A romantic pastel palette at Hamswell House

Photographer https://www.cbourgeoisphotography.co.uk/ (all images shown below are by Christophe)

Venue https://www.hamswellhouse.co.uk/

Marquee https://www.bathmarquees.co.uk/

Catering https://www.samskitchenevents.co.uk/

Hair http://www.louisealway.com/

Make up https://www.instagram.com/mollyjanemakeup_/?hl=en

Dress https://www.alexandragrecco.com/ from stockist https://lovelybride.com/stores/london-bridal-shop/

Candles and props https://www.rusticrentals.co.uk/

Plate and cutlery https://countrycrockeryhire.com/

Cake - a friend

Stationary - The Bride

This was a wedding that felt so relaxed and so warm with so many friendly helpful faces. We found out on our second meeting that our parents were neighbours when we were little which was such a lovely surprise and just added to that feeling of being connected.

The colours were a dreamy pastel palette of Peaches, Pinks and Blues creating a graceful, elegant, informal look. Taking inspiration from a garden in July we incorporated Roses, Peonies and those delicate garden details. Nothing was to be 'fixed' and instead a feeling of lightness and calm flowed throughout.

Limited foliages in the bouquet and table designs let the blousey fragranced blooms be fully appreciated with textures led by nature so that everything looked just that little bit different.

The ceiling of the marquee was to be full of greenery and gave the feeling of an English tea party adding a lovely cool feel to the White marquee

Planning and budget

Blousy Roses were mixed with Peonies along with garden textured flowers like Nigella, Sweet Peas Phlox and Scabious. The tables had a mixture of stem bottle vases and low cut glass trifle bowls. Brass candlesticks from Rustic Rentals created different heights and interest.

Requirements included, Bouquets, flower girls crowns, buttonholes, trestle tables for 144 people, cake flowers and the ceiling foliage installation. Budget needed approx £3000 (prices correct as of 2022)

You can see videos that I took on the day of Lydia and Toms wedding by clicking here through to my instagram page https://www.instagram.com/p/CiPjpR2j0ri/

Spring flower shoot

Photographer @rubywalkerphoto_

Design, Concept and Styling @elizabethweddings_

Dress @rosesavagebridal

Menswear @clifton_suits

Makeup and Hair @bathbridalhair

Headpieces and earrings @hermioneharbutt

Veil @rebeccaannedesigns

Models @bethanykyle_ and Eli

Cakes @sarahmcnallycakes

Stationary @bayandblossomdesign

Ribbons @thebotanicaldyer

Cutlery, glasses and plates @luxemywedding

Chairs @archersmarqueesltd

Venue @parkweddingsbath

Spring flowers are so incredibly exciting after a cold Winter so when Elizabeth asked last May if I could supply some flowers for a shoot I of course jumped at the opportunity!

I’m always amazed by how robust Spring flowers can be whist offering such a delicate look with their fluffy almost see through petals. They offer optimism, positivity and a bright fun effervescence for life!

My garden only has some bright Red and Yellow tulips to offer. Left overs from a previous owner that I can’t bear to rip out because they’re some of the first life and, if I get over the ‘in your face’ colour, they do definitely bring a smile! Local growers however thankfully offer some more modern pastel colours which is what I used here.

The Peachy corals and pale Mauves created a delicate soft feel with the touches of Black in the centre of the Anemone and the ribbon adding to a modern twist which I really love.

So many wonderful suppliers created this beautiful vision but it was all pulled together by @elizabethwedding_ with the gorgeous photos taken by @rubywalker_

I hope that you enjoy them as much as I do

xx

Spring wedding at Temple of Minerva, Bath

Spring wedding at the Temple of Minerva, Bath

Spring wedding at Temple of Minerva, Bath

Spring wedding at Temple of Minerva, Bath

How to choose the right florist for your wedding

As with anything creative, each florist will have their own style and the best way to know if they’re right for you is to start with their website. The pictures and the writing should speak to you. You might not be able to find exactly what it is that you want, you might not know what you want but you should feel connected and a warmth with it.

The next step is to have a nose at their social media pages. In this modern world, I have alot more pictures on instagram and pinterest than I do on my website. On my instagram page you’ll find lots of pictures of weddings that I have done and if you look on the story highlights (the circles at the top of the grid) then you’ll get to know me a little more and your venue if it’s one that I regularly decorate. My own Pinterest account is a little different to instagram in that it isn’t only my work but also a feel for what inspires me. The easiest way to find my board is to click on the link at the bottom of my website. At the top of the page you’ll see four boards that are created by me with photos of my own work for you to look through. Underneath you’ll find inspiration boards which will again give you a feel about what I love.

If you like what you see then get in touch with that florist. Send them an email to ask if they are available on your day. It also really helps in this initial message to confirm your venue and if you know it, your budget. If you have any details about the arrangements that you know you’d like, tell them. If you’ve seen any pictures you like, send them.

This is the really important bit……you do not have to have pinterest boards or know flower names! If you like a florists website and flower style then get in touch to check they’re available on your date and arrange a consultation. They will take it from there!

https://www.copper-green.co.uk/

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/coppergreenflowers/_saved/

https://www.instagram.com/coppergreenflowers/

How to choose the right wedding flowers for you

Some people know exactly what flowers they love and want on their day but most of us have no idea.  If this is you and you don’t know where to begin then start with Pinterest.  It is so visual and so easy to use.  Just open an account and type in some search words, like ‘rustic wedding bouquet’ or ‘earthy autumn tones’.  Then start collating lots of images into a board, anything that catches your eye that you like.  Consider your life, your home, your clothes, What colours draw you in and make your heart smile?  It doesn’t have to just be wedding related because it can all help to build a picture of what you want even if you don’t know it yet. 

A few days later go back to that board and take out anything that doesn’t flow with the feeling of everything else there.  Please don’t worry about what the flowers are called, that is the florists job. They will take the inspiration from your pictures and create it in their style.

This is what will give you those flowers that will feel uniquely you and that you will love forever.

Here are a few images that I’ve saved in one of my pinterest boards named ‘Botanical Green’

Autumn flower shoot

Photography https://www.aimeelaoisephotography.com/

Model https://www.instagram.com/_catherinehudson/?hl=en

Make up https://byannabella.co.uk/

Hair https://www.abigailconstanza.com/

Flowers https://www.copper-green.co.uk/

When a photographer as amazing as Aimee Laoise contacts you and asks if you’ll provide some flowers for a shoot. You do it! And when she said that it would be at Stockhill woods then I jumped for joy as it’s one of my most favourite places to be.

There are two different types of shoots in this industry, ones that are for promoting how amazing wedding suppliers are and to show off what your wedding could be like and the other is a very inspired process, bringing alive something that feels completely different to what you may normally do. A creative vision!

I hope that you enjoy these photos as much as I do.

Autumn flower shoot. Photos by https://www.aimeelaoisephotography.com/

Autumn flower shoot. Photos by https://www.aimeelaoisephotography.com/

Autumn flower shoot. Photos by https://www.aimeelaoisephotography.com/

Autumn flower shoot. Photos by https://www.aimeelaoisephotography.com/

Autumn flower shoot. Photos by https://www.aimeelaoisephotography.com/

Autumn flower shoot. Photos by https://www.aimeelaoisephotography.com/

Wow, what a Summer of weddings 2021 was!

A Summer filled with love and happiness and parties! I have never seen so many photos from couples full of so much dancing and partying. I guess that’s what happens when you are reminded how precious life is.

I would love to blog every wedding that I’ve done this year but well, it’s just been too busy

I have the best couples. Fact! Each and Everyone of them have been so wonderful to work with and I really can’t thank them enough. Here’s just a small peek at some fabulous ones!

An Enchanted Dream at Pennard House

A magical June wedding at Pennard House

Victoria and Sam, what a wonderful couple and what an amazing wedding to have the pleasure to work on. Some weddings get you so excited as a florist and this was one of them!

They had a strong vision when they first came to talk to me and there was an underlying theme of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ with lots of foliages and everything looking natural and magical.

Pennard House worked as the perfect backdrop and as Victoria said herself ‘gave us the perfect balance of a bohemian venue with tipis, fields and forest, with the elegance and convenience of the house and coach house for the reception’.

Everything that they wanted fitted perfectly with the style of floristry that I love to create. Lots of bushy foliages to give an intimate and cosy feel mixed with rambling garden flowers and touches of wild looking flowers.

Victorias sense of style pulled everything together with antique brass candlesticks complimenting my gold mercury vases, gold tipped White feathers and wildflower favours on the tables, a mountain of fairy lights and a dreamy huge mirror as the table plan, oh and the most stunning table name cards that I’ve seen to date!

The weather on the day was a rollercoaster. One minute it was boiling hot and the next it was torrential rain which made deciding whether to place the ceremony flowers inside or out a bit tricky but, Victoria was adamant that she wanted to marry outside, so on the morning of the wedding we stuck with the decision to ‘flower up’ the pavillion at Pennard and wow, what a perfect decision to make. The incredible and unique photos by Tom Halliday say it all. I am so lucky to do flowers for such amazing couples!

Planning details

‘Quicksand’ Roses complimented the pale sage Green of the bridesmaids dresses and were mixed with various textured dainty wild looking flowers and lots of foliages. The touch of Blue in the Nigella just added that little something extra.

Victoria looked like a goddess in her crown and there was much discussion about it being ‘not too big and not too small’

They had bouquets, buttonholes, hair crowns, table flowers, ceremony flowers, stair flowers and reception foliage installations. Budget required £2500 - £3000.

You can find more details and photos on the ‘love my dress’ page

Pastel Nudes at Wick Farm

May wedding with a pastel palette of Pinks, Peaches and Nudes at Wick Farm, Bath

There isn’t much that doesn’t work at Wick Farm but this colour scheme of palest Pinks and Greys gave a real soft elegance. It is one that was done a few years ago but I still enjoy looking at the photos now.

The foliages used were mainly silvery Greys with Mint, Eucalyptus, and one of my favourites ‘Stachys Byzantina’. It’s common name is Lambs ear and it has the most decadent appearance with the softest feel. At this time of year before it flowers it is just wonderful.

The Groom was from New Zealand and so wanted a fern included in his buttonhole. We used Asparagus fern which gave a wispy look along with Helichrysum to add the silver colour.

The cake, they would say was a disaster, I would say was amazing. Unlike today the temperature was hot, really hot. A family member had made it and the cream filling just melted in the heat but I loved it looking like that!

The alcove at Wick Farm is bigger than people initially think and it needs something big to decorate it. The old cream milk churn is a firm favourite that lots of couples choose to fit in with the barn setting and fill the space.

Planning details

An abundance of Roses including the beautifully fragranced David Austin ‘Juliet’ sit with Stocks and a little wax flower. The mix of textured foliages and the fluffy Astilbe allow a quite neat bouquet to look more relaxed and stop it looking too ‘dome’ shaped.

The light airy feel of the photography by Kerry Bartlett really suits the colour scheme and gives the feeling of a lovely long hazy Summer.

They had bouquets, buttonholes, table flowers of jam jars, cake flowers and the alcove arrangement. Budget required £700 - £900.

Spring wedding at Hamswell House

Glorious May wedding at Hamswell House

Laura and Jonathans wedding was one of those that you know you are going to completely enjoy putting together. They came to me via a recommendation from Hamswell House and it was one of those weddings that you didn’t want to have to wait a year to do!

Their ceremony was being held at The Assembly Rooms and they very sensibly decided to put their money into one focal flower feature rather than some chair ends and a smaller signing table arrangement. Your ceremony is going to be where most of your photos are taken so although it’s lovely for the guests to be able to enjoy flowers on the chairs, I always recommend focussing your money where the photos that will end up on your walls are being taken.

We opted for a split arch to suit the shaping of the pillars in the room and what a magnificent room it is. We also discussed moving it after the ceremony back to Hamswell House. This option isn’t always feasible but because Hamswell House has so much space it worked effortlessly. I’m so pleased that we made it work because it made for some incredible photos both at the ceremony and back at Hamswell House.

The marquee was dressed with lots of greenery and a central chandelier of hanging foliages above the couples table whilst the guest ones were kept elegant with a gold mercury vase that looked so beautiful with the Cappuccino colours.

Hamswell House is one of those dream venues where there is plenty of space and time for both yourselves and also for your suppliers and I cannot recommend it enough if you’re looking.

Planning

Roses were the main feature of this wedding. ‘Cappuccino’ and ‘Cafe Latte’ Roses supplied both the warm colour and the incredible fragrance. They were mixed with a few touches of White Wax flower and Stocks. Then alot of mixed foliages giving a strong background.

They had bouquets, buttonholes, table flowers, marquee dressing and the split archway. Budget required £1800 - £2000.

The incredible photos were taken by James Fear photography (click for info)

Amazing venue is Hamswell House (click for info)

Ceremony was at The Assembly Rooms, Bath (click for info)

Spring wedding at Orchardleigh House, Somerset

An opulent April Spring wedding

Ellie came to me by recommendation which is always great! They had chosen Orchardleigh House because of how many guests you can have to stay overnight. They originally wanted to marry in the Church within the grounds but their guest list soon grew and so they changed to Lullington Church instead.

Ellie changed her mind quite a few times about the scheme. Infact I think she completely changed about three times and when I say changed, I don’t mean added a flower or colour, I mean dramatically changed from bright colours to deep colours to eventually Whites and Greens! It can make for a tough decision when you like so many things and Pinterest shows so many options but I often say to look at your home. Is it full of minimal chic styles? Is every room a different colour? When you look at paints are you more drawn to Greens? What about the seasons? Which is your favourite?

She wanted lots of decoration and we were able to also add in some beautiful textures from the garden like Solomans Seal which have a lovely arching shape. They didn’t want to spend too much money in the Church but wanted a statement piece for photos so we opted for a simple delicate arch for them to marry under. As it was late April, the days were getting longer but they could still be dark at times so we included tealights within the table flowers to feel atmospheric and cosy.

Ivy garlands on the pillars and big statement fireplace arrangements helped to bring the room in because she wanted lower arrangements on the tables. The Gold mercury vases matched the opulence of the room and the decor.

They were such a fun and lovely couple to work with and I completely enjoyed being a part of their wedding.

Planning

Roses were mixed with Ranunculus, Lilac, Viburnum and Spirea

They had bouquets, buttonholes, table flowers, staircase installation, Ivy garlands on the pillars, fireplace arrangements and a Church arch. Budget required approx £2700 - £3000.

All the stunning photos below are by Lucy Tanner