How to create a bespoke drinks menu for your wedding
Your wedding should be as personalised, luxurious and enjoyable as possible, and the drinks menu...
We receive so many wonderful words of wisdom from our experts that sometimes we can't fit it all in the magazine. That was certainly the case with our 'Flower power' feature that appears in the current issue (Feb/Mar) of Your Sussex Wedding. It would be remiss of us to keep it from you, so here is the extended cut, if you like broken down into handy seasonal sections. So stick with us over the next four weeks as we look at wedding flowers for spring, summer, autumn and winter.
SPRING
Nicky Milligan, Buds That Bloom, www.budsthatbloom.co.uk
Cheerful yellow and creamy white flowers such as sweet peas, lily of the valley, freesias and tulips create a fresh-looking bouquet for spring.
Annabel Grange, Butterflies and Bows, www.butterfliesandbows.co.uk
The traditional tulip, daffodils and anemone are pretty, but many cala lillies are in season as are orchids! Beautiful shower bouquets with delicate dendrobium orchids or impressive phaelaenopsis orchids are super stylish. Think also hand tied bouquets with a clean fresh design of cala lillies and table centres using lily vases of orchids with grasses or bowls with bi-coloured cala lillies.
Interesting fact: Calla lilies are not really lilies! They're part of the zantedeschia genus and originate from South Africa. They're grown commercially under glass and are available on the wholesale flower markets between February and the end of August. Along with orchids they're good out of water for longer periods.
Steph Willoughby, Chirpee Flowers, www.chirpee.net
Celebrate the return to life from the cold months of winter and take your cue from nature. Zingy greens, new buds bursting with life and lots of zesty fresh lemon. If you're saying “I do” in spring you'll have a great choice of flowers.
Top trend: Mixed pastels from pale blue hyacinths, white narcissi, baby pink tulips, and lemon ranunculus.
Budget tip: Use catkins and pussy willow in tall vases to tie in the countryside with this season.
Flowers of the season: Peony
The “Queen of Wedding flowers,” the peony shines in spring, they are coveted wedding blooms available from March onwards. Blousy, romantic and whimsical, perfect for boho or vintage themed weddings. The flower means “happy marriage” what could be more appropriate?
They have a 5-day rule: 5 days in bud, 5 days in bloom. Ensure your florist is aware of “ripeness grading”, a professional chart showing when flowers are at their best to use.
Flowers of the season: Lily of the Valley
This little scented beauty has such a short season, use it if you are planning to marry in April to May. The fragrance is stunning and used as a base for so many classic perfumes and a favourite of royal weddings. Use on its own, massed in a tightly packed posy.
Kelly Kearley, Not Your Average Flowers, www.notyouraverageido.com/flowers
Spring flowers come in early and are a favourite at Not Your Average HQ. Such fresh colours and so unique to this season. Ranunculus with it's soft, layered petals in pastel hues, hyacinth which smells of springtime, narcissus and anemones... Such a vibrant palette of fragrant, pretty colours.
Samantha Karlsson, Samantha Karlsson Flowers, www.samanthakarlssonflowers.co.uk
After the cold, dark days of winter spring bursts into life with a fabulous array of flowers, think colour and scent.
Delicate blooms for bouquets and arrangements include blossom, pretty pale blue and ice white muscari (grape hyacinth) and tiny headed myosotis (forget-me-not), which are perfect for adding touches of ‘something blue’ and are just gorgeous. Favoured by Royal brides and with a beautiful sweet fragrance, the delicate bell-like flowers of lily of the valley are ideal for dainty hand tied posies, although they are one of the more expensive blooms.
For cheerful charming simplicity tulips, narcissi, hyacinths and lilac will look perfect in seasonal spring bouquets, arrangements and table vases, what’s more they have wonderful scents.
If you're after natural and elegant florals then small headed papery ranunculus are one of the loveliest spring flowers and will help you achieve this look.