HOT TOPIC Stellar wedmin advice from those in the know WINTER’S NATURAL BEAUTY We can’t wait for our winter-themed wedding, but the flowers are worrying me a little. What’s available at this time of year and what would you suggest to tie them in with our theme? Having access to wholesalers widens our variety of flowers in the winter, if the seasonal options aren’t enough. So there’s really nothing to worry about for a winter wedding. Although, I do tend to use seasonal flowers and foliage from here in the UK, because I love the changing of the seasons and all that nature offers us. It’s also much more eco-friendly to use what’s available locally rather than relying on imports. In the winter months, we have many options available. Anemones are stunning and are only available from November, meaning they beautifully reflect the time of year. Hellebore (Christmas rose) is one of my favourites and they come in beautiful colours. I love to use the lime green variety in a lot of my designs, as it’s so fresh and vibrant. Berries too are abundant and sweet-smelling winter jasmine and viburnum are great additions. Thistles bring a wonderful winter feel, and are excellent for buttonholes since they’re so hardy. If you have your heart set on roses it’s not a problem as the wholesalers offer a huge range all year long in a wide range of different colours. They’re a staple of nearly all of my clients’ wedding flowers. Foliage brings a lot to any arrangement and eucalyptus is at its best in the winter months, along with English ivy. But again, the wholesalers will have a huge variety of all sorts of textures and shapes. The first question I ask my clients is: “What’s the feel of your wedding?” We’ll then talk colours and style before I put together a moodboard to sum up the overall look and what’s available for that time of year. Trusting your florist is key. With all of the necessary information to hand, they can work their magic! Kate Lindsay | www.thenaturalflorist.net EXPERT ADVICE 73
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