Here is a selection of Q&As from Your Sussex Wedding magazine whether it be about flowers, hair and makeup, fashion, wedding themes, health & beauty, cakes, stationery, legal advice. If you would like your question answered by our experts, please email it to editor@your-sussex.wedding
To view more expert advice on a different topic, please select one from the list below.
Winter's natural beauty
Q. 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?
A. Kate Lindsay says: 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, The Natural Florist
www.thenaturalflorist.net
Blooming gorgeous
Q. I've always longed to have peonies in my bridal bouquet, but we're getting married in the autumn and I understand they won't be available then. What would you suggest as alternatives that will have a similar look and impact?
A. Petra Beaton says: Peonies are such a beautiful flower, but they have a very short growing time and are only available in the early summer months. Luckily, there are a number of alternatives for an autumnal wedding. I'd go for some gorgeous garden roses, which are available all year round and have the same ruffled, fluffy and full look that gives the peony its scrumptious volume. Some varieties are also scented as an added bonus!
If you're looking for something with the wow factor when it comes to size, dahlias are the perfect alternative thanks to the impact of that majestic bloom. Best of all, they'll be in season at the time of your wedding. They do tend to come in stronger colours though, so if bright and bold isn't for you, another sizeable flower to consider could be a hydrangea. They have the same lovely roundness and fluffiness and come in pastel hues.
Remember to check with your florist, as we always have something up our sleeves to create the look you're after.
Petra Beaton, Sussex Florals
www.sussexflorals.co.uk
Sky's the limit
Q. I love flowers! What creative ways can we include them in our wedding outside of bouquets, buttonholes and centrepieces?
A. Kelly Hardings says: All of my couples have heard me preach that anything is possible with flowers. They're not just accessories for the bridal party to hold or the groom and groomsmen to wear, they're a timeless and essential part of your décor. Flowers can be suspended, draped, submerged, floated and attached to almost anything.
Ceiling displays are proving to be a favourite in the shape of floral chandeliers or elongated trailing displays, which can really set off a marquee interior. We've all seen flower arches, but how about pillars of luscious foliage entwined with big blousy garden roses and sweet-scented peonies. I've secured flowers to many things: cars, trees, goal posts and horses to name a few.
If you're having a rustic wedding, how about a wheelbarrow bursting with blooms and overflowing with trailing ivy and soft eucalyptus? Or what about a tropical summer paradise? We've been known to fill a watermelon or two with striking tropical flowers surrounded by bold displays of palms and rich greens.
Whatever your colour palette, style or theme flowers can create a wonderland of texture and buckets of wow factor for your special day. Don't be afraid to ask for your dreams, that's what we florists live for!
Kelly Hardings, Bella June Flowers
www.bellajuneflowers.co.uk
New life
Q. How can we reflect the wonderful feel of springtime in our wedding flowers?
A. Rachel Matthews says: Letting nature shine through your designs by using blooms only available during the spring will really give you that sense of the season. From the palest of pastels to bright and bold oranges and yellows, the best part about using spring flowers is the glorious scent they bring. Let your florist be creative with their design within your colour palette using textures and varieties that complement each other.
Just by adding pops of delicate narcissi and brightly coloured anemones the hint of new beginnings becomes apparent. Also, dotting dainty planted spring bulbs around the venue, so full of promise, will keep your theme flowing.
Rachel Matthews, Greenfingers
www.greenfingersflorists.com
