Your Herts & Beds Wedding - Feb/Mar 2019 (Issue 72)

FLOWERS 75  Local florists share their floral know-how W hen it comes to your wedding flowers, you automatically think about the bouquet, but you can do so much more – all you need is a bit of inspiration and the sky’s the limit. Our experts advise on bringing your blooms to life on your special day… CATHERINE ELWORTHY, ELWORTHY FLOWERS The bridal bouquet’s often seen for the shortest amount of time. I’d advise to leave a few spare vases at the reception in key areas where your bouquets can be displayed in all their glory. Sometimes it’s hard to know where to start, so opt for your favourites and go from there. Do your research and share your ideas with your florist. Showing images of what you like can really help them to understand your preferences. Consider using seasonal, locally-grown blooms. Not only is this more ecologically friendly, but flowers should be fresher and can be handpicked to get the best blooms. IN BLOOM SHANE MAPLE, MAPLES FLOWERS I love the more foliage, fewer flowers look. Keep your bouquet lose and free-flowing and use more statement flowers such as David Austin roses. I’d tie that with lots of stylish ribbon in velvet and lace in different colours to suit your theme. For your bridesmaid posies, opt for a more compact look still using foliage but more flowers allowing the bridal bouquet to stand out. KIMBERLEY HOLLINSHEAD, THE FLOWER BOUTIQUE Shades of pink and pastel colours are always a firm favourite, but it’s fun to use different tones of the same shade to bring interest to the arrangements. I like to add white or blush tones, as it makes the focal colour stand out. Being the pantone colour of the year for 2019, coral will filter through at the end of spring. If you’re looking for a more traditional style with a modern twist, create a relaxed shape by having lots of lush greenery; mixed eucalyptus, hedera berry and soft ruscus. HELEN SAVVA, BURGEON FLORAL DESIGN Our most popular design for a bridal bouquet is a garden-style posy that includes garden roses, freesias, hydrangeas, peonies and eucalyptus. The rose is far from boring, particularly when it comes to colour, style and texture as there’s more than 3,000 varieties grown all year round. Peony at its best has an amazing strong perfume and bright colour. Bouquets made solely of peonies can be gorgeous. BEAUTIFUL BOUQUET