Turks and Caicos Wedding Flowers & Florists
Flowers and floral arrangements are an integral part of any wedding, and require a little more planning in the Turks and Caicos than at other destinations.
Store-bought flowers in Turks and Caicos, like many specialty food and wine products, are typically imported. It’s necessary to plan well in advance to ensure that your flowers are ready when you need them for bridal bouquets, boutonnières, centerpieces, the wedding arch, and general wedding décor.
The local market for fresh flowers isn't large, so florists often keep a very limited selection of live flowers on hand (such as imported roses, lilies, and carnations).
A few boutique stores, such as Flowers by EA, offer more complex arrangements as well as a selection of gift baskets, chocolates, cards, and other gifts for occasions ranging from birthdays to anniversaries. Graceway IGA, the country’s largest supermarket, usually has a small selection of bouquets for sale as well.
Local florists can also provide flower arrangements and floral décor for beach proposals or corporate functions.
Flower Delivery
Flower delivery is offered on the island of Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos. There is typically a fee for delivering arrangements (or, in the case of events, an installation fee).
Planning Floral Decorations
There are a few local flower shops, each of which offers flower arrangements and décor for weddings and corporate events. All decorations are handmade from primarily imported flowers in bulk, so every design is bespoke.
The best approach is to give your florist or wedding planner ample notice of the flowers you want. If flowers need to be specially ordered, they will have to be flown in or shipped via refrigerated shipping container (which is how nearly all produce is transported to the Turks and Caicos).
Locally Grown Turks and Caicos Flowers
While wedding couples often express interest in using local flowers, many times it's not feasible to use native Turks and Caicos flowers. However, locally grown introduced flowers that are common in landscaping are an option. These include bougainvillea—which may be purple, pink, peach, white, or salmon—the yellow elder, the sky blue plumbago, beach morning glory, hibiscus, cork tree and mahoe, royal poinciana, wood rose, several types of white lilies, and the larger introduced variety of frangipani. These flowers can create a beautiful bouquet or serve as décor for your wedding venue.
Some of the really exquisite native blooms include several types of rare orchid (the butterfly orchid, tall orchid, Caicos orchid, and Inagua orchid, to name some), the sacred lignum vitae flowers, wild apricot, sea sage, and yellow alder. Unfortunately, the plants and trees that produce these flowers are very rare globally and in some cases endangered, so it’s best to avoid using them to preserve the limited local flora populations.
Planning Considerations
The intense heat and sun make flowers and floral decorations in Turks and Caicos more prone to wilting. Consult with your wedding planner (or florist directly) for their advice. It’s especially important to consider the time between your wedding and reception to ensure that your flowers aren't kept out for too long.
