How to choose your wedding flowers

Creating truly special wedding flowers

We’ve been working with happy couples in Southampton to plan and create their wedding flowers for many years now.  Whatever the venue, style, or season, we’ll work with you to create something truly special.

Wedding flowers are such an important part of the big day, so make sure you plan well and ask the right questions to ensure the flowers are exactly what you want and suit your budget.

We were absolutely delighted to receive this feedback recently, it perfectly captures our wish to make wedding flowers perfect.  Leanne, who was responsible for the amazing work, really enjoyed creating them.

“You plan your wedding day as a celebration of love & as an extension of yourselves. As a creative minded couple, it seemed clear to us from the start how we envisioned our special day. But as we planned, it became clear how different everyone's visions are (which of course makes the world an exciting place) but meant that some people could not see ours. After a couple of trips to meet with various florists, who had told me my ideas were ‘a bit too different for them' or 'hmm interesting' I felt deflated.

It wasn't until I popped into the Flower shop and met the lovely Leanne, it all changed. We bounced ideas from one another, her creativity shone through and her knowledge of flowers & foliage was second to none. No time was ever too much and the shop was more than happy for me to bring my own ribbons & props for them to work with. You hope on the big day, when the flowers arrive they will be as you imagined; you've put your trust in the florist. They could not have been more perfect. From the button holes (which had various designs) to the bridesmaids flowers and my absolutely stunning bouquet. They weren't just flowers, they were art! I couldn't recommend more, a very reasonably priced, helpful, quality service. Thank you for helping to make our day so magical!”

 

We can’t wait to work with more happy couples in 2018.  We’ll be at the Elite Bridal Fashion Show on 12 January as part of a fantastic event at the lovely Southampton Harbour Hotel. If you’d like to come along you can get tickets via this link.

These are some of the flowers we had on display at our last wedding fair at the Southampton Registry Office. 

 

Questions to ask when planning your wedding flowers

If you can’t make it, why not have a look through our top questions to think about if you are planning your wedding flowers. We originally covered these in our blog post here.

What’s my budget?

Decide this well ahead of the big day, and let your florist know. Perhaps create a ‘must have’ and ‘nice to have’ lists of flowers. This gives your florist a bit more help in making recommendations.

How does my wedding dress affect my choices?

Generally, bigger dresses need bigger flowers to compliment them. Colour-wise, white flowers with green leaves look good with white dresses. If you’re going for cream or ivory dresses then orange, pink or peach colours will work. Remember to choose a bouquet that suits your size too – petite brides will be overwhelmed by a large cascade bouquet.

What flowers do I like?

Do your homework before you start your search for a florist. Find out what’s in season when you get married. Visit markets or local gardens such as Exbury Gardens and Sir Harold Hillier Gardens to get some ideas. Look at colour, but don’t forget perfume. Too much perfume and you’ll be saying ‘atishoo’ rather than ‘I do’ at the altar!

As well as the look and perfume of flowers, think about flowers that have a special meaning for you both: for example the Duchess of Cambridge had Sweet Williams in her bouquet. We’ll be watching with interest when Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle.

What’s my venue like?

Your flowers need to belong in their setting. Wildflowers may not be a great choice for a very formal setting, but could work in a more informal, relaxed venue. Think about your tables. Are they round or square? This will help you decide on your centrepiece arrangements.

Questions to ask your florist

Can I see some examples of your work?

We’re always happy to share our experience and examples of our work with you. Any decent florist will do the same.

What ideas do you have?

A good florist will listen to you and help you make decisions based on your budget. A lot of flowers have similar alternatives that may be in season. As well as flowers, a good florist will provide accessories such as votives or lamps as part of their offer.

How far in advance do I need to order?

Give them time – at least three months. Our record is the day before. We managed to help, but it was far from ideal and very restricting. Not to mention stressful for everyone!

What about the set up the arrangements?

Will the florists be there on the morning of the big day? What is their back up plan in case of illness or emergencies? How long will it take? Is there a maximum distance they will travel?

What are your payment arrangements?

Most florists will want a deposit in advance. We ask for a deposit to secure your spot for the big day.

We’ve been designing wedding flowers for couples in Southampton and the surrounding areas for years. We strive to make it as easy as possible for you to have the wedding flowers you want and help take the stress out of wedding planning. Get in contact with us for a one-to-one consultation and to see more examples of our work. We have a dedicated Facebook page or have a look at our Instagram account for more photos.