Keeping flowers hydrated starts as soon as they reach the workshop: stems are cut, leaves cleaned and the flowers rested in fresh water, sometimes in a cold room. Florists call this preparation conditioning. It continues in the arrangements, with full vases, hidden water tubes and water sources.
It matters most in summer and for pieces that spend hours without a vase: bouquets, flower crowns, arches and hanging installations. Flowers such as hydrangeas wilt quickly when thirsty. The guide on the summer wedding covers flowers and tricks for the heat; the one on set-up and breakdown explains the timings; the one on hydrangeas looks at a delicate flower.
What to ask: when the flowers are installed relative to the start, how the pieces without vases are kept hydrated, and who checks them during the day.
