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Wedding Flowers 101: How to Choose Blooms That Last: Best of Growing Joy Replay

Wedding Flowers 101: How to Choose Blooms That Last: Best of Growing Joy Replay

Author: Maria Failla- Happy Plant Lady and Author of Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness August 20, 2026 Duration: 1:11:32
Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care
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When I got engaged, I figured choosing wedding flowers would be the easy part. I'm a plant person, right? Wrong. Wedding florals are an entire world of their own, and I was lucky to have a florist who walked me through all of it and built the floral landscape of my dreams.

That florist is Corina of The Botaniste, and in this Best of Growing Joy episode, she's sharing the wedding flower crash course I wish I'd had from day one.

We get into how to choose blooms that actually hold up and don't wilt (spoiler: several of my first picks were a hard no), why conditioning matters more than expensive stems, how to work with seasonal availability instead of fighting it, and how to lean on greenery to stretch your budget. Corina also covers the trends she's seeing, how to talk to a florist even if you don't know a single flower name, and how to repurpose arrangements so they outlast the ceremony.

And if a wedding isn't in your future, don't skip this one because it all applies to backyard bouquets and dinner party tables too!

In this episode, we learn:

  • [02:22] Introducing Corina
  • [04:16] What to expect of the last episode of My Botanically Inspired Wedding Series
  • [09:29] Corina shares her experiences planning wedding florals with couples
  • [10:33] Why Pinterest is every bride’s best friend AND worst enemy
  • [11:52] How Corina became a plant lady and how she started The Botaniste
  • [17:29] Corina’s biggest influences in floral styling
  • [18:18] What are current and upcoming trends for wedding flowers?
  • [19:46] What elements are there in a tablescape?
  • [22:28] Is there a difference between wedding flowers and event flowers?
  • [26:14] Maria shares her decision-making process with her wedding florals
  • [28:02] How flowers elevate any event
  • [29:26] How to preserve your wedding flowers
  • [31:00] What are the best and the worst flowers to have at your wedding?
  • [34:01] Which flower is an alternative to peonies?
  • [35:54] New rose varieties to try in your wedding flowers
  • [39:27] How to condition cut flowers
  • [41:23] How to keep cut hydrangeas from wilting
  • [42:58] Where to get the best organic indoor and outdoor gardening products
  • [44:12] Planning to grow from seeds this coming garden season?
  • [48:15] How to work with florists and where to start with your wedding flower planning
  • [52:33] Building a trusting relationship with your wedding florist
  • [55:08] Corina’s advice for couples planning to DIY their wedding
  • [58:51] Maria’s garland and greenery vision
  • [01:00:40] How to style a wedding with greenery
  • [01:03:38] Incorporating bud vases in your wedding
  • [01:07:55] Adding statement greenery to your wedding venue and reception
  • [01:12:49] What you should know about greenery
  • [01:14:38] Corina’s ultimate tip for wedding planners and contractors
  • [01:15:15] Corina’s current favorite flowers and combinations
  • [01:17:00] What Maria loved about blushing bride protea
  • [01:18:08] Where you can hire Corina as your florist
  • [01:20:25] Maria’s Wedding Series reflections

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

 

What flower would you love to have in your wedding bouquet?

Check out the full show notes and blog for the blooms that actually hold up on your wedding day!

 

Follow Corina:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Yelp

 

 

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants)by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

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There’s a quiet, accessible kind of wellness waiting for you on a windowsill or in a patch of soil. Growing Joy with Plants explores that very idea, moving beyond basic tips to examine how our relationship with the natural world directly nurtures our mental and emotional health. Hosted by Maria Failla, a self-proclaimed Happy Plant Lady and author of "Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness," this podcast feels like a warm conversation with a knowledgeable friend. Maria guides you through the practicalities of keeping your houseplants alive and thriving, but the discussion always circles back to the deeper connection-how the simple acts of watering, repotting, or simply observing growth can become anchors of calm in a hectic day. Each episode digs into how gardening and engaging with nature, even in small urban spaces, offer tangible tools to manage feelings of anxiety and overwhelm. This isn't about achieving a perfect indoor jungle; it's about finding moments of peace and genuine happiness through the process of care. The underlying message throughout the podcast is a powerful and gentle reminder: tending to your plants is fundamentally an act of tending to yourself. You’ll come away with not just better plant care knowledge, but a refreshed perspective on cultivating joy in your daily routine, learning that the serenity you might seek on vacation can be rooted right in your own home.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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Growing Joy with Plants - Wellness Rooted in Nature, Houseplants, Gardening and Plant Care
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