What it takes to have Fabulous Wedding Flowers! - Part One

So, you’re getting married and one of the things on your ‘to do’ list is sorting your wedding flowers.  Do you have any idea of what is involved in turning your ideas into fabulous floral designs for your big day?  Perhaps you are thinking of doing your wedding flowers yourself and so it might be useful to hear how a florist approaches the task; or maybe you would prefer to leave this side of things to the professionals, but are unsure of how the process works and what you should be thinking about.

I’m a florist specialising in providing floral designs for weddings and special occasions.  When working with a new couple I always start by talking about what flowers and designs they would like for the wedding party, as the bride’s preferred style for her bouquet gives a good indication of the look she is hoping to achieve for the whole day. 

The following thoughts are not based on any particular couple, so if you think you recognise yourself in this it is certainly not my intention......

It’s all worth it in the end!

FIRST CONSULTATION

Like many florists I offer a free consultation to prospective clients so that they get a chance to see my work and decide whether I am the right person for the job.  This happens at any time from 18 months, through to 6 weeks before the wedding!  From my point of view, at least 6 to 9 months before the wedding is best as this gives plenty of time to prepare and ideas remain fresh.......however, I never turn anyone away if I think I can help.

Sometimes a bride will come on her own to a consultation, but it is more likely that she will bring her fiancé with her (sometimes under sufferance!) or her mother.  However, I also accommodate future mothers-in-law, bridesmaids, best friends and children – occasionally all at once!  Most of this I can cope with, but it is important that the people whose special day it is (the bride and groom!) get to express their ideas and form a direct relationship with the florist.  Mum doesn’t always know best – although you won’t catch me admitting that to my own daughters!

Most consultations take place at my workroom just north of Peterborough, but I also travel to other places, such as the marriage or reception venues.

Initial Ideas

This first consultation gives the bride a chance to explain her ideas for her wedding flowers – and sometimes the groom might have a few thoughts of his own, and of course his wishes need to be incorporated too!  You might be a bride who loves clouds of creamy, velvety roses, or you might aspire to dramatic statement blooms in bold colours, or perhaps you long for a romantic vintage-themed wedding.  As the florist I need to be able to interpret these ideas and come up with workable designs that meet the couple’s own sense of style (and which they can afford), without upsetting anyone along the way – phew!!  It calls for a lot of tact and diplomacy at times........

Often people bring along magazine pictures of designs they like, which can be very helpful, but there are lots of things to consider that the couple might not have thought about, such as: seasonality of fresh flowers; which flowers are available in a particular colour; suitability of different flowers for particular designs; the cost of different materials; the logistics of delivering particular designs or of moving them between locations on the actual day....... the list goes on and many of these considerations have been the topic of my previous blogs. 

When a bride has a particular colour scheme in mind it can be a challenge to source flowers in just the right shade

Bridal party flowers

I always start by talking about the bride’s bouquet, as that is going to show for years to come in all the wedding photos!  Many brides have a clear idea of what they want, but might not realise all the different styles that are achievable.  And it is also important to consider things such as shape (which can be influenced by the style of gown and the height of the bride etc.), colour (does the bride want a bouquet that will stand out, or that will blend in with the overall colour scheme) and materials (does the bride have any particular loves or loathes when it comes to flowers?).  Brides generally have strong preferences regarding the ‘look’ of a bouquet – whether it is a compact design with massed blooms, or a more natural styles with ‘spriggy’ bits.  However, very many brides will simply not know the vast choice of flowers and other materials that can be successfully used in wedding work.

A delicately-coloured shower bouquet works well with this bride’s full skirted gown and romantic vintage theme.  She is also tall enough to carry this sort of trailing style.

It is also important to consider what the bride’s attendants will be wearing and to link their flowers with the bride’s bouquet if she is hoping to achieve a coordinated look, both in terms of colour and of style. 

This bride has chosen a lilac and dusky pink colour scheme for her vintage-style wedding and appropriate flowers have been chosen to suit this style. 

By way of contrast, the bride photographed above chose to match her flowers to the strong ‘Cadbury’ purple of her bridesmaids’ dresses and they carried posies with a more contemporary feel achieved by selecting statement blooms in a mix of vibrant colours.

However, choice is not limited to a typical posy shape and a good florist should be able to suggest different designs as well as different flowers for the bride to choose from.

 Don’t be afraid to ask your florist to show you examples of different styles so that you know what can be achieved.

As an experienced professional it is my job to advise the bride and groom on what styles and materials will work in order to achieve the overall look they are aiming for; however at the end of the day the final choice is down to them!

Buttonholes

In my experience many grooms just want a buttonhole that is simple and unfussy and have probably not given much thought to particular flowers and different styles.  But discerning brides shouldn’t worry as a single white rose with contrasting foliage looks great against most outfits! 

It’s hard to beat a simple white rose, particularly if this flower is also being used in the bride’s bouquet.

However, there is a growing trend for ‘designer’ buttonholes, or buttonholes using statement flowers such as orchids or calla lilies particularly if these are being used in other wedding designs.  And some groom’s do have very strong views about what they should be wearing!  Another trend is to differentiate the groom’s buttonhole from those of his groomsmen by adding in some decorative elements, such as berries or flower sprigs, to link it to the bride’s bouquet – or simply to use different foliage, such as a variegated rather than a plain leaf.

......but at the end of the day it’s a matter of whatever takes your fancy!

Corsages

Quite often brides will want a floral design for ‘the Mums’ to wear at their wedding, and possibly also for other important female guests.  This could certainly be a buttonhole using flowers from the other designs, but sometimes something a little bit more special is called for.  In this case a corsage can be the answer and these can be made in a huge range of different designs, from traditional wired corsages (in a typically triangular shape) to designer styles made to match the wearer’s outfit and with decorative elements added in.

 Corsages can be made to match the wearer’s outfit and provide a lovely gift for a special person!

So having considered personal flower requirements for the main wedding party members it is time to think about floral designs for the marriage and reception venues.  But that will have to wait for another day........

To be continued!

Favourite Flower for January: Gypsophila

As we leave Christmas behind and start the New Year, this can often signal a colder spell of weather with hard frosts and even flurries of snow.  There are not usually many flowers to be seen in the garden at this time of year (although this year is a bit of an exception!), but the flower that sums up January for me is Gypsophila, with its frothy mass of tiny white flowers which look almost like frozen dewdrops or miniature  snowflakes.  So, if you are set to marry in January, or are looking for some floral decorations to set the scene for a winter party, take a look at how Gypsophila can be used to create a very special ‘winter white’ theme.

January’s flower – Gypsophila (Baby’s breath)

Not wanting to throw any confusion into the air here, because I should make it clear that Gypsophila does not naturally flower in UK gardens during January.  It is generally grown as an herbaceous perennial flowering in mid-summer.  However, Gypsophila can be obtained all year round and is sometimes sold with a bit of added sparkle around Christmas time for a festive look.

 Gypsophila comes into its own when it is massed together to create a cloud of tiny white stars or snowflakes.  And it works equally well with other white flowers, such as ‘Akito’ roses, to create a stunningly simple bridal bouquet.

 A simple bouquet of white Gypsophila and white roses lends itself to some additional decorative detail, such as this diamante brooch placed on the bouquet handle which matches the bride’s jewellery and other accessories.  Whatever you fancy.........

 And Gypsophila can also be used to turn a simple white rose buttonhole into something a little bit special!

 These wicker hearts have been trimmed with Gypsophila to create some special decorative features, which could be hung at strategic points in the venue or even used as pew ends. 

 Or the smaller heart would make an unusual novelty item for a flower girl to carry.

 And to continue the winter white theme throughout the day, clouds of white Gypsophila can make simple but effective table arrangements either on its own or teamed with other white flowers.  Brides on a budget will be pleased to know that this would not break the bank!

 This pretty compact arrangement has been made in florists foam and so will last very well.  The white of the ‘Akito’ roses and Gypsophila are set off by the silvery-grey foliage of senecio to maintain the limited colour palette appropriate to the wintery theme.

..........but a dusting of silver sparkle has been added to give the illusion of frost glinting in the winter sunshine.

 Using touches of Gypsophila throughout the designs helps to create a coordinated look, while adding soft candlelight brings them to life and enhances the winter white theme.

Getting married in 2012? It’s never too early to start planning your wedding flowers

Happy New Year to you and if this is the year you are getting married I’m sure it will be a really special one for you.  However, at this stage you might just be realising how much you still have to organise for your big day and wondering how it is all going to get sorted on time.   So here are a few tips to take the headache out of organising your wedding flowers:

Think about your wedding flowers at an early stage in your planning

Your choice of flowers and style of flower designs can impact on your choice of colours and themes for your wedding, so it’s best to think about your flowers before final decisions have been made.  Availability of flowers varies with the seasons and particular colours can be quite difficult to get hold of at different times of the year.  A good florist should be able to advise you on this.

 Lovely colours and seasonal foliage for a Christmas wedding

This bride was keen to have just the right shade of ‘Cadbury’ purple for her wedding bouquet

Book a good florist who will work closely with you

You should feel confident that your florist will do her best to interpret your ideas and give you the flowers you have dreamed of.  As well as asking friends for recommendations, take advantage of free consultations to question the florist closely and see how willing she is to listen to you and offer advice on the best way to achieve the look you want.  Ask about qualifications and experience and, most importantly, look at examples or photographs of previous wedding work.  Don’t assume that flower design images shown on a website are always the florist’s own work.

Check out my website at: www.helenjanefloristry.co.uk where all the work featured has been created by Helen Jane

.....and this bride wanted her day filled with flowers from start to finish

Spend time choosing just the right colours, styles and themes

Flowers provide you with the opportunity to show your personality, through choice of style, colour and selection of blooms, and to set the theme for the whole day.  Do you prefer compact designs of grouped flowers, such as a bride’s massed rose bouquet, or do you like natural designs featuring sprays of foliage and ‘spriggy’ bits?  Do you love clouds of romantic gypsophila, or would you prefer to set the trend with a statement flower?  The choice might seem endless, but looking through magazines and websites can give you a good idea of the sort of styles and colours that suit your tastes and these can also provide a good basis for the discussion with your florist.  Thinking about your bridal bouquet is a good place to start.

Every bride is different and your flowers should reflect your own personality and sense of style

Consider what the current trends and fashions are

.......and then decide whether you want to follow them or do something entirely different!

The romantic vintage look has been with us for some time and is still set to be a winner for many brides, but your particular choice of colours and flowers will still make your wedding flower designs unique.  Or perhaps you would like to try something a little different and opt for an English country garden look, or choose simple statement flowers, such as calla lilies.  Royal purple has become a popular colour and strong, bold colours like this or 'hot' colours are likely to feature in summer weddings, but I have also noticed brides considering old gold and charcoal grey.  Take your ideas from featured weddings then put your own twist on them and don’t forget to ask your florist for suggestions too!

White, ivory and green provide a beautifully simple colour scheme for a vintage-themed wedding, or you could try adding touches of rose pink, dusky lilac......

And don’t forget to budget!

Money will never be far from a couple’s mind as they plan their big day, but don’t despair as there are always ways of making your money stretch far enough to give you fabulous flowers.  Take a look at my previous blog for some suggestions!  http://helenjanefloristry.blogspot.com/2011/11/bride-on-budget.html

Favourite Flower for December: The Christmas Rose

If you had to pick a favourite flower to sum up this time of year what would it be?  I often have brides asking for recommendations on suitable flowers around which to base their wedding designs and many would like to use something ‘a little different’ or something that is particularly appropriate for the season in which they are getting married.  And other clients recognise that it makes sense to use materials that are in season.  Luckily for me there are not many flowers that I don’t like (and I’m not revealing which those are!) and most can look amazing if used in the right way.

So, each month I am going to highlight a flower that I particularly like and which I think sums up the time of year when it is at its best, and then show you a few ideas of how it could be used in your wedding designs, to decorate a party venue or if you simply want some flowers to decorate your home.

December’s flower – The Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger)

There aren’t many flowers that you would expect to find flowering in the garden around Christmas, which is why the Christmas Rose is so special (although this year it is so mild I still have ordinary roses in flower!).  The beautifully simple flower has soft white petals, which might be tinged with pink, and pronounced yellow stamen.  The flowers and buds look fantastic in arrangements and can also be incorporated into smaller hand-tied designs.

Here the flowers and buds of the Christmas Rose have been incorporated into a stunning bridal bouquet, which has been given a winter feel by restricting the colours to white, green and silver-grey and incorporating seasonal foliage.

The bouquet mixes Christmas Roses with white Akito roses, which are set off by the silvery foliage of senecio and dark green ‘Blue Prince’ holly.  It is finished with a collar of white gypsophila, which has a lovely fluffy, lacy texture, reminiscent of snow flakes and frosty days.  The bouquet stems have been wrapped with an ivory ribbon and secured with ivory pearl pins to give a pretty finish.

The same materials have then been incorporated into designs suitable to be used for wedding decorations, such as this hanging heart and the round table arrangement.

This simple low arrangement would look lovely on the registrar’s table during your marriage ceremony and could then easily be moved to one of your guest tables.  Perhaps have a collection of designs, including some simple bud vases with just a few Christmas Roses – a simple and cost-effective way to create low-level impact.

And if you want to spice things up a little and give your flowers more of a Christmas feel, how about adding a few red berries to your designs?

This time red hypericum berries have replaced the gypsophila and the arrangements suddenly look ready to grace the best Christmas dining table.

Don’t let your imagination stop here – the beauty of flowers should lead you to experiment, but keep things simple and let your favourite flower be the star of your designs.

Vintage Chic - Create the Look

The romantic vintage look continues to be a favourite with brides wanting to capture that sense of nostalgia and to give their special day a pretty and feminine appeal. 

A beautiful mix of English country flowers in soft pastels, dusky pinks and lilacs really sets off this style and arrangements don’t need to be complex – a simple hand tied posy in a pretty vase adds to the relaxed feel.

But this look is not only appropriate for weddings – how about hosting a traditional English tea party?  A great idea for young and old alike, and becoming a popular idea for 18^th birthday parties.  

The style works really well if small arrangements in an eclectic mix of containers are grouped together to give greater impact.  All sorts of containers can work well for the vintage look and the good news is they can be fun as well as cheap to collect yourself.  

Hunt around charity shops and car boot sales and see what you can find for a few pounds; or set your relatives the task of clearing out cupboards to see what treasures have been hidden away!  Arrangements can be made in containers of all shapes and sizes( take a peek at the bun cases above!) as these pictures show and the finished effect will be more exciting if you use designs at different heights. 

And if you need table centres with more height to create impact in a large reception venue, try adding in some tall candelabras dressed with flowers to match the rest of your colour scheme.

If you’re trying to achieve an authentic vintage look it’s best to avoid bold, vibrant colour schemes, but there are still lots of lovely colours to choose from.  Try soft pastels and creams with dusky pinks and perhaps add some pale peach to bring some warmth to the designs.  The lovely pale peach rose used in the bouquet below  is the fabulous ‘Peach Avalanche’, which has been  used to create warmth and depth. 

Another good rose featured in this bouquet is ‘Lovely Jewel’ (which has also been used in a number of the other designs).  It is a lovely shaded dusky pink/ cream, giving a real antique feel to any arrangement, and it also works beautifully in vintage-style bouquets and posies which can be finished with ribbon or lace wound around their stems.  This rose mixes well with creams, pale peach and pale sugar pink, but it works equally well with mauve/ lilac shades.

  

Dusky lilacs and mauve add a more unusual touch to the vintage look but still have a real antique feel.  Here these colours have been mixed with pale shell pink, cream and white and these colours have been repeated throughout the wedding designs, including the flower trees used to decorate the church and the reception.

Try out other styling tips to complete the vintage look – add antique lace tablecloths; ornate picture frames or ribbons; pearl beads and lace.  Let your imagination run riot!  After all its your special day, so make the most of it!

Bride on a Budget

Bride on a Budget?  Don’t despair – you can still have beautiful wedding flowers

Let’s face it – nearly everyone is feeling the effect of the recession in one way or another.  But having to count the pennies shouldn’t prevent you from having the day of your dreams; it’s all about using your imagination and spending your money wisely.  Naturally the most important ingredients for a successful wedding day are the people: firstly, you and your partner having chosen to make your marriage vows to each other; and secondly, the friends and family that you have chosen to come along to support you.  Perhaps as someone involved in the wedding industry I shouldn’t say this, but really everything else is an add-on or a ‘nice to have’! 

It just takes two!

But of course most people want to make their wedding a day of celebration and to ensure it is a memorable occasion, and it is a wonderful thing in the years ahead to be able to look back at photographs of a happy and very special day.  (In case you’re wondering, yes I did have a white wedding with all the trimmings myself!)  And flowers are a wonderful way of creating a particular atmosphere for a special occasion while giving you the opportunity to show your personality, through choice of style, colour and selection of blooms.  So, if flowers are something you see as a necessity for your own wedding day, how can you achieve the look you want on a limited budget?

Flowers are a good way of creating atmosphere

Wise brides will allocate a part of their wedding budget to their flowers and then discuss with their florist what can be achieved within that budget.  It is sometimes suggested that the flower budget should be around 5-10% of the total, but of course this will very much depend on the importance that the bride wants to place on her flowers and the sort of designs she has in mind.  You should always ask your florist for a full estimate of the cost of providing the flowers for your wedding, including any additional costs which might not be included in the price of individual designs – for example: delivery and set-up charges; hire of vases, mirrors, pedestals etc.  Also, find out if the order will be subject to VAT – a florist working on a freelance basis (such as me) might not be registered for VAT, which can make a big difference to the total cost.  If this all adds up to a figure above your budget don’t be embarrassed to ask where costs could be saved.  I’m always happy to have this sort of discussion with my clients so that we can achieve a look they will love but can still afford.

TOP TIPS for saving the pennies!

·         Choose flowers you can afford – sounds obvious, but many brides are not aware of the vast number of different flowers that can look stunning used in wedding work.  Of course everyone knows what a rose is, but quality roses are expensive – so ask your florist to recommend different flowers that would work in the designs you have in mind and be prepared to be flexible.

·         Remember seasonality – this is another factor that will determine how expensive your flowers are as prices vary according to whether a particular flower is in season at the time of your wedding, as well the level of demand for it.  For example, setting your heart on beautifully scented lily-of-the-valley is not a good idea unless you are getting married in April!  On the other hand, red roses around St Valentine’s Day would be a very expensive choice.

·         Go for simple designs – when deciding on the cost of individual designs a florist will take into account the time it takes to make up the design, so complicated designs (particularly those involving wiring work) tend to be more expensive.  This is why a fully wired bouquet will always be more expensive than a hand tied bouquet made using the same materials; and why a simple collection of flowers in a pretty vase can make a cost-effective table centre.

Simple vases of flowers can still be effective

·         Start with the bride’s bouquet – I always suggest that brides don’t compromise when it comes to selecting the flowers and style of their bouquet.  These flowers are so much a part of your overall look and will also be on show in all your main photographs for years to come.  That said, your florist may be able to suggest different techniques for creating a particular style of design that will minimise the cost.

·         Keep wedding party flowers to a minimum – obviously the groom will want to have a buttonhole (and often this is matched to his bride’s bouquet), and it is usual for his attendants to wear a buttonhole and any bridesmaids and flower girls to carry or wear flowers.  If these are the people who will feature in a lot of your key photos then it will look good if they have flowers to coordinate with your scheme.  But think carefully before you offer flowers to other guests – perhaps Granny would be prepared to pay for her own corsage?

·         Place display flowers where they will have the greatest impact – once you know how much of your budget is left to cover the flowers for your ceremony and reception venues, think how you can use it wisely to create maximum impact.  Flowers placed en masse and at a high level will be more eye-catching than lower-level displays (which is why many people choose pedestal designs).  Also, consider placing flower displays in strategic places where guests will be focused for some time, eg: at the front of a church; near the registrar’s table for a civil ceremony; or to one side of the top table.

Make sure your flowers can be seen

·         Consider re-using some designs – paying a lot of money for flowers that are only seen for a short time really is a waste of money.  Often designs can be made in a way that enables them to be moved to a new position later in the day – and this is a great job to give to one of your friends who is offering to help!  For example, free-standing designs can be moved from a church to the reception; arrangements placed on the registrar’s table can double-up as table centres; and small table centres can be designed in such a way that they can be given as gifts to key guests.

Table centres can be given as gifts

·         ASK YOUR FLORIST – these are only a few ideas to get you thinking!  A good florist will be willing to work with you to achieve a look you will love but can still afford.

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