Here is a selection of Q&As from Your Herts and Beds 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@yourhertsbeds.wedding
To view more expert advice on a different topic, please select one from the list below.
Tis the season
Q. We're having a winter wedding and want to incorporate this theme into our flowers. Do you have any suggestions?
A. Shane Maple says: People always ask how to add warmth to their winter wedding. We can all see with our own eyes the rich colour palette that nature has to offer as we turn into the autumnal months. Then as winter approaches, vibrant reds and silver foliage play a vital role.
Be cautious when adding darker colours to your winter colour scheme. You only need to add one primary accent colour to create warmth and depth to your special day – adding more than one might cause the colours to clash.
If you take a traditional neutral wedding palette and add one feature flower in a dark red shade with a touch of silver foliage, you'll instantly have a warm winter look with classical wedding flowers.
You don't need to throw all contemporary wedding ideas out of the window when planning a winter wedding. Take traditional shades and make minor adjustments to create a different effect for the winter time.
Colours that trick the mind into thinking they're warm always work better for the colder months, including red, burgundy, deep orange and yellow. Avoid shades that create a colder environment such as pale blue, royal blue and too much white or silver.
Shane Maple, Maples Flowers
maplesflowers.co.uk
Floral fantasy
Q. What advice can you share when it comes to finding the perfect blooms?
A. Shane Maple says: Some people find it easy to find perfect blooms for their wedding day while others sometimes struggle; this isn't because they're unsure of what they want, but nature has a huge amount of variety to offer when it comes to flowers. One of the key elements of finding the perfect florals is the time of year that you're getting married. We all know that each season has a huge variety in choice and colours that are available. Spring weddings tend to be brighter and more colourful; it includes a mix of spring meadow flowers. Summer weddings are more traditional with ivory and pale pastel colours with maybe a bright burst of a feature colour. Autumn and winter weddings always feature more rich darker tones.
When selecting flowers, keep in mind that there should only be one or two statement blooms. These are the flowers that will be in the spotlight of your bouquet or table arrangements. Lots of people have a love for hydrangeas, roses, peonies, dahlias and other large headed flowers. These blooms together would create a bridal bouquet fit for a giant, so it only requires one or maybe two of these types of flowers and then add smaller filler florals to complement them. At Maples Flowers, we don't expect all of our customers to know every type of flower available, that's where we use our knowledge and expertise to point people in the right direction
Shane Maple, Maples Flowers
maplesflowers.co.uk
Pick of the bunch
Q. What are the lateste flower trends for weddings?
A. Vicki Cowell says: Bold shades and colour blocking have made a comeback this year. Pastels and blush shades will always be popular, but couples are getting braver and bolder in their colour choices – fun is the name of the game.
Monochromatic bouquets always look beautiful; imagine a colour scheme focusing on reds with different tints and tones. Alternatively, a bouquet of polychromatic flowers with lots of varieties of blooms and textures with grasses and foliage will create the perfect pieces.
Sustainability is very much high on our agenda. As a florist, I'm trying to educate my couples by suggesting biodegradable floral foam alternatives, such as using moss soaked in water and chicken wire as the base for floral arrangements. You can also repurpose arrangements from the ceremony to the reception to get total value for jaw-dropping designs. I suggest reusing and recycling the plastic dishes, trays, and glass vases as well as using the moss or wire for garden projects or even returning the items to be used at other weddings – every little bit we do helps!
Vicki Cowell, Vicki’s Floral Designs
vickisfloraldesigns.co.uk
Bloomin' beautiful
Q. What flowers would work perfectly for an autumn wedding?
A. Julie Cambridge says: As the weather starts to cool and we move on from summer weddings, I love to add the depth of colour and texture into my designs. Flowers set within a variety of foliage and herbs such as rosemary and berries are becoming popular. Here are a few ideas that would work well for the time of year…
- Hypericum berries are available in a wide range of colours from white to almost black and add a touch of autumn to any colour scheme.
- Chamelaucium (waxflower) is a delicate flower with small berry like buds which give a hint of the changing season.
- Berried eucalyptus and ferns are a firm favourite of mine to soften designs. Deep-coloured roses sit well with blush tones and cymbidium orchids.
- Dahlias, big blousy blooms, add a touch of drama and Eryngium thistles are perfect for texture.
Julie Cambridge, Julie Cambridge Floral Design
www.juliecambridge.co.uk
Pick of the bunch
Q. We're looking for the perfect flowers for our wedding day, what top tips can you share?
A. Tracy Goodwin says: Perfect wedding flowers are dependent on a range of factors such as season, colour, smell and style. Seasonality is important, especially when on a budget as flowers are available at certain times of the year. Lily of the Valley is a flower that tends to bloom in April/May and when used at other times can double in price while roses are slightly cheaper in the summer months as this is when it blooms. Here are some flower ideas for different seasons...
- For spring weddings use flowers with more scent such as tulips, daffodils, narcissus and Lily of the Valley.
- Larkspurs, delphinium, calla lilies, lisianthus and roses are popular in summer.
- Autumn is perfect for gerberas, roses and carthamus flowers mixed with foliage and berries.
- For winter weddings use blooms such as roses and dahlias mixed with berries and foliage.
Rather than choosing a specific colour, look for flowers that show shades of that colour as this allows the florals to stand out and will be forever encapsulated in the photographs.
I like to ask brides what their favourite flowers are and do they love a specific smell. Creating bouquets that have a particular scent for the bride can enhance her day by providing memories related to loved ones or a favourite place.
Often brides don't know what style or shape they'd like for the bouquets or the table arrangements. I suggest creating a moodboard containing images, colours, what you like and dislike – patterns will soon emerge.
Tracy Goodwin, Creations Flowers by Tracy Goodwin
www.creationflowers.co.uk