Flowers are something that my brides consistently highlight as being one of the most important aspects of their wedding day – they’re looking for beautiful arrangements that both capture the look and feel of their celebration and provide the ‘wow’ factor. Floral arrangements are, however, also an area that brides often struggle with – they don’t know anything about flowers, they have no idea what will work with their wedding design, and they can’t envisage how it will look on the day. It is, therefore, important that when you come to find a florist for your wedding you hire someone who understands the overall look you are trying to achieve, is realistic with your budget and is someone you trust to do a great job on the day.

Set A Budget

One of the most common mistakes that couples make with their wedding flowers is getting ideas that are beyond their budget. Wedding magazines are packed full of stunning floral arrangements, but they often don’t say that some of these can cost hundreds of pounds each!

As with all areas of your wedding, it’s important to know how much you have available for your flowers (you can read my tips on budgeting for your wedding here). Make your florist aware of your budget from the outset so that they can provide you with ideas that are realistically affordable. I normally suggest allocated 4-6% of your total wedding budget for your flowers, but you may wish to allocate more or less depending on how important they are to you.

Keep your budget in mind when thinking about ideas for your flowers. Obviously the more arrangements you have the greater the costs, but the type of flowers and arrangement designs that you choose will also have an impact on the quote. For example, a bouquet of orchids will probably cost 3 or 4 times more than a bouquet of mixed seasonal flowers, whilst oversized martini vases filled with large domes of flowers will probably cost twice as much as small, low vase arrangements. This doesn’t mean that you have to rule out more elaborate designs, but you may have to compromise on some things – for example, using more foliage to fill space in larger centrepiece arrangements.

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Think About Your Requirements

Before you start researching and meeting florists, it’s worth thinking about what you would like for your wedding flowers. You don’t have to know exactly what you want, but you will find an initial meeting with a florist easier and more productive if you have at least have a rough idea of the type of flowers and floral designs that you like, as well as the number of arrangements you are likely to need. Some of the arrangements you might like to think about include:

- Bouquets for you and the bridesmaids (alternatives to bouquets include wrist corsages and hair flowers)

- Buttonholes for the groom, best man, ushers and fathers

- Corsages for mums and grandmothers

- Chair ties or pew ends for the ceremony

- Pedestals and/or mantelpiece arrangements for the ceremony and reception

- Centrepieces for tables

- Cake flowers

- Thank you bouquets

Once you have a list, mark those arrangements that are essential – for example, bouquets, buttonholes and centrepieces. Other arrangements, like pedestals and mantelpiece decorations, are nice to have but will depend on your budget; these can be considered once you have sorted out the main designs.

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Find Out What You Like

Some brides know exactly what they want for their wedding flowers, but they are in a minority! Most brides feel overwhelmed with the amount of choice that is available and the fact that they can’t tell a rose from a lily. Don’t panic! Choosing your flowers should be a fun part of the planning process, and you should enjoy it rather than feel daunted.

Once you have an idea of the arrangements you need, look through bridal magazines or websites to pick out pictures of flowers that you like; also cut out pictures of designs that you don’t like. Take these along with you when you meet a prospective florist to help you to explain what you are looking for – it’s extremely helpful for the florist to see these, and will make the process of choosing flowers and designs much easier.

When looking at pictures of floral arrangements, remember that you probably aren’t going to find an exact copy of what you have in mind. Look at the colour and shape of individual flowers in an arrangement – it doesn’t matter if it’s in the most hideous bouquet you’ve ever seen! Similarly when looking for arrangement designs think about the overall shape and style rather than the flowers and colours used.

Not all flowers are available all year round, so try to keep a fairly open mind about what you would like until you have discussed your ideas with a florist. For example, Lily of the Valley is a beautifully delicate flower that many brides fall in love with, but it’s only available for about 3 weeks of the year! Check out the Flower Council for more information about seasonal availability of specific blooms. Similarly some flowers are particularly expensive, so may not be appropriate for your budget. It’s really good to have an idea of the type of flowers you like, but take on board suggestions by your florist for alternatives that may be more readily available and less expensive.

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Meeting a Prospective Florist

As with any supplier, it is important that you meet a prospective florist to assess whether they are suitable for your wedding. Use recommendations from family, friends and your venue to help you draw up a shortlist of people you would like to meet; wedding fairs, local wedding magazines and websites are also useful resources.

Aim to meet with 2 or 3 prospective florists in the first instance – any more than this and you’ll start to feel confused! Use the meeting as an opportunity to talk about your ideas. Take along your pictures of flowers and arrangement designs, as well as a photograph of your dress to will help with the design for your bouquet. If possible also take along a colour swatch of fabric or ribbon to better illustrate your colour scheme.

Your prospective florist should be able to demonstrate a good understanding of what you are looking for and be able to offer lots of ideas on arrangement designs, flowers and colours. Whilst you’re talking with them, ask yourself the following: Do they seem enthusiastic about your wedding? Are they forthcoming with advice and ideas? Are they suggesting designs that are within your budget, or do you feel pressured into spending more than you have allocated? Do they understand what you want, or are they talking you into something different? Remember that your florist will be offering professional advice, so do listen to their opinions and ideas as to what they think will work for your wedding.

Also use the meeting to find out more about the florist and their services. Take some time to view their portfolio to give you a better indication of their style of work, and ask to see previous client testimonials. If they have a shop look around at the flowers on display – are they nice and fresh, or do they look limp and sorry for themselves? Some questions you might also like to ask include:

- For how long have they been a professional florist and for how long have they worked on wedding arrangements?

- Do they have public liability insurance?

- Have they worked at your venue before?

- Do they provide glassware to hire, such as vases, mirrors or candelabras?

- Does the quoted price include delivery and set-up?

- Can they create a mock bouquet or centrepiece for you to see? Is this included in the quote, or is it available as an option at extra cost?

- How many weddings do they do one day? If they do multiple weddings, how much time will they allocate to set up your arrangements?

- Can they do multiple drop-offs at no extra cost? For example, buttonholes to groom’s house, bouquets to bride’s house, centrepieces to reception venue

Before making a final decision, make sure you are fully aware of what the quote includes (for example, VAT, delivery, glassware hire). When you are ready to confirm a booking, sign a contract and make a note of the date any deposit was paid. Also note down when the final payment is due, as well as the deadline for confirming your order.

Photo Credits:

Pink and peach rustic display: Dandelion Ranch
Purple box centrepiece: Lucy Holdsworth
Multicoloured bouquet and purple flowers: Jessica Claire Photography via Style Me Pretty here and here
Peach centrepiece: Style Me Pretty
Red table display: Studio 28 Photography via JL Designs

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This board was designed with Nonsuch Mansion in mind as a venue (you can read my review of this stunning Surrey wedding venue here), and consequently I imagine this wedding to take place in a country mansion house – I can just see guests mingling on a well-manicured lawn enjoying ice-cold Pimm’s and delicious canapés, with the strains of a string quartet floating through the summer air.

I would keep the decor for this wedding simple, yet pretty and elegant, with ribbons tied around napkins and tealights on tables. Flowers are a big part of this design concept – tall, voluminous centrepieces would provide striking focal points in the dining room, whilst the use of scented flowers and herbs around the venue would add a delicate fragrance to the country atmosphere.

This design board is a great example of how different styles and atmospheres can be created with different decor. The formal floral arrangements, tiered wedding cake, candles and ribbon ensure this design has an elegant and sophisticated feel to it. My previous English country garden board is just as stylish, but has a more rustic and informal feel to it on account of the loose floral arrangements, cupcakes and jar-style votives. Just proves how you can take a single ‘theme’ and personalise it to your own tastes!

Photo Credits:
Bouquet: David Austin Roses
Cake: Zoe Clark Cakes
Bridesmaid dresses: Lazaro (pink) and Alfred Angelo (green)
Centrepieces: The Knot
Invitations: Card Lab (green) and The Whole Caboodle (pink)
Venue: Nonsuch Mansion
Wedding gown: Macarena by Pronovias

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It’s been far too long since I showcased some music on the blog, so today I want to highlight Jon Bon Jovi’s “Thank You For Loving Me”. Two of my oldest friends chose this for their first dance at their wedding five years ago, but I actually think that the acoustic version would work really well during the signing of the register. If you listen to the lyrics I think it sums up what being married is all about…

It’s hard for me to say the things
I want to say sometimes
There’s no one here but you and me
And that broken old street light

Lock the doors
We’ll leave the world outside
All I’ve got to give to you
Are these five words when I

Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes when I couldn’t see
For parting my lips when I couldn’t breathe
Thank you for loving me
Thank you for loving me

I never knew I had a dream
Until that dream was you
When I look into your eyes
The sky’s a different blue

Cross my heart
I wear no disguise
If I tried, you’d make believe
That you believed my lies

Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes when I couldn’t see
For parting my lips when I couldn’t breathe
Thank you for loving me

You pick me up when I fall down
You ring the bell before they count me out
If I was drowning you would part the sea
And risk your own life to rescue me, yeah

Lock the doors
Leave the world outside
All I’ve got to give to you
Are these five words when I

Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes oh, when I couldn’t see
You parted my lips when I couldn’t breathe
Thank you for loving me

Thank you for loving me
Thank you for loving me
Oh for loving me

Photo Credit: Kiss The Groom

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The ceremony in St James’ Church, Clerkenwell…

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Katherine chose a gorgeous soft pink bouquet of seasonal flowers, whilst the reception arrangements included peonies and roses in vibrant shades of magenta and purple to co-ordinate with the colour scheme…

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The reception venue was within walking distance of the Church, so Katherine and Nic stopped by the bar they visited on their first date and shared a beer!

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These cupcakes formed part of the amazing dessert bar that guests were treated to after dinner, which also included shot glasses of chocolate mousse, individual cheesecakes and bakewell tarts…

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The happy couple…

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Be sure to keep an eye out for the full wedding report coming up in the next few weeks, where we’ll be highlighting all of the suppliers who worked so hard to make the day a success.

Photo Credits: Peachey Photography

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1. Can you tell us a bit more about you and your company?

My background is in theatre costume, and I spent nearly 20 years working within theatre both here and in Australia. I started work with the English National Opera in the costume department and worked my way up to become a cutter in the woman’s wardrobe. I carried on working in the theatre after I emigrated to Australia in 1993, making costumes at the Opera House Australia and for the Cameron Macintosh musicals that came to Sydney.

During my time in theatre I worked with people such as Jonathon Miller, Gerald Scarfe, Lesley Garret, Catherine Zeta Jones, Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin (of ‘Moulin Rouge’ and ‘Australia’ fame).  After returning to England I set up my Studio, making bespoke wedding dresses and cocktail frocks with a theatrical and quirky twist.

I love colour and the idea that a dress worn for one of the most important days of a girl’s life should only be white, cream or ivory, then put in a box and left under the bed forevermore, is so restricting. It was Queen Victoria who made the ‘White Wedding Dress’ popular, as she broke with tradition for a Royal Bride and refused to wear silver silk tissue. Before then, however, girls had their wedding dress made in beautiful colours and of the finest fabric the family could afford, and after the wedding the dress was used as a very best dress.

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2. Your designs are quite different to the traditional wedding gown – who does your work predominantly appeal to?

Most of my clients are looking for something different to the usual ‘white uniform’ of the traditional wedding dress – a dress that reflects their personality, who and where they are in life. The age range is anywhere between 30 and 60. I love to design for my clients’ individuality, to enhance all their good qualities and disguise those they like least. I like to make an outfit that can be worn again as a core part of their ‘dressing up wardrobe’. If the outfit is made up of, say, 3 pieces these can be separated and used with other items in their wardrobe, or a long dress can be shortened to be used as a cocktail frock. My motto is “only ever wear clothes that make you want to do a small dance” and I like to encourage my clients to dance!

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3. What are the most important things a bride should think about if she is considering a personally-designed wedding dress?

The most important thing she will be considering is the uniqueness of her dress…something that is designed for her alone that can incorporate many facets that are special to her. The fact that this dress is created for her and made in England by experts in their field makes it so much more special.

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4. Can you talk us through the process of creating a dress from scratch?

At an initial consultation I take notes of where the wedding will be held, the time of year, how big the wedding will be, what the budget is, the brides taste in clothes etc. I want to know as much as possible about the woman I am designing for.

From this information I then draw up initial designs for her to view. Once we have finalised the design and fabric choice the magic begins! I make a pattern to my client’s exact measurements, followed by a ‘toile’, which is a copy of the dress made in calico. At the first fitting this is altered to fit perfectly and allows for any design adjustments to take place before the chosen fabric is cut into.

There are usually a further 4-5 fittings, and at each fitting small alterations will be made to the garment to ensure that the dress or outfit fits like a glove. Some dresses require an in-built corset to keep them secure. This will be made first and the dress is cut to fit over the corset, as a corset will subtly change the woman’s shape whilst still being comfortable to wear. The whole experience of having a dress made is very special and I have become great friends with a number of my clients over the years.

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5. How long should a bride allow for her dress to be made?

I advise allowing at least 6 months to make the dress – the longer the better as it can take a couple of months to source the perfect fabric and then there is the organisation of fittings. I have made dresses with a two month window span and this is possible when the bride and myself are very clear about what we have in mind. Some brides come to see me a year before they are getting married which means the dress can ‘grow’ organically without too much stress. I love to think that my clients are having a lovely time when their dress is being made and the whole experience is a joyful one.

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6. How much, on average, do your bespoke gowns cost?

The average dress costs between £1200 and £1500 to make up excluding fabric, but is very dependent on design and budget.

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Thank you, Catherine, for taking the time to share your wealth of experience and knowledge. If you like the idea of wearing something a little bit different on your wedding day then be sure to check out Catherine’s website here for further information and more examples of her beautiful creations.

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With wedding season fast approaching it’s been super busy over the last few weeks and we’ve been heads down hard at work planning this summer’s weddings. I’m privileged to be working with some wonderful couples and fabulous designs, so I can’t wait to see everything come together on the day. Purple seems to be a particularly popular colour this year, so watch this space for some real-life design boards and more wedding inspiration!

Photo Credit: Flickr

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Our Final Weeks service is the perfect way to ensure you are completely relaxed and ready for your big day. Instead of you running around and getting stressed with last minute arrangements, we take care of everything for you. We’ll visit the venue with you to confirm the set-up for the day, contact suppliers to confirm final details, help you put the last finishing touches to your design, and recommend any suppliers that are still outstanding. We’ll also deliver your decorations to your venue, and will be there on the day to ensure everything runs smoothly.

To be in with a chance of winning, all you need to do is visit An Essex Wedding magazine’s website here and answer a simple question. This competition will also be running in Your Herts and Beds magazine next month. Good luck!

Full details of our Final Weeks service can be found here and details of our Wedding Day Management service here.

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I envisage this wedding taking place in a country house or even a garden marquee. The design is based around all things pretty and feminine, with a touch of vintage style that isn’t too heavy or overpowering. I’ve opted for a soft shade of peach as the main colour, with bridesmaids in duck-egg blue to prevent it becoming too soft and sugary.

Now I know you may be totally aghast at the thought of a peach wedding, but this shade is becoming increasingly popular and is seeing somewhat of a comeback at the moment. If used in the right way it can be a beautiful alternative to pink, which some brides avoid for fear of their wedding feeling too girly.

Floral decorations are a big feature of this wedding design, and I would use loosely styled arrangements in wooden boxes for a more rustic feel, perhaps with the odd birdcage here and there to complement the subtle vintage tone. For additional decor I’d use smatterings of pearls and lace, with soft candlelight providing a romantic backdrop for the ceremony and reception. I imagine guests to enjoy traditional spring-time fare for the wedding breakfast, such as Welsh lamb with minted potatoes, followed by a barn-dance or ceilidh for the evening’s entertainment.

Photo Credits:
Sash: Style Me Pretty
Invitation: Hello! Lucky
Bridesmaid dress: Jim Hjelm
Candles: Not On The High Street
Wedding gown: Pronovias
Bouquet: Rinne Allen via Once Wed
Pearls: Zoom Photography via Style Me Pretty
Centrepiece: Millie Holloman via Style Me Pretty
Macarons: Tartelette
Cake: Nickis Cakes via Style Me Pretty (photography Millie Holloman)

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