You know that feeling when a space just feels alive the minute you walk in? More and more, we’re seeing couples use living plants to make their wedding day feel warm, fresh, and full of energy. It’s not just decorated, but truly transformed. There’s something special about the way real plants fill out a room, soften the edges, and connect everything back to the outdoors.

For The Alfresco Issue, we wanted to talk about wedding plant hire, which is one of our favourite ways to bring the outside in, no matter the weather or venue. So we asked Tahnee Skowron from The Botanic Edit to share her story. She’s been quietly leading the way for plant hire at Australian weddings. If you’re dreaming of a celebration that feels a little greener, her approach might be just the inspiration you need.

I never meant to end up in weddings.

In 2020, during lockdowns, I was at home pottering with succulents, quite literally. What started as a hobby making little succulent bowls soon turned into creating replantable succulent bouquets. That small idea slowly grew into my first plant hire concept for weddings.

At the time, I knew nothing about the wedding world, I just believed deeply in what I was offering – a more sustainable, living alternative to traditional florals. But it was a tough sell. I attended wedding expos with plant installations I was so proud of and didn’t get a single enquiry.

I started to doubt myself. Was the idea too different? Was I not good enough? I loved the vision, but it felt like no one else could see it.

Eventually, I caved. I shifted into traditional floral design – more palatable, more popular, and the bookings rolled in. But I kept plant hire in my back pocket, offering it to couples who shared my eco values and wanted something longer lasting.

By January 2025, I had had enough. I called myself an eco florist: no foam, locally grown flowers, and I donated leftovers to aged care homes. But I still felt like a fraud. Each week I’d throw out bin bags full of plastic sleeves and wilted stems.

I couldn’t keep doing it.

So I went back to the plants.

There’s something about the way plants work at a wedding that has always pulled me back in. They’re reused for many events and they stay alive well after the wedding ends. They bring warmth and texture, especially in cold, sparse venues. They fill a space in a way that’s immersive, not just decorative. And they make an enormous impact – visually, emotionally, and sometimes even budget wise compared to flowers.

Some of my favourite ways to use plants at weddings start with going big: a statement plant-lined aisle and a lush ceremony backdrop. Later, I’ll move those same plants to create a ‘jungle’ around the couple’s table for the reception. We’ve used plants as photo backdrops, layered them as sculptural entry moments, and lined long tables with leafy textures for a grounded, elegant feel.

I’d love to see more couples push the boundaries with plant styling. Imagine a plant seating chart with guests’ names written on potted plants, or a herb bar where guests pick fresh garnishes for their drinks. Even hanging installations of plant baskets filling the ceiling – there are so many possibilities.

People sometimes think of plants as rustic or boho, but that’s not the case at all in our world. The right combination of vessels, placement and styling transforms plants into something sculptural and truly luxe. Oversized statement trees, minimalist matte pots, floor-to-ceiling height, layered groupings and candlelight flickering through the foliage: done well, plant styling feels more like interior design than a garden centre. (And don’t get me wrong, I’ll never say no to a garden centre style wedding.)

If you’re thinking about plant styling for your day, it helps to start with a few questions. What kind of feeling do you want your wedding to have? Do you want your ceremony to be immersive? Understated? Lush and green? Is sustainability important to you? Are you drawn to a look that feels fresh, bold, and different?

When you’re choosing a plant stylist, it’s always worth asking if they have experience with weddings and logistics, like bump-in and bump-out or styling for photo angles. Can they help with your floor plan or come up with creative ideas? Most importantly, do their installations feel thoughtful and intentional, not just pots placed around the room?

One wedding I’ll never forget took place on a rainy day, inside a moody old barn. We lined the entrance with nearly three-metre-tall olive trees and filled every dark corner with lush greenery. Candles between potted plants on the tables linked everything together. The whole venue came alive. It felt grounded, warm, comfortable – completely transformed.

That’s what plants do. They don’t just decorate a space, they change it. They set the mood. They breathe life into every corner, and they do it without harming the planet.

Plants are the ultimate eco alternative. Of course, there’s some waste, but it’s nothing compared to the mountains of green waste and plastic packaging left after traditional floral weddings. Our installations are reused over and over again and every plant lives on, in someone’s home, at another event, or back in our studio, waiting for its next celebration.

If you want to know what’s catching my eye at the moment, I love oversized trees for ceremony arches, minimalist groupings of sculptural plants for modern venues, dramatic plant entrances that need no florals at all, and earth-toned vessels in clay, stone and matte finishes. Mixing texture and tone – rather than colour – is a favourite right now. For me, it’s all about the layers.

There are a few styling tips that always come up: height is everything, so go big and bold and don’t be afraid of tall plants. Groupings work better than singles; styling in threes always has more impact. Let the plants shape the space, not just sit in it. Use beautiful vessels, because the pot is part of the design. And always, always add ambient lighting, either uplighting in the pots or candles surrounding them.

If you’re looking for a way to wow your guests, stay true to your values, and create something that lasts, plants might just be the answer. Not rustic. Not boring. Just intentional, living, grounded beauty.

About the author:  The Botanic Edit began when florist Tahnee Skowron started creating succulent arrangements during maternity leave in 2020. That early passion quickly grew into wedding floristry and, eventually, a full focus on plant hire for couples who want their day to feel alive and unforgettable. Sustainability is at the heart of everything Tahnee does, offering living designs that fill spaces with energy and personality while keeping waste to a minimum. The Botanic Edit also supports tree planting projects in Western Australia and always looks for new ways to give back. Find out more at The Botanic Edit or on Instagram.

Photos by The Art Of Us Photography via Sustainable Botanical Wedding Inspiration Shoot