Wedding Flowers Devon - Pretty Petals

As well as expressing a sense of individual style, floral arrangements are a key factor in conveying your wedding theme or colour scheme. Then there's the scent; from sweet lily of the valley to spicy chrysanthemum, the scent of your blooms can really add to the ambience of a wedding.

Let Wed get you started with our tips from some of Devon's foremost florists.

Think bespoke
Choose designs that mean something to you. A bride recently confessed to liking leopard print and that she had chosen shoes and underwear in the print. So I used leopard print ribbon on the handle of her bouquet and around her cake. Amanda Randell

Incorporate brooches, lace or pieces with sentimental value that belong to a special relative such as your grandmother. Not only is vintage fashionable, a family heirloom will be a totally unique feature. Choose a flower that is special to you - maybe a flower that reminds you of your mother or a flower that was in the first bouquet your fiance ever gave you. You could even choose flowers from your garden or your mother's garden; just a couple of sprigs could give a bouquet real meaning. Flowers Going Green 


I ask my brides if they have a favourite type of flower or colour and also if anybody important to them had any particular favourites. Brides often use the favourite of a grandmother who has passed away. I would advise against following fashion, which is ever changing. This is your wedding day and you will look back on it for years to come; make sure your flowers reflect who you are and what you really love. Joanna Game

Think budget
The greatest expense is usually all the table decorations - you can cut costs almost in half by using plants instead of flower arrangements, which will still make great gifts at the end of the evening. Amanda Randell

Choosing flowers that are in season and locally produced will help keep your costs down. If you're on a tight budget, tell your florist. A good florist will suggest an abundance of ideas that will not only look stunning but will work within your budget. Also, ask about doubling up the designs by using them in more than one location throughout the day. You can transport a lot of arrangements from different rooms or venues so they can be used twice. Flowers Going Green

You can achieve stunning table centrepieces with a single bloom if you have the right vessel. This takes very little time for your florist and time is often the most expensive aspect of the arrangement. It is better to have one really great display in the right place than lots of small ones. Joanna Game

Think seasonal
SPRING
Anemone
Daffodil
Freesia
Lily of the Valley
Ranunculus
Hyacinth
Tulip

SUMMER
Rose
Lily
Lavender
Peony
Sunflower
Magnolia
Sweet pea
Chrysanthemum

AUTUMN
Rose
Gerbera
Orchid
Dahlia
Calla lily
Hydrangea
Gladiolus

WINTER
Hyacinth
Tulip
Freesia
Amaryllis
Euphorbia
Rose

Think shape
The most important factor in choosing your bouquet is that it is comfortable to hold. If you have weak wrists, for example, then a slim handle and a perfectly weighted bouquet will be easier to hold and not cause any discomfort. There are lots of styles to choose from and a good florist will be watching the trends for you.
Amanda Randell

The shape and style of the bouquet will be largely dictated by factors such as the dress, theme, colour scheme and venue. Have all this information at the ready when visiting your florist. A good florist will have an abundance of creative ideas that will suit you and your wedding. Flowers Going Green 
 


It is important that the shape and style of your bridal bouquet complements your height, figure and style of dress. For example, if you are a tiny person, don't swamp yourself with a huge bouquet of flowers. Joanna Game

Think trends
Romance seems the key: floaty styles, butterflies, birdcages, woodland and natural-inspired arrangements and anything that trails seem to be very popular at the moment. Next year, bouquets will be trailing, really natural and British! Home growers are currently experiencing a resurgence. Amanda Randell

We are still seeing a strong revival in retro themes. A lot of brides are choosing vintage tea sets and recycled jam jars combined with flowers to give that quintessentially English country look. Classic English flowers such as peonies and hydrangeas are very popular - a trend that looks set to continue over the next 12 months. Flowers Going Green

I think different and interesting colour combinations will become more fashionable. An increasing number of brides are requesting seasonal flowers, which are grown locally. I also see wild, less-structured arrangements becoming more fashionable. Joanna Game



Wedding flowers Devon

This spectacular centrepiece makes a creative statement of chic, contemporary style.
Amanda Randell
01822 833930 www.randellcox.co.uk


Wedding flowers Devon

A pop of vibrant colour adds a modern twist to this vision of soft blues and greens. Utilising an array of cornflowers, hydrangeas and dahlias fresh from her cutting garden, Joanna Game's arrangements ooze a rustic and romantic vibe.
Joanna Game
01647 231657 www.joannagameflowers.com



Wedding flowers Devon

This fabulous fusion of English country garden flowers blends creams, pinks and lilacs to oh so pretty effect. Crowned with a series of candles, this centrepiece sets the perfect romantic ambience.
Flowers Going Green
01822 854840 www.flowersgoinggreen.com


Wedding flowers photographed at Hotel Endsleigh, Milton Abbot, Tavistock
01822 870000 www.hotelendsleigh.com
Photography by Andrew Coulter
05601 711335 www.acoulter-photography.co.uk
 
words Rebecca Matthews

Wedding flowers in Devon
Copyright WED Magazine 2011