Flowers Direct have a wonderful ‘Bridal Collection’ featuring roses and lillies in both traditional and contemporary designs. Only 7 days notice is required for a beautiful hand crafted bouquet to be prepared by experts and delivered to your door.

Choosing the flowers you have for your special day can be great fun and the choice available will depend on the season, your colour scheme and of course budget. Flowers at weddings can be traced back over many, many years. Dating from medieval times stems a tradition that the groom wear a flower that appeared in the bridal bouquet to declare his love for his bride.

Flowers have symbolic meanings for example to signify loveliness, purity and chastity a bridal bouquet would contain orange blossom. Brides might avoid peonies as they represented shame but snowdrops represent hope.

Well you’ve spent hours chatting with your florist choosing your bouquet the flowers, the colours etc and guess what you have to throw your bouquet away at the end of the day!  England and France both lay claims to this tradition although no-one knows the exact origin. During the 14th century wedding guests would rather unconventionally accompany the newlyweds to the matrimonial chamber. Shall I go on……. The invading groomsmen would steal the bride’s stocking and take it in turns to throw it over the heads of the bride and groom who would be sitting at the end of the bed. If the stocking landed on the groom’s head then the thrower would be next to marry it was said.

Nowadays the bride should turn her back on her guests and gently throw her bouquet over her head. If a single woman catches the flowers then it is believed she has received some of the bride’s luck and will be the next to marry.

The main benefits of ordering flowers online are the vast array of choices available, having the flowers delivered at a time of your choosing and to a location that you can specify. Plus, it’s easy and hassle free!

Here at Buy-Flowers-Online.co.uk we recommend and actively promote a selection of extremely reputable online flower sellers who offer great floral arrangements and bouquets at competitive prices while providing a first rate service.

We have partnered with online flower sellers who provide an impressive combination of choice, customer service and secure, easy to use websites.

In 2006 cut flowers sold via grocery stores accounted for 65% of sales. The range of flowers has also expanded to include lisianthus, sunflowers, gypsophillia, alstroemeria and ruscus as well as recent additions of carnations and lilies.

Also helping the popularity of Fairtrade flowers is the rise in internet distribution which is an excellent vehicle for the flower delivery networks - it has never been easier to buy Fairtrade flowers online.

Flowers carrying the Fairtrade Mark have met the internationally agreed Fairtrade standards covering social, environmental and economic development. For more information take a look at the Fairtrade website
here

Fairtrade flowers can be bought from the following stores

Next Flowers - available online
Interflora - available online
Waitrose - available in store
Wholefoods - available in store
Sainsbury’s - available in store and online
John Lewis - available online
Tesco - available in store and online
ASDA - available in store

Here are a couple if points to consider if you wish to leave a smaller carbon foot print.

UK Grown

Arena Flowers is the first UK florist to sell Fair Flowers, Fair Plants (FFP). This means that they aim to stimulate the production and demand of sustainable, ethically grown flowers to the UK. This in turn should lead to a reduction in the exploitation of the environment and people by unsrupulous individuals. The caring sentiment of giving flowers is not always shared in a global flower industry.

Fairtrade

There is a growing range of beautiful certified fairtrade bouquets available in our shops. By selecting the Fair Trade label you can be sure that each person along the line has been fairly treated and is receiving a good price for their services. By guaranteeing trade and revenue this scheme helps tackle poverty in developing countries. See our Fair Trade page for more details.

Fairtrade and worldwide grown flowers

As above really, the most available being roses which can be produced in farms worldwide. Surprisingly it is more environmentally friendly to grow the flowers in natural conditions and freight them to the UK than to grow them under glass in Europe usung additional lighting and heating. Often the flowers are transported in the cargo hold of passenger planes.

Organic Flowers

Organic flowers can be sourced from Flowers & Plants Association click here for more information

Growers are always looking for ways to reduce chemical use - 100% organic flowers may take some effort to find.

A knowledgeable, professional florist will be able to use their expertise to guide you through the dos and the don’ts of choosing your flowers.

Some flowers are available all year round thanks to breeding and growing techniques coupled with imports from overseas. A handy tip is to try flowers that are in season for best value.

This site is a fantastic resource to look at Flowers & Plants Association

Flowers are given on many other occasions also, to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, new born babies and moving home.

Giving funeral flowers is another tradition that allows us to express the emotions we experience on bereavement such as love, loss, compassion, respect and friendship.

So, why is it that we give flowers?
The simple answer is that a floral arrangement, a bouquet or even a single flower can express emotions in such a way that is difficult to match with any other gift or, indeed, with mere words. Giving flowers can express grief, sympathy, sadness, appreciation, gratitude, happiness, joy, passion, romance and above all love.

Whatever the reason, you are in big trouble and need to find a way of expressing your heart felt sorrow at the distress you have caused.

You’re struggling to find the right words or even pluck up the courage to say anything at all. Well, sending the right choice of flowers goes a long way to expressing the sentiment ‘I was wrong and I am deeply sorry’.

For some great flower ideas that say sorry take a look here.

Don’t forget - follow up the delivery of the flowers with a telephone call. Good luck!

Add a touch of warmth to a new home with stunning fresh flowers or even indoor or outdoor plants. For a really great welcome send along a bottle of bubbly to toast the new family home!

• 1. Make sure vases are very clean - DO NOT use metal containers as this can neutralise the flower food.
• 2. Fill your vase about two thirds full with fresh lukewarm water with commercial cut flower food added.
• 3. Remove all leaves and foliage below the water level to ensure that the water isn’t contaminated with decomposed leaves.
• 4. Remove at least 3cm (1″) off all stems, making a slanted cut with a sharp knife or very sharp scissors. This increases the surface area allowing your flowers to absorb more water.
• 5. Keep flowers in a cool location. Avoid direct sunlight, heat, or draughts which can shorten flowers’ lives.
• 6. Flowers should be kept away from fruit and remove faded flowers as they occur as this will encourage others to open.
• 7. Top up the water regularly and add flower food in proportion. Change murky or cloudy water for clear water. When using flower food always follow the instructions provided.

Carnations are by far the UK’s best selling cut flower. They are available all year round in a variety of different colours, as a single stem or as a spray carnation with lots of smaller flowers. As they are long lasting (up to three weeks if kept away from ripening fruit and vegetables) they represent excellent value for money.

Buying flowers online has never been easier and carnations can be delivered locally, nationally and abroad.

The latin or botanical name for carnations is Dianthus meaning “divine flower”. Carnations were originally from the East and have been cultivated for the last 2000 years. Different coloured carnations have different meanings - here are some examples;

Pink for romance, red for love, striped for refusal and yellow for disdain.