Dorney Court has it all - old grandeur with the beautiful character house and the wonderful sympathetically restored barn. I've dressed it a few times with flowers, but I wanted to share with you Hannah's rich autumn wedding flowers. Dorney Court is perfect if you want a blank canvas for your big day, that you can really make you're own. I worked with Hannah to transform the space for her early autumn wedding. As ever, for me, its all about having a few statement flower displays to transform the space.
(more…)If you are getting married at Templars Barn, it can be hard to visualise just how gorgeous the space can be when you first view the venue. The thing I love most about Templars Barn is it really is a venue that you can make your own. Becca and Jonny did just that with their late summer wedding. Filling the space with statement lighting, personal touches and of course a bit of flower magic. With a classic palette of creams whites and greens, we brought a little slice of the outside in. Its all about using lots of seasonal foliage and flowers to transform the space.
(more…)Spring is a time for awakening and new beginnings and that alone should convince you that a spring wedding is one of the most magical times to get married. Not only is it the perfect season to tie the knot, it's also the season when the flower world starts to bloom. You'll have an abundance of Spring flowers to choose from - daffodils, flowering viburnum, hyacinths and roses to name a few.
Whilst I love pastel flowers as this time of year, it's also a time of bold colour. Don't be afraid to mix in some stronger pops of pink, coral or yellow for a real celebration of spring. I always start planning spring weddings with the bridal bouquet, all the other arrangements then spin off this. Your bridal bouquet is the most important bunch of flowers you'll ever carry - it needs to be knock out beautiful. In this post I'll be sharing some of my favoruite Spring wedding bouquets.
If you are getting married during the summer, you're going to be spoilt for choice with your wedding bouquets. There are so many blooms to choose from - frilly roses, ruffled peonies and country cornflowers just to name a few. Whether your wedding theme is romantic elegance, modern structure or rustic country garden, there will be a multitude of flower choices to suit your concept.
Always try to follow the season with your wedding flowers because you will be getting the best quality flowers at the best price. Your florist should be on hand and guide you as to whats looking gorgeous and what will give you the perfect vibe for your day.
I'm going to share with you some of my favourite summer wedding bouquets. If you love bright flowers or if you love a neutral palette, I'll inspire you with the best of the seasons flowers
(more…)There is no denying it, I love a church wedding! With their beautiful exterior and religious relevance they are a key part to many couples wedding day and, from a florists perspective, they look totally wonderful dressed in flowers. Whether you are planning a traditional church wedding or having your ceremony elsewhere there are a few things to consider when choosing your wedding flower. One of the first things most couples say is that their ceremony space isn’t used for that long. Whilst the time element is certainly correct, I am all about helping you to make the most of your wedding flowers. I am going to be talking about the most common wedding flowers, where are the key areas to dress in a church and how you can re-use these arrangements at your wedding reception.
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Ufton Court always provides the perfect setting for summer weddings. Nestled in the gorgeous grounds, the barn, house and gardens always provide the most stunning backdrop to a summer wedding. Becky and Josh married at Ufton Court under the blazing August sun, with a vision of soft, romantic English blooms. As a florist, working at Ufton Court is always a delight, and Becky and Josh's wedding was no exception. Their vision for the day was blush, whites with hints of stronger corals.
Becky approached us with a mood board that perfectly captured her floral dreams. The color palette was a delightful blend of blush and warm peach—a refreshing twist on the classic blush theme that has graced our floral studio and Pinterest boards for some time. While we adore blush, there's something truly special about working with some of our favorite roses (David Austin Juliette, anyone?) and combining them with the bounty of summer.
Becky's bouquet was filled with a medley of our favorites, including those exquisite David Austin Juliette roses, a mix of Quicksand and Azore spray roses, and those perfect David Austin Juliette's. We added a touch of sweet peas, some Queen Anne's lace for that dreamy, airy texture, veronica for a relaxed countryside feel, and eustoma because the peach variety is simply perfection.
The close-up reveals all the feathery, delicate details that are essential for creating a loose, garden-style bouquet. To achieve that effortlessly gathered appearance, we follow a rule of at least 10 varieties of flowers. Some may think that's a lot, but it's the secret to avoiding a stiff, uniform look.
The bridesmaids walked down the aisle holding equally beautiful bouquets, with a playful hint of coral to complement their dresses. Here's a pro tip: consider reusing the bridesmaids' bouquets as additional decor during the reception. This trick works wonders, especially if you have a long top table. Your florist can leave out some vases for your bridesmaids to place the bouquets in after the formal photographs, ensuring your flowers go the extra mile!
Now, let's talk about the boutonnieres, or should we say, the fancy boutonnieres! The gentlemen wore Sweet Vuvuzela roses, elegantly arranged with fragrant eucalyptus leaves and tied off with luxurious satin ribbon. We believe that the finishing touch matters, so there's no plastic tape here—only satin or silk for that touch of luxury.
Carey Baptist Church, nestled in the heart of Reading, has been the backdrop for several weddings within its congregation, and we've been honored to provide the floral magic for a few of them. The church's vast and imposing exterior gives way to a softer, more inviting interior, despite the slightly challenging peach carpet. With a spacious seating area above and a large stage for the service, we framed the stage with two magnificent floral pedestals that later found their way to Ufton Court.
While we regrettably didn't capture images of the table decor, imagine miniature glass lanterns adorned with flowers, placed on rustic log slices to add to the rustic charm of Becky and Jack's big day. However, we did manage to snap a picture of the cake—a true statement piece adorned with all the flower
How are you all coping? Half the time I'm not even sure what day we are on, and I suppose it doesn't really matter. After a little emotional stumble in the week I remembered that Saturday is my work day. I've been counting down the hours until I get to sit at my 'new work desk' in our house. Okay the work doesn't look like it used to - its not snipping stems, or arranging flowers, but its some time to spend on my business every week.
One of the things I've missed most is arranging my flowers. I probably didn't appreciate at the time just how much joy this skill has brought me. We don't have much in our garden at this time of year but I will be hosting a Easter Wreath Tutorial next week. In the meantime I thought I'd pick up another passion of mine - drawing. It's a skill that has been much neglected over the years but in these (queue Covid-19 catchword) strange and uncertain times its a quick easy medium I've been reaching for. I thought this week instead of my usual virtual bunch of flowers to you, that you might like a bunch of anemones you can colour in yourself. It has tied in nicely for me to learn how to create some digital art (although very primitive) a skill I've been meaning to spend some time on for about 8 years.
You can download a PDF version of the artwork here: ANEMONE
If you decide to either colour on a digital device, or perhaps get your hands dirty and reach for the watercolours I'd love to see your images, so please email them to me emma@greenparlour.com
As we are unable to deliver actual flowers due to the current government restrictions, I still wanted to be able to share a little floral love so over the next few weeks I'll be sharing some virtual bunches with you all. This is one of my favourites from a few weeks ago filled with anemones, tulips, lilac, ranunculus and guelder rose. all loosely plonked together in a ceramic urn. You'll be delighted to know I filmed the making of this and will share it with you all soon.
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