Clash colour to create a unique look to your wedding flowers………Photography by Matt Wing

Planning a 2021 Wedding? Not sure where to start with your wedding flowers? Feeling overwhelmed with what you have to do? Well don’t be….now is a great time to plan a wedding……a lot of us have a bit more extra time on our hands right now with the lockdown so why not use this time to plan your dream day. I’m not talking talking about spending your money but spending your time to make sure you get the the best day you possibly can……research suppliers, get yourself a shortlist of your top three suppliers for each category and send them a message to check their availability for the dates you have in mind.

Dreamy soft tones work well all year round………Photography by Spence Fredrick

Ok so here are the things I recommend you think about before contacting your florists to be…..

Have a budget in mind. It may change later on but its really important that your vision matches your budget. By giving your florist a budget, it helps them work with you and your vision! It avoids dissapointment, it means your florist isn’t doing a ton of work for you only for you to say that the price is unworkable and most importantly it gives your florist a starting point to work towards the flowers you want. If your budget is £500 say so, if its £5000 say so. You don’t have to spend it all at the end of the day but it will determine what you can realistically have and your florist can help decide what are the most important pieces to spend your budget on.
Go for seasonal flowers. Sure, give your florist a colour palette to work with if you have your heart set on one (your may not so let them guide you) but be flexible with which flowers you have (unless there is something you absolutely hate then tell them this). If you love peonies and have your heart set on them for your Bridal Bouquet then don’t get married in November! May or early June is the time for peonies (more of that in a later blog about the best wedding flowers by season!). If you are not sure ask! Your florist should be able to tell you whats in season - and if they promise you peonies in November, well, move on to someone else! By using seasonal flowers you will be getting the biggest, the best and strongest flowers going and each year you will be reminded of your wedding because they appear every year around that time!
Think about WHERE you want to make an impact! Your Bouquet (well yes), your ceremony (maybe - but you are only there for a short while - can you have arrangements that can be re-used later in the day to make the most of them!) The Wedding breakfast (your guests spend a lot of time here so maybe this is where to spend the majority of the budget or maybe thats not so important to you as the place you take your vows?) The entrance hallway that you walk through to get to the wedding breakfast (maybe not the most important place BUT is can be a great photo opportunity or maybe you and your guest will spend time having drinks here post ceremony so it’s totally worth spending here)? These are the things to think about. If you have limitless budget then great, decorate everywhere but if you don’t (and most people don’t) then think of where and what are the most important areas to dress. Your florist should be able to help with this. A walk around your venue at some point can help visualise things (or a virtual tour - loads off venues have these available on their websites)
Re-purpose flowers throughout the day. Cermony flowers - can they move to the reception room? Can your Bouquets be used to decorate the cake table? That floral archway you married in front of…well can this be used for a super lux Photo Booth later on in the evening or to do the speeches? There is so much you can do to get the most from your flowers and your florist will be able to advise on all of the best flowers to re-purpose later in the day. And sometimes it’s worth spending a little more on something if it means it gets used somewhere else because technically that means you get more bang for your buck right? A statement piece that can be used for the ceremony and then moved to the reception room is great…..
If you are on a budget then think about eco friendly ways to decorate your venue - recycled jam jars are always a great look for round and long tables and they can be taken away by your guests at the end of the evening as a reminder of the day….potted plants and herbs make gorgeous arrangements in the right setting and again they can be kept as a keepsake……think foliage to make statement pieces go a bit further……foliage doesn’t always mean cheaper but you can create height or size by using it wisely with a few key flowers giving the impression of luxury…..there is so much fabulous foliage out there, honestly, I would totally go green on your big day!
Finally be open to suggestions. Each venue and wedding is different so yes visit Pinterest and get some inspiration but be open to doing your flowers your way! Get to know your florist and let them get to know you. Trust them to guide you in your decision making and don’t be afraid to question ideas, prices etc. Most are open as to why they charge what they do - we often as consumers don’t realise the work involved in a wedding from arranging, to transporting to setting up and clearing down afterwards. It’s days of practical/physical work and weeks of planning so cheapest is not always best.

Statement piece like urn and plinths can be moved post ceremony ……Photo by Lily Sawyer

It’s worth splashing out on your Bridal Bouquet which will feature in all your pictures which last a life time…..photo by Lily Sawyer

Create the Wow factor with a statement piece for your ceremony…………..Photo by Sabine Darrel

Top Tips For Your 2021 Wedding Flowers