Question 1

We're trying to plan a wedding that's true to us, but we're getting overwhelmed by trends and feeling pressured by the 'must haves'. What advice can you share?

Accepted Answer

It's essential to build trust with your key suppliers! Get to know them, and they'll get to know you too. Try to filter out the noise and everyone's opinion, trusting your choices and vision throughout the process. Ask yourself regularly if your decisions reflect your personality and values. For example, is using local suppliers important to you? Are you passionate about sustainability, or is colour your thing? Your day should be unique, styled and created for you. In our experience, couples come to us with a mood board and ideas from other weddings; whilst this is a great starting point, by building a relationship along the journey and trusting your key suppliers, you'll end up with a bespoke and truly memorable wedding experience not just for you but also your guests. We've worked with all types of couples with different themes to bring visions to life. One recent review stated, "After a lovely visit to Sutton Lodge, we chose Nicole and Saffron to flower and style our wedding day. Their purpose and values are right up my street, and learning about the flower farm made everything even more special. Their love for our venue, The Willow Marsh Farm, gave me every confidence they would smash it. So, I left most things in their court, making my life completely stress-free! Wow, I was blown away by the results. I couldn't have ever imagined how perfect everything was. The floristry style was dreamy and so detailed, it meant so much."

Question 2

I love flowers and want to incorporate them in both our venues; how can we save money by re-using them?

Accepted Answer

Re-purposing your ceremony flowers is a great way to stretch your budget. This is easier if your ceremony and reception are at the same venue, but if not, check with your florist to see what items can be moved. The most common and easiest way is to have a long and low arrangement on the signing table and then place this on the top table after the ceremony. Another popular design choice is florals that line the aisle, which can easily be moved to the reception space, either in front of the top table or perhaps in front of a sign or backdrop. You could also untie any pew ends and place them in small vases around your reception venue. If you're struggling to find a way to move items, I recommend prioritising your reception flowers. You spend much longer at your reception venue, so save your budget for where your guests will be wowed all day.

Question 3

What flowers and colours would you suggest for a summer wedding?

Accepted Answer

We're all happier in the summer when the sun is shining and the evenings are lighter, it's when our gardens bounce to life with colour and interest, so why shouldn't your wedding be the same? Bright vivid hues are easy to achieve with a beautiful mix of summer flowers. Why not be brave and mix a vibrant purple with a hot pink and yellow? Flowers such as dahlias are available in lots of shades and can be a good substitute for a rose if you prefer to step away from the more traditional look. Astilbe adds interest and texture, while wax flowers, asters or lavender create a more wild look. Iris or delphinium can work well if you need to create height in your arrangements whilst still injecting interest. Never forget foliage, green is the colour of nature, so be it delicate grasses for a messy design or kentia for a tropical feel, just the right amount will help your flowers pop.

FAQs and expert advice about flowers & bouquets