In part two of our guide on How to Choose your Wedding Flowers we start to look at all the fun things! The actual flowers! First on my flower list is always the bridal bouquet. Along with the dress I believe the bridal bouquet helps to set the scene for the whole wedding, introducing the look of your day and containing your personality. In this, part 2 of our guide, we show you some of the key styles, talk about ways to introduce colour and … don’t forget the groom …
The bridal bouquet is always first on my list of flower requirements to talk about; it is my favourite part of the whole ‘let's talk about wedding flowers’ process, and also probably the most daunting – all the wedding ideas suddenly become super real!
This is the time to whip out all the mood boards, images of your dress (I love this part!), colours that you love, plans, ideas, thoughts, all the little details that you probably don’t think will be connected to flowers. As much information as you can load us up with.
And then it's time for the big questions … what style of bouquet do you want?
The hand tied wedding bouquet, sometimes known as a posy or an upright bouquet, is the must-have bridal bouquet right now. Definitely my favourite shape for its versatile nature, taking you from chic country bride to glitz and glam with a few tweaks here and there.
Fill with in-season flowers to create a wild, natural and just-picked-from-the-garden look, or go for a tightly packed rose dome bound in a satin ribbon for sheer elegance.
What I love most about a hand tied wedding bouquet is the fun you can have on the handle. It's my favourite place to add in extra details to make the bouquet completely unique. Why not try attaching old brooches, winding vintage lace detailing around the stem or platting together satin ribbon dotted with pearl-headed pins for a plush ornate feel?
Shower or cascade bouquets are in the midst of a major resurgence! Gone are the days of the Princess Diana (heavy, cumbersome and super showy) … in are a smaller, more delicate feminine cascade with subtle country twists and bags of movement using interesting foliage.
For an utterly romantic bouquet, fill with a mixture of scented English roses, smaller rosebuds and jasmine foliage in a soft feminine trail. Or go super modern: bold minimalist flowers with bags of colour … my favourite has to be deep purple vanda orchids which look like tropical butterflies.
This is such a gorgeous statement shape! I love seeing it with simple, elegant gowns or with vintage style dresses with delicate sparkly beading around the bodice. It's my dare-to-be-different bouquet of choice and should be made using some of the most standout flowers available.
For the 'wow' factor include crisp white calla lilies with modern leaves, or for a country twist go for strong groupings of zesty lime hydrangeas; a must-have colour for 2011.
The first rule is always reflect what's happening in nature ... Simple huh?
Every time I talk about reflecting the seasons, an episode of Don’t Tell the Bride pops into my mind. Specifically, the one when during a heat wave in July, a snow loving Groom transformed a barn into a winter wonderland. It looked beautiful, yes, but there was something slightly unnerving about seeing guests in very summery dresses, walking down an isle covered in snow. Flowers follow the same rules!
January, February and March are all about spring fresh greens, limes and whites with small flowers in pretty clusters. Think frilly white tulips, scented hyacinths, vintage anemones, lots of soft greenery. Introduce strong pops of colour to a blank canvas ... deep navy blues and hot pinks add some well needed colour!
April, May and June are the months where anything goes! Soft pinks and whites, vibrant blues and zesty greens, purples, limes … anything! Use some of our seasonal favourites including English scented roses, peonies, sweet peas and muscari (yes, it smells exactly like sweets). My one word of caution is with red: go with a burgundy red and team with hot pinks through to softer pale pinks for a spring/summer alternative to a winter staple.
July, August and September are the months where all inspiration comes from the garden. Vibrant dahlias in fuchsia, burgundy and orange should be complimented with lime green accents. If you prefer something a little more subtle, fresh summer whites with small touches of soft pink give a gorgeous romantic twist. Pinks should either be hot and fuchsia, or right at the other end of the spectrum: nude with soft blousy blooms to create an ultra romantic summer feel.
October, November and December are all about strong colour with tons of interesting foliage. Fill bouquets with berried skimmia in rich burgundy and use cymbidium orchids and deep velvet roses for a true nod to winter. Add shimmering whites with deep purples and small hints of zesty green for a fresh wintry sparkle.
My one word of advice: avoid the traditional carnation buttonhole!
The groom's buttonhole or boutonniere traditionally takes inspiration from the bride's bouquet; this is one tradition I love. To symbolise togetherness, take a main flower from the bridal bouquet and use in the groom's buttonhole.
Buttonholes don't have to be massive; jazz up a standard rose buttonhole with flowering mint for an interesting alternative, or go for small groupings of flowers for a more elaborate feel.
If you're feeling more adventurous, fill with feathers and sweet peas for the ultimate country look.
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