Lake Superior Weddings: Coping with a Flower shortage and what it means for your Wedding, The Camellia, Thunder Bay.

Saturday, January 1, 2022

Coping with a Flower shortage and what it means for your Wedding, The Camellia, Thunder Bay.

There is a shortage of fresh flowers for all occasions, including Weddings. In various parts of Canada , we have had a very dry Summer, with many forest fires. Worldwide, there is a shortage of Flowers, due in part to the cancellation of many events , because of the Covid virus. Growers and Wholesalers have gone bankrupt, and transportation of fresh flowers has been compromised.

To fully understand the crisis, read this article:

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/home-and-design/article-a-flower-shortage-is-causing-florists-to-scramble-while-prices/

What does this mean for your Wedding? It will be difficult for any Florist to promise you will have those exact coloured Roses that you so want to have in your Bouquet. Scarcity causes price increases, so there is no way to quote a price for your Wedding a year in advance, as prices are changing weekly.

Then there is the problem of transportation .... getting the flowers to your Florist in minus 21 C. winter weather. Trucks break down in cold temperatures, winter storms happen, and highways are closed. Staff become sick, and shipments don't arrive. And don't forget, Flowers need a heated transport. In Thunder Bay, fresh flowers are shipped from Toronto, or from Winnipeg, Mb. This leads to some nail-biting moments, especially during winter, when icy roads lead to overturned transports and closed highways. The stress faced by Flower shops during the pandemic, has been intense.

Then there are the restrictions on size of Indoor and outdoor Gatherings ...this will change with 2 days notice. Your Florist has to order your flowers at least 1 month in advance, then Covid rules change, and your Wedding cannot happen, let's say, (worst case scenario). Your Florist still has to pay for your Flowers, unless you cancell two and a half weeks to 3 weeks ahead of the event. It is up to you to ask your Florist about their policies regarding cancellations.

What can you do? Source out flowers and plants from a local Greenhouse, for Table decor, (if your Wedding is in the Summer). Do arrange this with your local Greenhouse, a year ahead. If your Wedding can't take place, you can use the plants in your garden.

Think about a mix of fresh foilage and silk flowers, with dried accents. Foilage is fairly easy to get, with most greens coming from Florida or California. Faux flowers come in many colours, and look very realistic. Bouquets can be made ahead, and placed in water, which leads to less stress.