From Seed to Stem: What It Means to Grow and Design Your Wedding Flowers

When couples think about wedding flowers, most envision the end result: bouquets in hand, centerpieces on tables, petals scattered down the aisle. What they don’t often see is the year-long journey those blooms can take to get there—especially when your florist is also your flower farmer.

As a farmer-florist, I don’t just design your wedding florals. I often grow them, too. And that adds a whole new layer of care, complexity, and intention to the process.

Photo: Nicole Jenrow, Details and Daydreams

Planning Begins With the Seasons

Unlike traditional florists who order flowers from wholesalers, I plan your florals around what the land and seasons can offer. That means conversations about your wedding flowers often start a year (or more!) in advance to align your vision with bloom times, planting schedules, and growing conditions.

If you're dreaming of lush peonies or delicate sweet peas, we need to make sure your wedding date lines up with when those flowers naturally bloom here in Michigan. Sometimes I can time successions or lean on tunnels to extend bloom periods, but Mother Nature always has the final say.

Why a Color Palette > Specific Flowers

One of the best ways to work with a farmer-florist is to approach your florals with an open mind and a flexible heart.

Rather than requesting a specific variety ("I want white anemones and only white anemones"), I always encourage couples to start with a color palette and vibe. Think: romantic and soft in blush and ivory, or sunset and bright with coral, gold, and raspberry.

This flexibility allows me to:

• Harvest at peak beauty: Choosing stems that are actually blooming their best that week

• Avoid disappointment: If a crop fails (hello, unexpected hailstorms), I have a plan B (and usually a plan C)

• Design more creatively: Using what the field gives me, not just what's on a wholesale order sheet

The Local Advantage: Sourcing From the Soil

When I can, I grow everything I design with. But I also supplement with other trusted local growers and small-scale wholesalers. Why?

• To ensure you have enough volume for your design needs

• To support fellow Michigan flower farmers

• To get the freshest, most sustainable blooms possible

Local flowers are picked just days—sometimes even hours—before your wedding. They’re not flown in from overseas or packed in boxes for weeks. That freshness is evident in the vibrancy, scent, and presence of every single stem.

That said, I do occasionally source wholesale blooms when needed. For example, in mid-May, Michigan’s floral availability can be limited and unpredictable—so for a recent wedding, I supplemented with carefully chosen wholesale stems to ensure the couple’s vision came to life beautifully.

More Than Just Flowers—It’s a Relationship

When you work with a farmer-florist, you're not just hiring a vendor—you're building a relationship. I learn your story, your style, and your priorities. I walk the rows thinking of your bouquet. I sow seeds with your celebration in mind.

It’s personal. And that’s what makes it so special.

Behind the Blooms: The Work You Don’t See

Every petal in your bouquet carries intention. Long before your wedding day, I’m pouring over seed catalogs, sketching mockups in my notebook, and standing out in the field at golden hour imagining how a just-budding dahlia might play into your tablescape.

There are early mornings sowing seeds in silence, late nights under grow lights checking trays, and months of nurturing tender stems through unpredictable Michigan weather. I spend my seasons not only growing flowers—but growing your flowers.

When I say your bouquet is personal, I mean it. I walk the rows and think about your love story. I hand-select blooms based on what I’ve learned about you—your warmth, your softness, your spark. I might add one stem for sentiment, one for memory, one just because it reminds me of the way you spoke about your person.

There’s a reason your bouquet feels different when it’s placed in your hands. It’s because it is.

It’s not just about matching your color palette—it’s about evoking emotion. Nostalgia. Joy. Connection. Every design choice is meant to mirror the one-of-a-kind story you and your partner are writing together.

Setting Expectations: The Realities of Growing & Designing

This approach isn’t always for everyone—and that’s okay. It requires:

• Trust in the process, and in me as both your grower and your designer

• Flexibility with the exact blooms used, even when your heart is set on one particular flower

• Understanding that nature has a hand in everything I do—from sudden frosts to surprise windstorms

Working with a farmer-florist means letting go of some control in exchange for something more meaningful: a design that is seasonal, sustainable, and alive with intention.

It’s not about perfection—it’s about connection. About honoring the moment you’re getting married in and the land we’re growing from. When you’re open to that process, magic happens. Your flowers will feel like they belong to your story, not just your Pinterest board.

Why I Do It

Yes, it’s harder. It’s riskier. It’s less predictable. But it’s also deeply rewarding. Watching something go from a tiny seed to a centerpiece at someone’s wedding? That never gets old.

So if you're planning a wedding and want your flowers to be more than just decorations—to truly reflect a sense of season, place, and story—consider working with a farmer-florist. We grow with heart, design with soul, and show up with muddy boots and a whole lot of love.

Photo: Nicole Jenrow, Details and Daydreams

🌿 Ready to Begin Your Flower Story?

Every couple has a unique story—and I believe your wedding flowers should tell it. Whether you’re drawn to soft romance or bold whimsy, my goal is to craft florals that don’t just decorate your day, but reflect your love and evoke real feeling.

If you’re dreaming of wedding flowers that are rooted in season, grown with intention, and designed with soul, I’d love to hear from you.

Let’s begin planting the seeds for something beautiful—together.

Start your floral journey here → [Event Florals Inquiry]

With soil under my nails and petals in my hands,

Alex

💐 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

Blooms and Boundaries: Rebuilding After a Busy Season🌸

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Phew. May was a whirlwind.

It was filled with highs, lows, and everything in between — a month of major growth, both for the flowers and for me personally. The shift from winter into spring always hits like a freight train, but this year it came faster and harder than ever before.

One moment, I felt on top of it all — my seed trays were organized, seedlings thriving, my beds prepped, and I was ready for the season. And then, like clockwork, the floodgates opened. Suddenly, I was buried under a wave of tasks, Mother’s Day prep, crop failures, unexpected detours, and endless to-do lists. I blinked, and I went from “on track” to “completely behind” in what felt like a matter of minutes.

Mother’s Day Mayhem

The start of Mother’s Day weekend didn’t go as planned. Between a health scare, disappointing turnout, and the last-minute loss of crops, things felt heavy. But we pivoted — because that’s what flower farmers do — and we ended the weekend strong.

Still, the grueling late nights, early mornings, and long days added up. And when the dust settled, the return didn’t quite match the effort. That was a hard truth to sit with. One of the biggest lessons I learned? We don’t need to leave home to sell our flowers. Local is where the magic happens — and if the cost is my health, it’s simply not worth it.

Wedding Whirlwind

Just two days after Mother’s Day, I hit the road for a wedding in Ludington. No rest. No pause. Normally, florists take at least a day or two off after a big event — I didn’t have that luxury.

But here’s the thing: the wedding was beautiful. It was my best friend’s big day, and I had the honor of designing her flowers and standing beside her as matron of honor. It was a juggle, for sure. And though the timing was brutal, I would do it again in a heartbeat. From the first flower pickup with her mom (my trusty sidekick for the day) to assembling each bouquet, I cried happy tears more times than I can count. It was a labor of love I’ll treasure forever.

Photo: Nicole Jenrow - Details and Daydreams Photography (she’s amazing!)

Flowers: Bede’s Blooms + Co.

When the Body Says Stop

All of this — the constant go, go, go — came at a cost. My health.

The physical toll of early mornings and late nights, the emotional load of balancing work, family, and creative output, the guilt of missing time with my toddler… it hit me hard. Burnout crept in fast, and I knew I had to make a change. I couldn’t ignore what my body was telling me any longer.

The Signs Were Clear

Even now, weeks later, I’m still recovering. I’m still processing everything that May threw at me — while trying to stay on top of my responsibilities, spend quality time with my son, and somehow get all the summer annuals planted (which I feel behind on). Usually, I’m in the garden the weekend after Mother’s Day planting away. This year, I was still wedding-recovering.

But then came the rainy days — a full week of them. And honestly? It felt like a divine gift. I was forced to slow down. I had no choice but to rest. And I desperately needed it.

🌿 Why Self-Care and Boundaries Matter

In creative entrepreneurship and farming, boundaries and self-care aren’t luxuries. They’re lifelines. Here’s what I’m learning:

🌱 1. Your business depends on your well-being.
You’re the engine behind everything — from growing to designing to delivering. When you burn out, the whole operation slows. Self-care isn’t selfish; it’s necessary.

🧠 2. Creativity needs breathing room.
To be inspired, you have to make space. Boundaries protect your ability to think clearly, create joyfully, and stay connected to your purpose.

⏳ 3. Without boundaries, there’s no off switch.
This work is deeply personal, and the line between home and business is blurry. Boundaries — like time off, screen-free evenings, or simply saying no — keep you from running yourself into the ground.

💪 4. The work is intense.
Farming is physically exhausting. Running a business is emotionally draining. Doing both? It demands rest, recovery, and resilience.

💸 5. Boundaries guard against overcommitment.
It’s easy to say yes to everything when you’re passionate. But that leads to depletion. I’m learning to say yes more selectively.

❤️ 6. You model what sustainable success looks like.
When you care for yourself, you show your community — and your family — that success doesn’t have to come at the cost of health, joy, or connection.

Things I Like to Do to Shift, Rest, and Recharge After Burnout

When I hit a point of burnout, I’ve learned not to push through, but to pause—and intentionally create space to heal. Here are a few things that help me shift, rest, and recharge:

1. Nourishment + Hydration
I consciously focus on my water intake and nutrition. I up my electrolytes, sip herbal teas throughout the day, and take time to actually sit and enjoy my morning mushroom coffee (or matcha) instead of rushing through it.

This also means getting back on track with my supplements—especially when life gets busy (which is exactly when I need them most). I tend to forget them in the chaos, but they’re part of what keeps me steady. My go-to lineup includes:

• Electrolytes - Redmond Re-lyte is our go-to (plain water just doesn’t cut it—throw in some Himalayan salt or dive into the hydration rabbit hole!)

• Beef organs or beef liver supplements - Taking beef liver regularly has truly been a game changer for me—no exaggeration. Since adding it to my routine, I’ve had noticeably more energy, no postpartum hair loss, and just feel better overall. It’s made such a difference! Go-to’s Paleo Valley Organ Complex, Perfect Supplements Desicated Beef liver, Ancestral Supplements Beef Organs and or Ancestral Supplements Beef Liver

• Adrenal support, like Just Ingredients Adrenal Complex or Jigsaw’s Adrenal Cocktail

• Magnesium (we like MegaFood) and we also use Earthley Wellnesses Good Night Lotion

• L-Methyl Folate (I use this one - it helps w/ my ADD)

• Vitamin D with K2 ) (I use Perfect supplements drops or MegaFood)

• Probiotics - I try to get mine through food whenever possible. My go-to sources are kombucha and sauerkraut, but I’ll also supplement when needed to help support gut health. If supplementing, entegro healths flourish probiotic,  Dr.Ohhira’s , or seed.

I also make a conscious effort to increase my daily protein intake. One of my favorite ways to do this is by adding Perfect Supplements Hydrolyzed Collagen to milk or my coffee—it tastes like chocolate milk, and even the kids love it! I aim to include about 30 grams of protein in each meal—and even before I have my coffee. I also focus on high-protein recipes, drink bone broth hot chocolate (FOND is my go-to bone broth if I don’t have time to make it myself), and supplement with clean, high-quality protein powders. Some of my favorites are Equip Protein, FlavCity’s All-In-One Protein Smoothie, and Paleo Valley’s Bone Broth Protein (chocolate is my fav!).

These aren't just checkboxes—they’re tools that support my energy, mood, and overall resilience. When I stay consistent, I feel the difference.

Wellness from the Inside Out

How I Support My Body Through Busy Seasons

Stillness Before the Bloom

Resting Isn’t Quitting—It’s Recharging

2. Extra Time With Jesus
That coffee or matcha moment becomes sacred when I pair it with quiet time with Jesus. I write out my thoughts, reflect, breathe deeply, and reconnect to peace and perspective. It grounds me.

3. Baths + Body Care
Baths are a love language to myself. I love Flewd bath soaks—they help my nervous system reset and feel like a hug for my body. I let myself fully unwind.

When I don’t have a flewd bath soak handy, a regulated used item in our house is Ancient Minerals Magnesium Flakes (PS: great for little ones to help them sleep!)

I also stay consistent with my chiropractic care—regular visits make such a difference. We go to Volz Family Chiropractic in Holt, and Dr. Volz and her team are truly amazing!

4. Gentle Movement
Exercise becomes a way to reconnect with my body, not punish it. Long walks (sometimes with my weighted vest - game changer!), light weight training, a spin session, or my favorite: Pilates. Even 15 minutes of movement or stretching shifts my energy. If I’m really depleted, I rest first—sometimes for days—before easing into intentional, slow movement.

5. Saying No
When I’m in a season of recovery, I intentionally reel back. I admit my limits. That often means saying no—to events, orders, obligations—so I can be home more, breathe deeper, and return to alignment with my priorities. It’s not always easy, but it’s necessary.

6. Tidy Spaces = Tidy Mind

One of the most grounding things I do when I’m coming out of burnout is slowly working through neglected corners of my home. I’ll throw on an audiobook or a podcast and start tackling the laundry pile that’s been haunting me, the cluttered workshop corner, or that cabinet I’ve been meaning to purge for weeks. It’s not about perfection—it’s about creating breathing room. Deep cleaning, organizing, and simplifying my space gives me a sense of control and calm. You feel so much better once it’s done.

7. Deep Rest + Stillness
Rest is medicine. I curl up with a book, let myself enjoy the stillness, and resist the urge to write out a new to-do list. I let the slow moments stretch out.

And finally—when I feel ready—I gradually get back into the soil. There’s something so healing in its presence. It reminds me why I love what I do, and that growth often starts in quiet, unseen places.

Bonus – 8. Resparking Your Creativity

Sometimes, the best thing I can do for my soul is to reconnect with beauty and creativity—without the pressure to produce. That might look like flipping through flower books, playing with color palettes, styling a few leftover blooms just for fun, or creating something with my hands that has nothing to do with business. Creativity doesn’t always have to be productive—it can simply be a way back to joy, curiosity, and play. That spark always leads me home.

A Few of My Favorite Books for When I Need That Garden Spark Again
When I’m feeling a little disconnected or burnt out, I often find that flipping through a good garden book helps reignite my inspiration and remind me why I love working with the land. Here are a few of my favorites I reach for again and again:

• Floret’s A Year in Flowers , Erin Benzakein

• From Seed to Bloom, Milli Proust

• Designing with Dried Flowers, Hannah Rose Rivers Muller

• The Tiny But Mighty Farm, Jill Ragan

Creating Without Pressure

When I Need to Feel Inspired Again

—or—I head into the kitchen and let my creativity flow through food, experimenting with herbal botanicals and edible flowers. It’s a grounding, sensory way to reconnect—with flavor, color, and beauty in the everyday.

Here are some of my favorite books surrounding food:

• I love anything of Erin French’s — highly reccommend watching The Lost Kitchen on the Magnolia channel — The Lost Kitchen: Recipes and a Good Life Found in Freedom, Maine: A Cookbook

  • Big Heart Little Stove: Bringing Home Meals & Moments from The Lost Kitchen

• I love to play around with fermantation, this is a fun book I use: Wild Drinks: The New Old World of Small-Batch Brews, Ferments and Infusions and if you really want to dive into the world of fermentation than The Noma Guide to Fermentation is a must.

• I absolutely love turning to Julia Child for timeless comfort, Joanna Gaines’s Magnolia Table recipes for cozy, feel-good meals, and Samin Nosrat’s Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat for inspired, intuitive cooking that always reawakens my love for the kitchen.

🌸 Looking Forward

If you’re also feeling the weight of burnout or the guilt of needing to slow down — you’re not alone. Building something meaningful takes energy, and it’s okay to pause, pivot, or reset when needed.

I’m still in the process of recovering. But I’m looking forward to the quiet moments — planting summer annual successions, watching the garden grow, catching fireflies with my son in the evenings, enjoying family time, reading more books and simply breathing. The beauty of seasonal work is that it teaches us to honor the rhythms — of nature, of work, and of our own bodies.

Here’s to slower mornings, intentional choices, and letting ourselves rest when we need to.

With gratitude and floral magic,
Alex 🌸