Petals of Light 

The wedding is over and the guests have gone home. But what happens to the beautiful bouquets? Sadly, the high-budget blooms often end up in the trash, lost in the chaos of the cleanup. 

That was, until Sara Strange stepped in. The Edmond woman wondered what these flowers could do in the hands of someone who needs a reason to smile. Together with her husband, Chris Strange, she created her own answer: Petals of Light, a nonprofit that gives event flowers a second life and delivers a little unexpected joy along the way. 

The idea has personal roots. After going through cancer herself, watching her dad enter hospice care, and seeing other family members live in memory care facilities, she knew the difference a small gesture could make. 

“I was thinking about all the little unexpected things that brought joy,” Sara said. “Petals of Light was born out of just trying to figure out a simple way to make an impact in people’s lives.” 

When Petals of Light began in the summer of 2025, Sara imagined picking up leftover flowers once or twice a month. Instead, word spread. “All of a sudden people are coming to us, we’re getting donations, we have partners in the wedding industry,” she said. “The brides were excited to have their flowers continue on another day.” 

In its first year alone, Petals of Light diverted an estimated 2,500 pounds of floral waste, transforming those discarded blooms into approximately 1,200 bouquets. 

Volunteers break down donated arrangements, save the usable blooms and create smaller bouquets. Those flowers find new homes with seniors, veterans, women in shelters, cancer patients, and others throughout the metro. 

Teal Creek Activities Director Patti James has seen how the flowers can spark much more than a smile, especially when memory care residents create bouquets themselves. “Flower deliveries make their whole day incredible,” James said. “They’ll say, ‘Oh, I grew these in my yard,’ or talk about teaching their daughter how to grow them. It sparks endless conversations and brings so much joy.” 

“We’re just trying to make someone smile, especially in facilities where so many people feel forgotten, or alone, or maybe they’re going through rehab,” Sara said. 

Sara and Chris hope Petals of Light will one day have a brick-and-mortar workshop where people can come together to repurpose flowers and brighten someone’s day. The organization now has 14 volunteers in its Bloom Crew, including longtime volunteer Amanda Newlin. “A few flowers, a little time, and suddenly you’re part of bringing joy to someone’s day,” Newlin said. “Sara and Chris have a way of making their purpose contagious. You can’t help but want to be part of it.” 

For now, there are plenty of ways to join in. Petals of Light welcomes donated event flowers, financial gifts, and volunteers for its Bloom Crew. “Whatever we do, the goal is to make people feel they are worthy, loved, and less alone,” Sara said. 

To donate flowers, give financially, or join the Bloom Crew, visit petalsoflightok.org.