The word 'wedding' triggers visions of frothy white dresses, tiered cakes cloaked in white icing, happy couples spilling out of quaint village churches - and, perhaps above all, flowers. Lots and lots of flowers.
Weddings and flowers go way back. In Ancient Greece, brides wore beautiful floral crowns, while both brides and grooms were adorned with garlands of flowers, herbs and spices to symbolise new life and fertility, and ward off evil spirits. Dazzling displays of flowers are a key feature of Indian weddings, and the marriage ceremony closes with the relatives showering flower petals over the bride and groom. In Germany, happy couples clutch candles draped in ribbons and flowers; and in the UK, the centuries-old tradition of flower girls scattering petals along the path to the church was thought to bring good luck.
Natalie J Watts
Today, in a world where weddings are bursting with details, from lanterns to photo booths, vintage props to ice cream vans, flowers still play a monumental role. From seasonality to symbolism, such an integral aspect of the wedding demands some careful consideration. We've enlisted the wisdom of some floral experts to inspire your very own floral fantasia.
THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS
A vision of your dream wedding flowers might be perfectly formed in your mind: the shape, the colour, the heady scent. But the appeal of flowers lies beyond their prettiness and perfume. Your choice of flowers can tell the story of your relationship, evoke childhood memories, represent a departed loved one and allude to family traditions. "I get couples to ask themselves pertinent questions in order that their flowers aren't just pretty, but are something they will remember forever, such as 'What did your mothers have in their bouquets?' 'What's in the family gardens?' 'Did you have something on the table at grandma's?' 'What were the first flowers he bought you?'" says florist Laura Hingston (laurahingstonflowers.com).
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Flourish
Such questions prompt a thought process whereby the couple reflect on their lives and the experiences that have brought them together. "I always ask if there is a 'special' flower between the bride and groom," says florist Emma Hewlett (emmahewlett.co.uk). "More often than not, that question sparks a nice memory for them and helps lead the way with their flowers."
Jenny Stone of Jenny Rose Flowers (jennyroseflowers.co.uk) has observed brides recalling the sights and scents of their early childhood to choose their wedding flowers: "Many of my brides have opted for romantic country style flowers associated with the memory of their grandparents' gardens." As well as the visual triggers, scent can be incredibly evocative in stirring memories, and one which brides are growing ever more aware of, as Jenny has discovered: "Scent seems to be an increasingly important factor, with brides asking for flowers and herbs that evoke personal memories."
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Flourish
This process often inspires couples to get green-fingered. "Some brides decide to include family flowers in their bouquet and I advise on how to cut and condition them," says Laura. "There is nothing more special than visiting a grandparent and seeing your bouquet bloom!"
Flowers can also be a powerful and poignant way of representing a departed loved one. "When a bride tells me that she has lost someone close to her that she would have liked to have been at the wedding, I always offer to put rosemary in the bouquet as this means 'remembrance'," says florist Amanda Randell (amandarandell.co.uk). "I sometimes wire a photograph onto the handle of the bouquet or even tuck it down into the flowers; sometimes I'll light a candle next to a picture of them at the reception." Clusters of dainty forget-me-nots are also a favourite for such an occasion.
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Laura recalls one of her brides, Emily, who was very conscious of the absence of her father, whom she had lost to cancer, as she approached her wedding. "He loved bird of paradise flowers. As they didn't fit with the Midsummer Night's Dream theme of the wedding, we decided to hide them: one was at the entrance to the wood when she walked in, one was placed on her chair and one was by the dance floor for her first dance. She told us later that it had made her shed the happiest tears as her dad was everywhere!"
Incorporating jewellery or trinkets belonging to your loved one into the bouquet is a pretty way of cherishing their memory and personalising your petals. "One of our brides had a beautiful antique brooch belonging to her late mum attached to the handle of her bouquet; another had her late grandfather's pocket watch attached to the ribbon of her bouquet," says Jenny. "Consider using a vintage scarf or piece of material from your mother's or grandmother's wedding dress wrapped around the handle of your bouquet."
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Flourish
Not only do such details carry the memory of a loved one throughout your day, they serve as a beautifully meaningful 'something borrowed.'
For further personalisation, consider any detail that stirs memories or sparks warm, fuzzy feelings between you and your fiance. "Perhaps my favourite was being given a dress to cut up for ribbon because it was their first date dress and he loved her in it!" comments Laura. Meaningful trinkets and motifs or hidden messages may lurk between the petals of your centerpieces too. "I love making parchment ribbons out of tea stained parchment that I write messages on: personal loves notes, song lyrics, famous quotes or one-liners. I wrap them through arrangements, which is interesting for the guests to read," says Laura.
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The Paper Florist
The symbolic meaning of flowers can add another rich layer of significance to your wedding flowers. The Victorians gifted flowers to convey certain emotions and qualities, such as violet for faithfulness, daisy for innocence and tulip for hopeless love. It is a tradition that some brides - such as a certain Catherine Middleton - are embracing with renewed vigour.
The language of flowers played an integral role at the Royal Wedding. The symbolic flowers of the British Isles embellished the lace of the Duchess of Cambridge's Alexander McQueen gown, while she chose lily of the valley for her bouquet both for its symbolic meaning 'you have made my life complete', and the fact that it featured in her mother's wedding bouquet. She complemented the dainty white bells with sweet William in homage to her husband-to-be.
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The Paper Florist
Laura would like to see this movement taken to the next level: "I would love flower bouquets to hark back to the Victorian times when the groom would pick the bridal bouquet to reflect the qualities of his true love. How I wish more lads would rise to that!"
While it might take a brave groom to accept responsibility for choosing the blooms for the bridal bouquet, many grooms are taking an active role in designing a statement buttonhole. A cluster of flowers, which reflects the groom's heritage, is a popular choice: "A groom with Scottish ancestry might opt for a traditional eryngium (thistle style flower) or could accessorise his buttonhole with tartan ribbon," suggests Jenny. Grooms seeking something a little different from a classic floral buttonhole are combining blooms with feathers, pinwheels, buttons and even Lego characters to pretty up their suits with a splash of personality.
The Paper Florist
PRET-A-PETAL
Think beyond the bouquet and consider creative ways of accessorising your gown with flowers, perhaps extending the petal prettiness to the hair, necks or wrists of the bridal party.
A floral headdress makes for a striking statement. Consider a crown of bold blooms for a beautifully boho vibe or make like Keira Knightley and don a simple daisy chain. "Ask your florist to create a feminine floral crown of scented jasmine trails for an alternative look," advises Jenny. A single bloom or a series of dainty flowers woven into the hair can look equally effective. "A striking orchid or simple rosebuds can make a fabulous accessory for your gown. Ask your florist to wire individual blooms for your hairdresser to easily attach on the day," advises Jenny.
Seeking an alternative to the traditional bouquet for your bridesmaids? Consider teaming the frocks with beautiful floral necklaces. "These could be made from roses, succulents, orchids or other blooms that last well out of water," advises Jenny. "Wrist corsages are another popular alternative to a bridesmaid bouquet," adds Emma.
MATERIAL GIRL
There was a time when the alternative to fresh flowers were dust-collecting, plastic eyesores. Not anymore. There's now some fabulously creative ways to make a floral statement without using real flowers. Flowers fashioned from silk and even paper are striking a chord for brides seeking a long-lasting memento.
Devon-based company Flourish (withaflourish.co.uk) supplies beautiful silk floral arrangements to hire or buy. From dazzling arches of silken petals to bouquets, buttonholes, bay trees and centrepieces, the top quality silk blooms can be tailored entirely to your colour scheme and wedding style, whether it's fresh-from-the-hedgerow rustic or high-octane glamour.
Brides with a penchant for paper pretty will love the handiwork of Exeter-based The Paper Florist (thepaperflorist.co.uk). Kat Thomas fashions exquisite origami florals from high quality paper, which make for striking works of art to treasure. The potential for personalisation is endless: you might choose pages from your favourite books, love poems or even a map of a special place.
BLOOMS ON A BUDGET
If your budget is more garage gerbera than floral fantasy, fret not. Our floristry experts have some top tips for fabulous flowers that won't break the bank.
"Keep it simple. You don't have to use every bloom under the sun to make your flowers look beautiful. Sometimes less is more." Emma Hewlett
"Keep it seasonal! In season flowers are not only better quality but are far more cost-effective, allowing your budget to go further." Jenny Rose
"Look at ways of making the most of your flowers. Can the church/ceremony flowers double up as table centrepieces?" Emma Hewlett
"Think outside the box. Beautiful table and venue flowers don't have to mean large displays of expensive flowers. Consider using long branches of cherry blossom or willow from family and friends' gardens in vintage jugs for a striking yet simple arrangement or, in autumn, use red and brown leaves, berries, seed heads and fir cones to decorate your venue." Jenny Rose
"Use less flowers. Two or three individual blooms are often far more effective, and their beauty can be truly appreciated. That way you can still have your peony and its beauty isn't lost by being crammed next to seven more!" Laura Hingston
"Do you have a space to grow some of your own flowers or herbs? Try your hand at growing a few special flowers for your own table centrepieces or ask a green-fingered friend or family member to help." Jenny Rose
"Visit local growers - such as myself - who can point you in a good direction and introduce you to unusual varieties of flowers that will fall within your budget." Laura Hingston
"Consider a beautiful yet simple wrist corsage for your bridesmaids instead of more expensive bouquets." Jenny Rose
INTO FLORA
Extend the floral theme to your stationery. Embellished with ditsy floral motifs, this sweet stationery from Knots and Kisses evokes a fresh-from-a-spring-garden vibe from the first clatter of the letterbox.
www.knotsandkisses.co.uk
JEWEL PURPOSE
Handcrafted by talented jeweller Victoria Walker, these exquisite 'seed-pod' lockets make covetable gifts for bridesmaids and gorgeous accessories for a floral-fabulous wedding. The ingenious kinetic design means your tiny bloom of choice - be it rose, poppy, lotus or daisy - emerges and unfolds from within the locket.
www.vwjewellery.co.uk
VA VA BLOOM
Bright zesty colours bring instant energy and opulence to a wedding. A perky palette of fruity orange, hot pink and pops of purple paints a cheery, summery picture, as this merry medley of tulips, peonies, ranunculi, roses and veronica demonstrates.
Emma Hewlett
emmahewlett.co.uk
SOFTLY DOES IT
Weave a heady and helplessly romantic floral fairytale with a palette of subtle shades. Here, peonies in the palest shades of peach and pink are speckled with dainty blooms of nigella and aquilegia flowers, and framed with heuchera leaves and copper beech.
Laura Hingston
www.laurahingstonflowers.com
OH SO PRETTY!
Evoke visions of enchanting secret gardens with wildly beautiful arrangements that pop with colour and spill from an eclectic assortment of china jugs and vintage bottles. This elegant blend of soft peach, fresh green and tangerine, laced with pinks and delicate pops of blue, makes the quintessential country-chic statement.
Joanna Game
www.joannagameflowers.com
words Rebecca Matthews
Copyright WED magazine 2013
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