone else do her flowers.

The Wedding of a Lifetime — in More Ways Than One

From the moment her mom and I picked up the flowers (Scott at Kennicott Brothers is amazing if you’re looking for a wholesaler, I cannot recomment Kennicott enough!), I knew this was going to be something special. I cried more than once — not from stress (though there was a bit of that!), but from the deep emotion of being part of something so meaningful. These weren’t just “event flowers.” These were made with love, trust, and so much care.

Designing wedding florals is always a labor of love, but when it’s someone you know deeply, it becomes something more. Every stem I placed carried memories, intention, and heart.

And, to make things even more fun? I was also the matron of honor. Balancing both roles — floral designer and MOH — was no small feat. I was switching between floral apron and formal dress, buckets and bouquets, laughter and logistics.

Picking up our floral order from Kennicott Brothers in Grand Rapids, we both cried!

The bride’s mom was the true MVP of the day—none of the flowers would’ve come together the way they did without her. I’ll always treasure the full day we spent together and her generous, helping hands.

What Really Goes Into Wedding Flowers?

A lot of folks don’t realize just how much goes into pulling off wedding florals. So here’s a little peek behind the scenes:

🌿 Planning & Vision:
It starts months — sometimes a year+ — ahead of time. I work with the couple (or in this case, my bestie) to understand their vision, color palette, vibe, and flower preferences. We consider seasonality, availability, and how to make the florals feel them.

✿ As a farmer-florist, I sometimes start planning a year in advance — growing specific varieties based on the couple’s vision and seasonal possibilities. But bloom timing is never guaranteed, which is why flexibility and a color palette-focused approach are key. In next week’s blog, I’ll share more about what it’s like to grow and design wedding flowers — and why working with a local flower farmer can make your florals that much more meaningful.

📦 Sourcing & Prepping:
There’s the sourcing — sometimes from my own fields, sometimes from other local growers, sometimes from our trusted wholesaler — and the timing has to be just right. Flowers are living things. They need to hydrate, open, and reach their perfect moment of bloom. That part is pure orchestration.

🛠 Mechanics & Movement:
From bouquets and boutonnieres to large-scale installations, wedding florals require real mechanics — chicken wire, floral foam alternatives, tape grids, water sources, clamps, zip ties, and sometimes literal ladders. It’s architecture meets art. (See below for a few of my go-to supplies for working with flowers in any setting.)

⏳ Time Pressure:
Wedding florals are created in a tiny window — often in 1–2 days before the event — so they’re fresh and vibrant. That means long hours of nonstop work leading right up to delivery and installation.

🚚 Transport & Setup:
Then comes the careful transport (hello, vehicle full of sloshing buckets) and on-site setup. You're battling wind, heat, timelines, and sometimes unplanned surprises (like needing to build a last-minute arch installation in a thunderstorm — yes, really).

💗 Emotion:
And finally, the emotion. Seeing your work on display, watching the bride walk down the aisle holding something you created — it’s overwhelming in the best way.

Designing wherever needed—yes, that’s a bowling center! The bride’s parents own it, and its giant cooler was a game-changer. One more piece of the puzzle we made work while I balanced being both the florist and a member of the wedding party.

Why I Still Say Yes — Even When It’s Hard

Was it exhausting? Yes. Would I do it again? Without a doubt.

There’s something sacred about creating florals for a wedding — especially when you know how important the day is to someone you love. It’s not just about pretty flowers. It’s about crafting something that will live in people’s memories, wedding albums, and hearts.

Photo credit: Nicole Jenrow, Details and Daydreams Photography

A Reminder to Other Creatives

If you’re a creative entrepreneur or fellow flower farmer: this work is hard, but it’s also heart work. It’s okay to honor your limits. It’s okay to say no sometimes — or to say yes because it matters that much to you.

I’m still tired, still recovering, still planting (hundreds of dahlias, thousands of annuals, new berry rows, and too many perennials to count!). But I’m also full — full of gratitude, pride, and the humbling joy of being trusted with someone’s most important day.

Here’s to what happens behind the stems — the sweat, the emotion, the love, and the beauty that blooms from it all.

Congratulations to the beautiful couple! It was such an honor to stand beside you and bring your floral vision to life. Thank you for trusting me—my hands, my heart, and my creative eye.

Bonus: 🌿 My Favorite Floral Design Tools & Supplies

Whether I’m arranging at the farm, on-site for a wedding, or designing in a borrowed space (hello, bowling alley cooler!), these are the tools I always have on hand. I’ve linked a few of my go-to items below—tried, true, and flower-farmer approved.

Essential Design Tools:

• Floral Clippers – Sharp, ergonomic, and perfect for everything from delicate stems to sturdy dahlias.

  • I love Modern Sprout’s floral shears—especially during dahlia season when I’m regularly dipping tools in a bleach solution between plants to prevent the spread of disease. When I need something quick and handy, I also reach for these basic snips (just a heads-up—they do tend to rust). If you're looking to stock up, this option is a great value!

• Floral Tape – The waterproof kind is a must for bouquets and installations.

• Chicken Wire Roll – Ideal for sustainable mechanics in centerpieces and foam-free design.

• Floral Frogs (Kenzans) – A game changer for bud vases and ikebana-style arrangements.

• Floral Wire & Green Paddle Wire – For boutonnieres, arches, and everything in between.

  • 24 guage floral wire — I use these or something similar to wire ranunculus and other delicate or top-heavy blooms such as anemones, peonies, tulips, etc. (this is a must especially for ranunculus)

• Floral Adhesive — Ideal for securing blooms in boutonnieres, corsages, and hair pieces without wire or tape.

• Crowning Glory Flower Spray — A finishing touch to add sparkle and elegance to your arrangements—perfect for weddings and special events.

• Zip ties - for heavy duty thick bridal bouquet stems

A Few Extras I Love:

• Flower food — not a necessity, but I do use it

• Gold Bullion Wire — I use this for flower crowns, I prefer Oasis bullion wire

• Corsage Elastic Wrist bands

• Pocket Boutonniere Sleeves

Thanks for being apart of our journey!

With muddy boots and a full heart,
Alex

The Surprising Benefits of Chickens on a Flower Farm: A Tale of Healing, Harmony, and Helping Pollinators

Welcome back to Petals and Prose, where we celebrate the beauty of both flowers and the hardworking creatures that help nurture our growing spaces. Today, I’m diving into the surprising benefits of having chickens on a flower farm — and why they’re more than just cute faces in the yard. We’ll also take a little detour into a recent incident that left one of our beloved hens injured but on the road to recovery, plus the important role that beneficial insects play in our farm’s ecosystem. But most importantly, I’ll talk about how we, as a micro flower farm, strive to protect and support local pollinators — and why it matters more than ever.

Chickens: Nature’s Helpers on a Flower Farm

If you’ve ever considered adding chickens to your farm or garden, you might be wondering: “What could they possibly do for flowers?” Well, quite a bit, actually. Chickens aren’t just for eggs (though those are a delightful bonus); they play an important role in keeping the land healthy, fertile, and in harmony with nature.

While I know some farmers swear by ducks for their own unique benefits, we’ve found that chickens are a better fit for our farm in this season of life. Ducks are adorable, but they can be a bit too messy for our setup right now. That said, we’re not ruling out the possibility of adding ducks in the future — maybe we’ll try them someday when we’re ready for a new challenge!

1. Natural Pest Control: Chickens are excellent at keeping your flower farm free from pests like beetles, slugs, ticks and grasshoppers. While we love having vibrant, healthy flowers, these pesky insects can wreak havoc on delicate plants. Chickens will naturally hunt and eat many of these bugs, reducing the need for any harmful chemicals or pesticides (which we do not use on our farm) — which, in turn, helps protect your pollinators, like bees and butterflies, who might otherwise be harmed by chemical treatments. In short, chickens help maintain the balance of good bugs and bad bugs, ensuring your flowers flourish.

2. Fertilizing the Soil: Chickens are also great for fertilizing the soil. As they scratch around and peck at the ground, they deposit nutrient-rich droppings that enrich the soil naturally. Their scratching action helps aerate the soil, and their manure adds valuable organic matter, boosting the health of your flowers without synthetic fertilizers. This creates a symbiotic relationship where the chickens get to roam and forage, while your flowers grow stronger and more vibrant.

3. Weed Control: Chickens also love to nibble on young weeds. As they explore the farm, they can help reduce weed pressure, which gives your flowers more room to grow and thrive. While chickens aren’t a substitute for a dedicated weeding regimen, they certainly help keep things in check.

A Hen’s Road to Recovery: A Personal Story

Post-surgery (haha)

This sweet girl and I are very close now <3

Now, let me take a moment to share a story about one of our hens, who recently faced an injury that required a bit of extra care and attention.

It was just last Saturday when one of our hens — a sweet, hardy bird — injured her toe in what I can only describe as a freak accident. After a thorough check, it became clear that the injury was severe enough that we needed to remove the toe to prevent further complications. This led to a hefty vet bill, but I wouldn’t trust anyone else with our birds’ care than the incredible team at Cedar Creek Veterinary Clinic in Williamston, Michigan. If you’re in the area and need an avian vet, I cannot recommend them enough. Dr. Heather Beasley was wonderful, and we had such a positive experience. Her expertise and care made all the difference in our hen's recovery.

I also want to give a big shout-out to the veterinary tech who went above and beyond to help me learn how to properly administer medication to our hen. If you’ve ever tried giving a chicken a pill, you know it’s no easy feat! But this tech was so patient and kind, showing me the best techniques and offering tips on how to make it a little less stressful for both me and the chicken. It was a huge help — and let me tell you, it’s not as simple as just popping a pill in their mouth! (But we’re managing it with a little practice and some treats to make it easier.)

Right now, she’s recovering in our basement (which, don’t worry, is cozy and quiet), where we’ve set up a special area for her to rest. We’ve been providing her with extra food and comfort, along with medication that I administer twice a day. In addition, we’ve been doing 2-3 sessions of petting (yes, she loves a good scratch!) each day, which seems to be really helping her relax and heal. While she’s adjusting to her new “lifestyle” of limited mobility, she’s slowly regaining strength. It's been a healing journey for both of us, and it’s a reminder of how interconnected our responsibilities to both plants and animals really are. Our farm isn’t just about flowers; it’s about providing care for every living thing that contributes to its success.

Beneficial Insects: The Unsung Heroes of the Garden

Ladybugs are natural pest controllers, feasting on aphids and other harmful insects, helping keep your flowers healthy and chemical-free.

Let’s talk a bit more about the tiny, often overlooked workers in our gardens: beneficial insects. These creatures — from ladybugs to predatory beetles — help keep harmful insect populations in check and support the overall health of our flowers and plants. While we might not always see them, they play a crucial role in pollination, pest control, and even soil aeration.

At Bede’s Blooms + Co., we are committed to using NO harmful chemicals or pesticides on our farm. Instead, we bring in beneficial insects from trusted sources like ARBICO Organics and Nature’s Good Guys, who ship them to us monthly. These beneficial insects, such as nematodes, predatory mites, green lacewings and praying mantis, help control pests naturally, without any harm to the environment or our pollinators.

I also want to give a special shout-out to my dear flower farmer friend Laura (@farmyardblooms on Instagram). She has been such an incredible source of wisdom and encouragement on my flower journey, and I’m so thankful for her guidance. From tips on identifying beneficial insects to beautiful photos that teach me how to recognize them in the field, Laura’s expertise is top notch! Not to mention she is one of the kindest humans I have ever met. If you're looking to dive deeper into how beneficial insects can help your garden thrive, a good chuckle or admire beautiful homegrown speciality cut flowers, definitely check her out!

Additionally, we focus on raising our Brix levels to enhance the overall health of our plants. To do this, we apply a weekly treatment of molasses (here are the two we use: Golden Barrel Unfiltered & Soil Sunrise Dried Molasses) — a practice that helps improve soil health and plant resilience. The molasses is mixed with water and applied via a sprayer attached to our hose (we roate between these two: a hose attachment sprayer and my new favorite backpack sprayer) . This simple yet effective method helps our plants become more nutrient-dense, which not only benefits our flowers but also attracts beneficial insects that thrive in a healthy, vibrant environment. Otherwise, we will use Neem Oil as an option as well.

By focusing on natural pest control and improving the overall health of our plants, we are able to maintain a thriving, chemical-free environment that benefits both our flowers and the local ecosystem.

A round of fertilizer!

We’re big fans of Dairy Doo, a fantastic Michigan-based company. Their hose attachments are excellent for our farm's needs. We also use a reservoir attachment for the molasses, which conveniently connects to our hose for easy application. We also use SuperThrive for our seedlings and sweat by it! It’s amazing!

Pollinators: Why They Matter and How We’re Helping

Speaking of pollinators, we are excited to share that we are looking into getting bees for our farm! (If you have any local resources to share, please do) Bees are, of course, vital to the pollination of many plants, and we want to do our part in supporting their population. As flower farmers, we rely heavily on pollinators to help our flowers bloom and thrive, but the decline in bee populations is a real concern. By introducing bees to our farm, we hope to do more than just benefit our flowers; we want to be part of a larger movement to help protect these vital creatures.

Bees aren’t just good for flowers, either. They pollinate crops, wild plants, and trees — which helps ensure biodiversity and the health of local ecosystems. By supporting pollinators through our farm practices and looking into beekeeping, we’re doing our part to contribute to a healthier environment. We’re also raising awareness about how vital it is to support local pollinators, as their decline has significant consequences for the food supply and the overall health of the planet.

Here is a sweet bee resting on one of our dahlia plants last summer

Bees are essential for flowers, as they pollinate plants, enabling them to produce seeds and fruit. Their work boosts flower growth and biodiversity, supporting a healthy garden ecosystem.

A Micro Flower Farm’s Commitment to Sustainability

As a small flower farm, we have the privilege — and the responsibility — to cultivate our space in a way that works with nature rather than against it. By integrating chickens into our farm ecosystem, supporting beneficial insects, and exploring beekeeping, we’re striving to create a balanced, sustainable environment where all living things — plants, animals, and insects alike — can thrive.

At Bede’s Blooms, we believe that gardening isn’t just about growing flowers; it’s about nurturing the entire ecosystem that makes it all possible. We’re committed to protecting pollinators, supporting local wildlife, and working toward a healthier, more sustainable future.

Thanks for reading along with us today. Stay tuned for more updates on our hens, our flowers, and our journey as a micro flower farm that’s making a difference for the planet — one petal at a time.

If you’re interested in following our journey or learning more about how chickens, beneficial insects, and pollinators work together to create a thriving farm ecosystem, be sure to subscribe to our Newsletter for more updates, tips, and stories.

Bonus: We have a drawing to win a free spring bouquet for signing up for our newsletter! Deadline for entry is Friday, March 28th 2025.

Praying mantis are

These fascinating insects hunt down and consume a wide variety of pests, including aphids, beetles, and caterpillars, helping to keep your flowers healthy without the need for chemicals. Their predatory nature makes them an essential ally in maintaining a balanced, thriving garden ecosystem.

With gratitude and floral magic,

Alex Winans

founder & owner, Bede’s Blooms + Co.