Using flowers out of yards for my wedding, when to pick, how to preserve up until wedding day!? Help!?

I have a few friends who are letting me use the gorgeous peony's that they have in their gardens for my wedding. I am making 2 bouquets, a couple corsage things for mother/father/grandmothers, ect..... and decorating an arch.


Anyway, when should I cut the flowers, and what should I do with them in the meanwhile........and what's the best way to transport them all the way to the wedding to set up? Also, when should I make the bouquets! Help........

Using flowers out of yards for my wedding, when to pick, how to preserve up until wedding day!? Help!?
Peony's are a little big for a corsage. Pick them the day before put them in water and refrigerate till you use them. They won't last long on an arch without water, they will start to sag.
Reply:Peonies are an excellent choice. Cut them long, the day prior or the day of making of bouquet and corsages. Pick smaller ones for corsages and larger for bouquets. Purchase floral tape, pins, and some greens (ferns will do or babysbreath for a filler in bouquet and greens for behind flower on corsages, pins to attach lapels for men. Purchase some ribbon to wrap stems of bouquet.





While working on one keep rest refrigerated and in water. Never cut more than day prior to wedding..........Go to a greenhouse and get some floral preservative to add to water.....keep in water in refrigerator......





Next make the bouquets and corsages day prior to wedding.....no earlier..........As for transport, need an air conditoned vehicle and a box, a low box works best to lay corsages in.........Bouquets, get another box and put piece of solid styrofoam in and then stick bouquets in strofoam to transport...............For flowers used to decorate lay them flat in a box one layer only ..........Keep flowers refrigerated til time of wedding, and decoration. You will also need floral wire and tape........





Sounds like you have nice friends allowing you to do this. Good luck and congratulations.
Reply:Peonies are one of my favorite flowers, but I would not use yard peony's in a bouquet. They are a delicate flower once cut and may cause many headaches that you don't need before your wedding. They would need to be cut no earlier than the day before. Also remember that peony's naturally attract ANTS. All of my peonies that I have ever cut and brought in have had ants on/and in them. I would not want a corsage and have an ant crawl out of the flower.





If you are set on this idea you may want to look up your counties Master Gardner program and ask the gardner what the best way of preservation will be.





Good luck.
Reply:peonies do not last long and yes they do attract ants, it is part of their survival actually. I would see about having them freeze dried if that is what you absolutely had to have for your wedding flowers.