Your Surrey Wedding - June/July 2023 (Issue 101)

ANNABEL GRANGE, OWNER BUTTERFLIES & BOWS How long have you been a wedding florist, when did your passion begin? I started Butterflies & Bows in 2004, I’ve always loved flowers and was a keen gardener from a young age and my passion grew very quickly from about eight-years-old! What’s your favourite floral element of the wedding day to create? I love unusual or wilder-looking bridal bouquets, I let my imagination run with it. I also enjoy making pedestal arrangements as they are so beautiful, such a wide range of flowers and textures can be used. How can couples ensure their choices are sustainable during a time when everyone is conscious of their green credentials: Try to choose flowers that are in season in Europe the week of your wedding so that we don’t have to ship them in from far-reaching countries such as South America or South Africa. Fresh flowers can all be composted after your wedding. Think carefully about using artificial flowers as most are made in China and shipped over and 99% use plastics and materials that are not recyclable. I know it’s hard to choose, but do you have a favourite flower? I love dahlias which come in some stunning colours and have a longer season. Butterflies & Bows, Lingfield, Surrey 01342 892 392 | www.butterfliesandbows.co.uk JAYNE AND ROZANNA, OWNERS BIRD EVENTS How long have you been a wedding florist, when did your passion begin? Bird Events is a family run mother-daughter business. Jayne has been a florist for more than 30 years, so Rozanna grew up surrounded Jayne’s floral creations and the passion was instilled at an early age! Fast forward a few years and we had both been in the wedding industry working independently but always knew we would have our own business together one day. We opened our doors in 2019 and never looked back. What’s your favourite floral element of the wedding day to create? Bridal bouquets are our favourite to make as they’re so personal to each of our brides. We create a bespoke bouquet design for each bride, made to complement their wedding dress and reflect the personality of their wedding day. A very close second favourite is our floral arches as we can let our creativity run wild and create something truly showstopping! How can couples ensure their choices are sustainable during a time when everyone is conscious of their green credentials: Talk to your florist about their green credentials to ensure your values align with theirs. At Bird Events we work with as many reusable and recyclable elements as possible and are always finding new ways to create designs without the use of floral foam. Behind the scenes, we work with suppliers who share our values and aim to work locally to reduce our transport footprint. Make the most of your flowers by thinking about what happens to them at the end of your wedding. Our favourite thing to do is turn them into thank you gifts for your guests to take home at the end of the evening, giving them a second lease of life. Consider incorporating plants into your displays, which can either be used again by us, or you can take them home to enjoy in your garden. I know it’s hard to choose, but do you have a favourite flower? Roses are timeless for weddings and are available in many varieties and colours. We love blending different varieties together, especially in bridal bouquets. Our current favourites are garden rose varieties as the scent is so beautiful at this time of year. Peonies are always a firm favourite for us and our couples too! Bird Events, Dorking, Surrey www.birdevents.co.uk https://davidbostockphotography.co.uk 54

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