Wedding Florist Advice and Tips

The third in the ‘Find Your Perfect…’ series could well be the most Pintrest friendly! It is the all important florists who make every wedding day explode with colour! I have two superb florists imparting their knowledge and experience with you today:

Sarah from Tilda Rose Floristry which is floral design company based in Taunton offers a bespoke wedding flower service across Somerset and the South West. They create lush and natural garden inspired wedding and event flowers from their garden studio. Tilda Rose Floristry has a bespoke service which ensures that they work closely with clients to create designs that are both special to you and your occasion and that suit your personality and budget.

I am also delighted to welcome Rachel from The Rose Shed who is a luxury wedding and event florist covering Bristol, Bath, the Cotswolds and Somerset. Rachel works with couples who are wanting natural, elegant and romantic florals and who see flowers as a key part in their big day.

What things do I need to consider when choosing flowers for my wedding?

The Rose Shed: Think about the season you are getting married in, as some flowers that are popular such as peonies, are only available in a certain season. If you have your heart set on carrying peonies down the aisle, then you need to get married between late April and July! Your florist will be able to advise the most beautiful flowers that will be in season on your wedding date, as each season has it’s own unique beauties.

Tilda Rose Floristry: Firstly, you need to consider the flowers that you like; those that bring a smile to your face or any flowers that have a special meaning to you, perhaps a flower that evokes a special memory of a person, time or a place. It is also important to know which flowers are in season at the time of your wedding. I personally like to use locally grown flowers wherever possible rather than flying in unseasonal blooms, keeping your carbon footprint low as possible. It also means floral arrangements will sit more naturally in their setting echoing what is growing outside at the time of your wedding.

Your budget will also determine the number and types of arrangements that you may opt for. It’s always good to visit the venue with your florist; they can offer ideas and recommend arrangements that can be used for the ceremony and then reused for the reception. Some flowers lend themselves better to a certain type of arrangement, for example some flowers work better out of water than others.

Have an idea of the look and vibe you are after, this will also help determine your choice of flowers, but be guided by the pro who can suggest flowers that works well together to achieve your desired look.

How do I choose a flower colour scheme?

Tilda Rose Floristry: Most importantly don’t overthink this and make it too contrived. Consider what season it is - for example pastel and neutrals generally work well in spring and richer, moodier colours work well in the autumn. Consider colours that compliment each other well; typically a balance of warm, bold colours and cool, complimentary shades - This will mean the overall look is balanced and will also photograph well. Think about the interior of the venue - is it a blank canvas or have you got a colourful patterned carpet to contend with?

The Rose Shed: Colour schemes can be affected by lots of things such as your bridesmaids dresses, whether your venue has a particular colour that you are wanting to work with, your favourite flowers that you are planning to use? Flowers come in so many different colours and varieties so start by picking out certain ones that you are drawn too and you can discuss with your florist, whether you want to keep your colour palette more simple and tonal, or whether you can bring in additional colours and more bolder shades. The options are endless!

Does a style of bouquet suit a particular style of wedding dress?

The Rose Shed: When discussing bridal bouquets I always ask my brides what their dress is like, if you have a more simple elegant or boho style dress than you can definitely carry a bigger, wilder, looser bouquet with lots of texture. Yet if your dress is more embellished, or has a larger/fuller skirt, then perhaps a more rounder, less wilder bouquet would work better.

Tilda Rose Floristry: You definitely need to make sure the bouquet doesn’t drown, unbalance or hide any detail in dress. Gentle cascading bouquets have been very popular but if all the detail of the dress is in the skirt the this my not be the best option for you. Hand tied bouquets are still the most popular as they can be designed in a variety of styles and sizes: they can be quite wild and organic or rounder and more restrained, big or small.

What other floral elements are available, besides the bouquet, button hole and table arrangements?

Tilda Rose Floristry: Focal arrangements for the ceremony or reception - large urns of flowers, floral or foliage arches, mantle piece arrangements, hanging installations as well as cake flowers, bud vases of flowers for nooks and crannies, aisle ends, registry table arrangements… it really depends on the look you are after, the venue and of course your budget. Finding dual purposes for arrangements for both the ceremony and reception is the key to getting the best value.

The Rose Shed: We are used to dressing venues with huge archways, marquees with hanging installations, barns with big floral pillars and bringing trees in! We have even dressed some alpacas with floral garlands.. there is not much in weddings that we haven’t covered in flowers! Think about where you will be spending most of your time, do you want to create something spectacular for your ceremony, which guests can enjoy afterwards as a photo opportunity!? Or is there a certain wall/area of your venue that needs a big vase of flowers to add interest to that part of the room?

If I suffer from hayfever what are the best options for wedding flowers?

The Rose Shed: Avoid grasses or flowers that are heavy pollenated! Most of my flowers come from Holland and they are commercially grown, so tend to not have heavy pollen, the more British, country garden style flowers may affect you more slightly, but tell your florist and they can avoid using certain flowers.

Tilda Rose Floristry: Along with the many different types of foliage that can add so much interest texture and shape to your arrangements, popular wedding flower varieties that shouldn’t make you sneeze are roses, peonies, dahlias, hydrangeas, sweetpeas, snap dragons, astrantia, eryngium and tulips.

What can I do with my flowers after the big day?

Tilda Rose Floristry: There are a few specialist companies that will preserve flowers for you either drying them as a whole or making them into keep sakes. If you are DIYing you can press part of or the whole of the bouquet and then frame or add to scrap books. You can also try drying the whole bouquet your self by hanging upside down in a dry temperate space.

The Rose Shed: Make sure you give your flowers away to family and friends so they can enjoy them for a few days afterwards! I always leave glass vases for your bouquets to sit in during your wedding breakfast, so this ensures they have a drink and can keep them as fresh as they can be! Lots of couples can preserve certain flowers having them pressed into frames, or set into jewellery which is a really lovely keepsake.

Any other tips or advice?

The Rose Shed: Find a florist who’s style you love and are drawn too, there are lots of florists who have different styles so you want to get in touch with one who’s style and personality resonates with you! Follow them on social media and check through their recent work and weddings, this will give you lots of floral inspiration, check out the level of experience your florist has and whether they are the one for you.

Tilda Rose Floristry: When choosing a florist, like any of your wedding suppliers, personal recommendations from friends or venues are always a good starting point. Then check out their website or instagram page to see if their style suits you. Arrange a meeting or phone call to chat through your ideas, most florists offer a free initial consultation, you’ll soon be able to tell whether they are right one for you.