DIY String Chandeliers

These beautiful string chandeliers would look positively ethereal hung above your tables. they look very impressive but are actually super easy to make.

Use them above a low flower centrepiece, something simple and uncluttered would compliment them nicely. Maybe a small posy of romantic white flowers, or a few small bud vases holding tulips and freesia.

My crafty sister made these at Christmas to hang above the dining table, so you can keep using them after the date for decoration around your house.

Learn how to make them over at RuffledBlog.com -

http://ruffledblog.com/diy-string-wedding-chandelier/

Simple white lilies in red ceramic vase

Having flowers around the house is often seen as a luxury, but you can create some really simple displays with just a few stems and using interesting vases and glassware.

Last weekend we had friends out from London to stay for the weekend, so I took the opportunity to fill the house with fresh flowers.

Over the years I’ve amassed a huge array of vases, and I really think that simple flowers in the right vase can have the most impact. And there’s nothing I love more than a living room filled with the smell of lilies!

To utilize the recently bought bar (we had an empty space in the living room to fill, honest!) we planned on making Mojito’s, so I displayed the mint and limes in glass bowls on a side table.

Rose and Tulip table arrangement

For the dining table I made a simple arrangement of red roses and tulips – the colour scheme in our living room is red and grey, so they added a nice pop of colour with the yellow and orange tulip tones.

The 6 bud vases on each side are actually joined together as one vase – a great little bargain I found on sale for 75p each!!

Orange and yellow tulips

Did you know that tulips keep growing after you’ve cut them? You’ll find they grow taller and taller when placed in a vase, so keep this in mind when arranging… I usually like them best on their own to grow as tall as they like without throwing my arrangement off kilter!

Bud vases of red roses and striped tulips

Yellow rose bud vase

I love flowers most when they’re allowed to shine on their own – sometimes placing multiple bud vases around your home can have more impact than a complicated arrangement or bouquet.

Mixed rose and lily bouquet

And lucky me – our fabulous guests bought with them this gorgeous bunch of mixed roses with lilies, fern and bear grass.

Can’t wait for the lilies to open – lucky I’m not allergic with them all over the house!

After a nice extended blogging break over Christmas, I thought I’d start the New Year off with a creative one.

These flowers were for a wedding I did in November last year; just the bridal party flowers so a nice small one. It was my first wedding since moving to Berkshire,so I’m enjoying getting to know my new suppliers with their fabulous stock and clear, precise ordering systems. I can even order online (which is great for a super-organised florist like me!) and they have a fantastic range of flowers with full access to the Dutch markets.

Although, as hectic as it could be, I do miss the hustle and bustle of the Covent Garden Flower Market!

(Particularly my favourite supplier Jeff, who was always a happy smiling face on those super-early mornings!)

The bridesmaids bouquets featured purple lisianthus and bouvardia, which complemented the brides bouquet beautifully

The ivory buttonholes were so elegant, my favourite corsage of 2011!

And the men’s buttonholes a gorgeous white Akito Rose

The bridal bouquet was a sublime mix of Akito roses, cream spray roses, white calla lilies and hypericum berries.

Perfect for a winter wedding!

I love the way the bouvardia in the bridesmaids posies echoes the shape of the hypericum berries in the bridal bouquet, and the purple lisianthus complemented the colour scheme beautifully.

]]> http://loveweddingflowers.co.uk/2012/01/november-autumnwinter-wedding/feed/ 1 http://loveweddingflowers.co.uk/2011/08/love-for-the-hydrangea/ http://loveweddingflowers.co.uk/2011/08/love-for-the-hydrangea/#comments Mon, 08 Aug 2011 05:04:43 +0000 vanessa http://loveweddingflowers.co.uk/?p=949 As we’ve been working away on our gorgeous summer weddings, (well it’s mean’t to be summer, but hey ho) I’ve developed a new found love for Hydrangea’s. Well actually it’s a completely new love, as during my years as a florist in New Zealand I hated the things. They were always associated in my mind with Grannys and paper doilies, certainly not the flower a young, hip young florist would want to use.

It seems I’m not the only one who had an aversion, as when I was ordering the flowers for our second July wedding, I came across a slight resistance from my wholesaler who declared “I hate the sodding things! They’ve got a mind of their own.”  Hydrangeas take water in through their petals as well as their stems, so you have to remember to spray them with water and give them a good dunking if looking a bit sad.  It seems Jeff has also had the experience to find one has packed up and whithered for no apparent reason!

But you can’t deny the beauty of these gorgeous pink hydrangeas that we used for Malkit’s wedding, they just looked absolutely stunning on their own in a simple bubble vase.

In it’s place on the top table, I would have loved to see it after dark with the tealight flickering away… the pink rose petals really set it off too, you can’t go wrong with rose petals if your looking to soften a table and create a romantic edge!

When we finished the wedding I had a few stems leftover, so I created this sweet little posy of the pink hydrangea with light purple ‘Ocean Song’ roses. Not normally one for pastels, I really loved having this on the coffee table, watching the roses bloom over the following days.

After so many conversations with my Brides discussing the perils of not being able to find decent jewellery, I’ve now taken the step to sell a gorgeous selection of affordable jewellery on my website.

I know for most women the jewellery is an afterthought: so much effort is put into finding “The Dress” that you can be left panicking that you’ve forgotten the finishing touches. The jewellery you wear should, in a way, be an afterthought, it’s there to complement your gown and bouquet, not to be the centre of attention.

I’m sure you’ll agree the selection of jewellery I’ve decided to sell will do just that – they are beautiful pieces, but are not too overbearing to detract from the overall look of your dress. And buying online cuts out the hassle of trawling the high street at the last minute!

Athena Pearl Earrings £25

Watch this space for hair accessories – coming soon

The days just before or just after your wedding are the perfect time to remind your partner how much you love and appreciate them. If budget allows I highly recommend organising a photoshoot; either on your own (a month or so before) so you can present your new husband with a sexy new shot, or organise a romantic one together where you can go as husband and wife. And don’t be shy! These are the things we regret not doing as we get older and gravity takes hold…

Here’s a few websites to start investigating -  (although prices vary greatly so do your homework!)

www.doubletake-london.co.uk

www.image1st.co.uk

www.fyeoportraits.com

A more budget-friendly idea is to gather all the special photographs of the two of you together – when you first started dating, your first holiday together, etc etc – and present them to him in a way he would really appreciate. A photo album is an easy and obvious one, but you can also make poster size images, get a video put together, get them printed on some underwear, or even on cupcakes! The possibilities these days are endless – only you will know if he prefers something sentimental or cheeky, and there are some great websites out there with endless options for printed gifts.

Here’s a selection to get the ideas flowing! -

www.bagsoflove.co.uk

www.photobox.co.uk

www.photogifts.co.uk

www.iwantoneofthosephotogifts.com

Your bouquet should complement your gown and reflect your personality, while the reception flowers really set the tone for the celebrations. Is your wedding very traditional? Do you love all things modern? Maybe you are just a country girl at heart…there are many different aspects that can be taken into account when planning your wedding flowers, sometimes the clues can be in your lifestyle;

- is your home interior simple, structured and modern?

- do you love restored antiques and vintage clothes?

There are 2 main factors to firstly consider -

1. Colour

Lighter colours are soft and romantic, while darker combination’s have a more dramatic effect. A bright mixed bunch can really be exuberant and fun! For your bouquets, buttonholes and corsages, think about your photos: these are the lasting memory you will have of your big day.

When choosing your venue, take note of the colours in the room. What colour will the seat covers be? Is the floor/room trim a lighter wood grain or much darker? Cream walls or fancy wallpaper? Take photographs were possible as the reception room decor can sometimes set the tone for your floral theme.

2. Style

Traditional vs Modern, Country vs City, Big and Extravagant vs Small and Intimate. These are normally quite easy choices for brides and help with the decision making, be sure to tell your florist if you have clear preferences! Another aspect of the style to consider is flower type: do you want to focus on just one or two types of flowers, with emphasis on style and simplicity? Or have an array of different blooms with the focus on colour?

A common misconception is that you have to decide the type of flower you want first; this is not always the case as you may have a clearer idea of the mood you want to set, or a pre-decided colour theme for your wedding. Florists have a wealth of knowledge on flower types and can provide  many suggestions, so don’t let this be a worry for you!

Focus on Colour

Combinations of burnt and bright orange mixed with hot pink  has a fantastic effect against the brilliant white of a bridal gown, the greenery also really sets it off.

Focus on Combinations

When the bride has chosen different shades for the dresses, a bouquet with the same flower and colour combinations unifies the look and pulls it together. Unique and effective.

Focus on Roses

Soft pastels make a romantic look while the single flower choice offers an elegant simplicity.

]]> http://loveweddingflowers.co.uk/2010/02/how-to-choose-your-floral-style/feed/ 0 http://loveweddingflowers.co.uk/2010/01/recession-proof-your-wedding/ http://loveweddingflowers.co.uk/2010/01/recession-proof-your-wedding/#comments Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:35:21 +0000 vanessa http://loveweddingflowers.co.uk/?p=211 As the economy grinds to a halt, one of the things there will always be money spent on is weddings. This means you will never be short of fantastic suppliers to choose from, but it also means you still have to pay for your wedding while watching the pennies!

Here are my top 5 tips for recession-proofing your wedding -

1. Be clear on who’s paying for what!

Traditionally the brides parents pay for the wedding, but in our modern society this is not often the case. The grooms family may be contributing, or you may be paying for it yourselves. Don’t be afraid to ask your families if they are able to help and what the contribution may be, you need start with a very clear idea of your budget as there are so many things to account for.

2. Set your budget

Once you are aware of any contributions, you can then begin to set your budget knowing clearly where the money is coming from. Make sure the budget is realistic – there are many hidden costs involved in weddings so you need to ensure you get the day you want, on the budget you set. We don’t want newlyweds succumbing to the recession from lack of planning!!

3. Do your research

Make sure you spend time researching each element before you buy anything. For example, shops have costs they need to meet therefore their prices may be higher than working with a freelancer or shopping online.  I produce my wedding floristry work from my own private studio with a team who I hire for weddings only, this means I can price competitively and really work with my brides to stick to their budget.

4. Use your resources

Brainstorm a list of your friends, colleagues and contacts; you may have people close to you with skills you can utilize for your wedding. A work colleague may be a part-time photographer, or a friends sister may run a stationary company. Don’t be afraid to ask your married friends if they have any recommendations either – the best people and services are normally found this way!

5. Utilize your venue

Most hotels and wedding venues can offer you an array of services either included in your booking, or offered at an additional cost. Really make use of this service; it is much easier to have them do the majority of things -  red carpet, candelabra, booking taxis etc – than to organise umpteen-dozen things with various people. It may help to save on costs too!

So good luck with your budget planning – And remember, don’t hesitate to contact me for your free wedding flowers consultation – I’m used to working within budgets and have lots of ideas for making your pound go further when planning your big day.

email: vanessa@loveweddingflowers.co.uk

Phone: +44 (0) 778 250 4455