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
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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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Hey there! I’ve had so many new followers over the past few weeks (thank you all, feeling grateful that you want to join me in this floral world) so I thought why not hop over to the blog and write 10 more facts about the woman behind the blooms – me of course! Flowers are a huge part of my life, but there are a few other things I get up to, and some personal quirks that I thought you’d love to know about me. If you missed my 10 fun facts a few years ago, you can check it out here.
Today I am sharing with you one of my favourite floristry tutorials - my ultimate jam jar flower tutorial. There is nothing better than decorating your home with little arrangements. They are my favourite thing to whip together when I have people coming over - versatile, simple to make (when you know how) AND perfect for using little bits from the garden. I'm sharing with you my tips for arranging a trio of jam jars with seasonal flowers. This is a must read post if you want a simple, floristry DIY that always looks amazing.
So, you’re thinking about becoming a florist? Welcome to the wonderfully chaotic (and all-consuming) world of flowers! I genuinely adore my career, but let me tell you, it’s not something you can do without a deep love for it. I’ve been lucky enough to work in floristry since I was 16, and my passion has only grown. However, there are a few things I wish I’d known before diving in. If you’re considering this path, read on to discover my top three favourite things about being a florist!
