outdoor florals at old forest school wedding venue

Floral Inspiration for a Rustic Wedding at Old Forest School: Seasonal NZ-Grown Blooms and Sustainable Post-Wedding Ideas

Flowers are a key element of any wedding, adding beauty, romance, and a touch of nature to your big day. At Old Forest School, our rustic, vintage venue in Bay of Plenty, we encourage couples to embrace the seasons by choosing locally-sourced, NZ-grown flowers that enhance the charm of our heritage setting. From spring wildflowers to autumnal foliage, selecting seasonal blooms ensures a fresh, stunning look while supporting eco-friendly practices.

But what happens to all those gorgeous flowers after the celebration ends? Rather than letting them go to waste, consider some creative and sustainable ways to extend their life. We’ve put together a guide on choosing your florals and ideas for using them during and after your wedding, including tips for bouquets, buttonholes, cake florals, confetti, and more.

Seasonal Floral Choices at Old Forest School

Choosing seasonal, NZ-grown flowers is not only an eco-friendly choice but also a great way to reflect the natural beauty of Old Forest School. Here’s a breakdown of the best flowers for each season and how they can be used throughout your wedding day.

Spring Wedding Florals: Fresh and Romantic

  • Top Spring Flowers: Peonies, ranunculus, sweet peas, lupins, and anemones.
  • Ideas for Use: Create romantic bouquets and floral arches in the Walled Garden. Use wildflower-style arrangements for a whimsical, vintage look. Spring flowers are perfect for adding light, airy touches to your table settings.

Summer Wedding Florals: Vibrant and Lush

  • Top Summer Flowers: Dahlias, hydrangeas, roses, lilies, and delphiniums.
  • Ideas for Use: Opt for bold, colorful arrangements in the Little Barn and Noshery. Adorn your cake with fresh floral accents that reflect your summer palette. Use bright hydrangeas and delphiniums to line your ceremony aisle.

Autumn Wedding Florals: Warm and Earthy

  • Top Autumn Flowers: Chrysanthemums, hellebores, eucalyptus, dried flowers, and seed heads.
  • Ideas for Use: Create cozy, rustic arrangements with deep, rich tones. Use dried flowers and foliage for a vintage, textured look that pairs beautifully with Old Forest School’s heritage aesthetic. Incorporate eucalyptus leaves into your bouquets and table décor for a fragrant touch.

Floral Ideas for Bouquets, Buttonholes, and More

Bridal Bouquets and Buttonholes Your bouquet is the centerpiece of your wedding florals, but don’t forget about the buttonholes! Buttonholes (or boutonnieres) are a lovely way to incorporate flowers into your wedding party’s attire, adding a touch of personality and color. For a rustic wedding at Old Forest School, consider using small, seasonal blooms like sweet peas, anemones, or hellebores for a vintage feel.

Ideas for Buttonholes:

  • Use a single, bold flower like a dahlia or rose, accented with greenery like eucalyptus or rosemary.
  • For a vintage twist, include dried elements like seed heads or grasses alongside the fresh bloom.
  • Add a touch of NZ flair with a sprig of native foliage or herbs like lavender or mint for a lovely scent.

Cake Florals Adding fresh flowers to your wedding cake is a beautiful way to tie your floral theme together. At Old Forest School, our cake table in the Noshery provides the perfect backdrop for a floral-adorned cake.

Ideas for Cake Florals:

  • Choose edible flowers like violets, marigolds, or nasturtiums to decorate your cake. These add a colorful, natural touch that’s also safe to eat.
  • Use a mix of small blooms and greenery, such as roses and eucalyptus leaves, to create a cascading floral effect.
  • Opt for dried flowers and seed heads for a textured, vintage look that pairs well with the rustic style of Old Forest School.

Natural Confetti Confetti is a fun part of any wedding, but traditional confetti can be wasteful. At Old Forest School, we encourage couples to use eco-friendly, biodegradable options.

Ideas for Natural Confetti:

  • Dried flower petals like rose, lavender, or marigold make for a beautiful and fragrant confetti choice.
  • Create a mix of dried herbs and petals for a rustic, colorful confetti that looks stunning in photos and leaves no trace behind.
  • Consider using leaves or natural seed confetti that aligns with our eco-friendly philosophy and blends with the venue’s natural surroundings.

What to Do with Your Flowers After the Wedding

Your flowers have added so much beauty to your day—don’t let them go to waste! Here are some creative and sustainable ideas for what to do with your floral arrangements once the wedding is over.

1. Donate Your Flowers Consider donating your flowers to a local hospice, hospital, or care home. It’s a lovely way to share the joy of your wedding day with others and brighten someone’s day with a beautiful bouquet.

2. Give Flowers to Guests Let your guests take home a piece of your wedding by inviting them to take a bouquet or centerpiece. Set up a small “flower bar” with vases or paper wraps so guests can easily take flowers as a leaving gift. It’s a thoughtful and eco-friendly way to ensure your flowers get a second life.

3. Compost Your Florals At Old Forest School, we offer a composting option for flowers that are past their prime. This is a wonderful way to give back to the earth and support the natural cycle of growth. If your arrangements include no wire or plastic, we can add them to our compost, helping nourish the gardens for future events.

4. Preserve Your Bouquet Preserving your bouquet is a beautiful way to keep a lasting memory of your wedding day. Here are a few popular options:

  • Air Drying: Hang your bouquet upside down in a cool, dark place for a few weeks until it’s completely dry. Once dried, you can display it in a shadow box or frame.
  • Pressing Flowers: Press individual flowers from your bouquet and frame them as a unique keepsake. This works well for delicate blooms like sweet peas or anemones.
  • Resin Keepsakes: Consider having your bouquet encased in resin to create a timeless piece of art that you can display in your home.

Planning a Green Wedding at Old Forest School

At Old Forest School, we believe in creating weddings that are as beautiful as they are sustainable. By choosing seasonal, NZ-grown flowers and making thoughtful decisions about how to use and preserve your florals, you can have an eco-friendly wedding that leaves a lasting positive impact. From stunning bouquets and buttonholes to floral-adorned cakes and natural confetti, there are endless ways to incorporate the charm of flowers into your day.

We can’t wait to help you bring your vision to life at our rustic, vintage wedding venue in Bay of Plenty. Whether you’re planning a spring garden wedding, a vibrant summer celebration, or a cozy autumn gathering, your floral choices will help tell the story of your love in a way that’s timeless, elegant, and true to you.