How to keep sustainability in mind when planning your wedding flowers

This issue, we asked the region's experts for their advice on planning a sustainable wedding. Imogen Stuckes, founder of sustainable wedding florist Flowers by Imogen (www.flowersbyimogen.com) had some great tips when it comes to your flowers...

"Sourcing your wedding flowers locally can be a brilliant way to be more sustainable on your big day. Ask your florist if they could possibly buy blooms from local flower farms, or at least be British grown. Ninety per cent of flowers are imported in the UK, flown over from as far afield as South America, and who knows if they're ethically grown, so it's always best to go local. A Flowers by Imogen, I use all British Flowers, including many we've grown in our very own cutting garden in Somerset.

"If you wanted to look into sourcing the flowers yourself, you can usually pick up buckets from your local flower farm. Look on www.flowersfromthefarm.co.uk to find your nearest one. They usually grow artisanal blooms, which will make your wedding flowers bespoke and special. They also often gown organically, using sustainable methods; plus you'd be supporting a local, small-scale business.

"It's also a good idea to check that your florist uses sustainable mechanics, and works foam-free. Floral foam is a frequently-method of keeping flowers fresh, but it's made from toxic chemicals including formaldehyde."