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Bandit By Name, Brilliant By Nature

With the new year fast approaching, many are probably putting pen to paper jotting down the aspirations they have for the year ahead. I must admit I stopped writing New Year’s Resolutions a long time ago…

I believe in living life the way that you want to live it every day, and if you do that, you don’t really need to have New Year’s Resolutions”

– Tom Ford

I stumbled across a story of a guerilla floral designer in New York attempting to do just that; living and creating the life he wants each and every day….and spreading his joy in the process. Like many of us in the wedding and event industries- we spend countless hours bringing a vision to life, to create what appears to be the perfect day. Most of the time, sadly, many of the flowers are left or discarded. In some ways I guess they have already served their purpose, but this floral designer decided he could spread the joy much, much further.

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Image; Lewis Miller Design

Lewis Miller and his team, now takes armfuls of fresh cut flowers that are largely left over from events to decorate garbage cans around the city of New York. Yep, you read that right….garbage bins. Why? Miller, despite having a successful, thriving business, was feeling unfulfilled. The idea behind these street art installations was that Miller and his team could create something more authentic and organic in nature, to spread the feeling of joy, and make everlasting memories for everyday city dwellers.

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Image; Lewis Miller Designs

Lewis Miller, owner of Lewis Miller Designs says “Gifting flowers to New Yorkers is a simple idea that I have been thinking about for years.”

Miller, dubbed the ‘Flower Bandit’ by Vogue, began his “Flower Flashes” in October 2016, and initially intended it to be just a one off event to reinvigorate himself artistically and reconnect with his craft. It evolved into a beautiful shared experience for countless New Yorkers, creating a positive emotional response from the floral installations.

“Who doesn’t love to get flowers? They are such a luxury, and New York City is a very gritty, fast-paced town. If we can bring nature—something wild and sumptuous—to New Yorkers and make them smile, the way people smile when they witness a random act of kindness, then that is a great thing. That is my goal. It’s a really simple vision but powerful, I think, to try to create an emotional response through flowers.”

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Image; Lewis Miller Designs

In addition to the beautiful blooming bins filled with spectacular bouquets of flowers, Miller and his team have also  decorated statues, sculptures and other public works of art. By adding fresh flowers, these landmarks have been transformed into colourful and eye catching displays.

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Image; Lewis Miller Design

 

“My team and I work really fast and very early in the a.m. Our call time for these flashes is 5:45 a.m., and we try to finish them before sunrise. We always recycle flowers from events when possible.”

“I don’t see us stopping anytime soon. These flashes are so gratifying and rewarding on many levels.”

Florist with Flowers would like to wish you all a very happy New Year, go forth into 2018 with the courage and conviction to be the change in the world that you wish to see.

Fwf x

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Foraging for Home

To forage; is to search widely for, hunt or search for provisions.

It’s not a new idea by any means, but foraging is back in vogue.  Often the concept centres around collecting food supplies, but what I am referring to here is foraging for unique materials that can be utilised when arranging florals.

Wholesalers throughout the Sydney and Interstate markets provide us with a wonderful array of flowers and foliage, as do our local growers BUT sometimes there are reasons for us to look elsewhere. You may need several different texture elements in an arrangement and it simply doesn’t make financial sense to outlay the expense of buying a whole bunch of each. Plus you have to remember that growers provide what the market is asking for; DEMAND drives SUPPLY. Therefore, if something is simply not popular (as opposed to being ‘unpopular’),  fewer people (if any) will choose to grow it.

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Image; A little Terroir

The problem is that the stock variety on offer at the market declines based on what is profitable, and what is popular, and therefore it is hard to get your hands on quality produce that sits outside of the box! The result? You have to grow it yourself, or find someone, somewhere that does!

For the more bespoke arrangements, unique materials are required. It is the intricacies in that details that makes the design speak so loudly, so going that extra mile to find the perfect material certainly pays dividends. Like the gorgeous bouquet below from Botanica featuring so many different elements, sometimes just single stems, which creates so much interest and movement throughout the arrangement.

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Image; Bespoke bridal bouquet from Botanica

But the concept of foraging is something that you can incorporate at home too- by foraging just for foliage you can save yourself a lot. Tropical leaves are often sold per piece, which can quickly add up. Even bunches of green leaves like camellia, laurel, vibernum or magnolia can be quite costly to add to your vase of flowers, especialy if you have a tree in your backyard where you can get what you need for free.

 

Many plants will love having a good hard prune once a year, so chopping the tops off your Cordyline plants or Dracenas will do them the world of good. You will find that fresh foliage like this will last you several weeks if not months, so purchasing some fresh cut flowers weekly to make your display more colourful and eye-catching is still good value! It might even allow you a little extra $$$ to play with!

I am a massive fan of foraging for foliage. We regularly collect Philodendron and Monsteria leaves locally, and I’ve been enjoying whole heads of cordyline plants from our garden for weeks teamed with spiraling Corksia ginger foliage.

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Image; Foraged supplies from Hej Doll

It’s important to remember that not all plants are ideal for using as cut flowers or foliage. Some simply do not have a long vase life, or are not happy submerged in water. In addition to that, some plants are poisonous, so it is important that when you forage that you are not using the flowers on food items, and that you always wash your hands. Reactions can be mild rashes and itching, but can also be severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. If in doubt, cut only what you know is safe to use/touch and seek more information.

It’s a lovely winter activity for the family to go out and collect things together, and is a nice substitute for collecting shells along the beach in summer.

Fwf x

 

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Quick Stick Decorating

Winter is a time to spend a little more time cosied up on the couch, or near the fire, so it makes great sense that we create an internal space that makes our hearts and soul sing.  The cooler temperatures mean that we are less social spending more time in our own homes, so it is nice to spend some of our energy doing some simple decorating. It is easy to stick your tried and tested methods of decorating, adding an indoor plant or a vase of cut fresh flowers, but winter offers up some interesting and long lasting alternatives to your regular fresh cut flowers or indoor plants.

Disiduous branches and sticks are a fantastic way of filling a vase for weeks at a time. Depending on what you choose you may or may not need to add water to the vase- and for someone like me who hates cleaning dirty vases of stinky water, this spells H-E-A-V-E-N! Some sticks, such as magnolia branches or cherry blossom for example will flower and bloom and will require a vaseful of fresh water, but believe me, the floral display is certainly worth the effort! Other branches are sold more for their architectural qualities and are striking in a vase en masse. In this case, you can choose to display them in a vessel without water. Any sticks that are displayed this way will become more brittle with time but in general, their appearance changes very little. As the branches become more brittle, it is advisable that they are not moved often, as you will see the branches breaking and becoming damaged.

So what can you get your hands on in the coming months? Well, consider these;

Budded magnolia branches are divine! The naked branches are shapely and interesting alone, but for a matter of weeks you can enjoy the pretty blooms in soft cream, mauve and pink tones. When the blooms are spent, simply pinch them off the stem, and enjoy the naked branches.

 

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Image via Pinterest

Lichen covered sticks are super interesting to look at;they look a bit moody and mysterious. The leafless branches are covered in silvery green flakes that resemble peeling paint. The branches bring a certain woodland vibe,  and the natural beauty of the forest.

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Image: Etsy

Dogwood is stunning throughout winter, with its reddish, golden glow. It is so different to the other sticks available with its vibrant colour, and adds visual warmth to a room or an arrangement.

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Pussy willow have furry buds called catkins along the length of their stems. Before they come into full flower, they are covered in a fine, grey fur, which leads to the comparison to ‘pussies’ or small cats.

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Image: The Spruce

 

Tortured Willow is a unique tree that is also known as curly willow, twisted willow or corkscrew willows due to its wiggly stems. It is a plant native to Korea and North Eastern China that was introduced to Australia for ornamental purposes, but when left, it invades riverbanks and creeks. All species of willow are considered weeds due to their invasive nature, as they have aggressive root systems that cause damage to footpaths and drains.  However as a cut material, it looks beautiful in its simplicity. Tortured willow does not require water, however if left dry, it will also become brittle, and break easily. If it is placed in water, the tortured willow will remain malleable, easily manipulated into different shapes- making it ideal for creating sculptures and wreaths. It will also quickly develop roots in water, so can be planted again.

An abstract composition of a twisted willow tree
Image; Texas Tree Trimmers

 

Fruit tree Blossom are always popular, particularly cherry blossom, but there are many more fruit tree blossoms available such as peach blossom and apple blossom.

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Image; Apple Blossom by Pixabay

So, instead of sticking to what you know, give something different a go.

Fwf x

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Countdown to Chelsea

This morning I opened up my Facebook feed to find that an old travel companion had created an installation for this years Chelsea Flower Show. Is it really that time again….already? Jo was a uni student when we met many moons ago in Central America, but she has since forged a successful career in interior design and prop styling. The display she has created for the flower show features a Sunflower garden, made entirely of fabric and paper, held together no doubt with the assistance of every tradie lady’s favourite tool, the hot glue gun.

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Image; Jo Bailey

The Chelsea Flower show runs from Tuesday May 23rd til Saturday May 27th this year and promises to provide new ideas, fresh inspiration and as always wonderful, eye catching, stunningly beautiful garden displays. In addition to 28 gardens, and 100 plant displays, this year there is also a secret garden which is only visible from a viewing platform, BBC Radio 2 Feel Good Gardens with each garden focused on heightening one of the 5 senses, a fruit and vegetable garden with over 50 varieties of edible produce, urban murals and much, much more.

The Chelsea Flower Show is certainly on the bucket list for most florists, and for those who are lucky enough to get there this year, I’m sure it won’t disappoint. As this is the first show after Brexit, the show organisers were keen to rethink the show and it certainly has been reinvigorated, with lots of fresh content which has been key in the increased interest in the event. In the past the tickets have been slow to sell with tickets even available on the day. However this year, unbelievably, the popular show sold out more than 2 weeks before it opens, and now tickets are being offered online for £1300 a pair!

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Image; Telegraph

Also this year, Dame Judi Dench is being celebrated; having a gorgeous apricot toned rose named in her honour. The rose has a medium tea scent, and is a David Austin style rose.

Judi isn’t alone though, over the years many celebrities have had roses named in their honour. Barbara Streisand, an avid rose fan, has a deliciously fragrant lilac rose named after her. Freddie Mercury fans are said to have fund raised over 2000 pounds to breed a yellow rose in his honour 2 years after his death. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (William and Catherine) had a soft apricot rose that opens to white named in their honour at the show in 2011. And Julie Andrews had a rose named in her honour at the Chelsea Flower show back in 1992.

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Image; Barbara Streisand rose via Telegraph
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Image; William and Catherine Rose by David Austin

I can’t wait to see the photos emerging next week when the show opens, and I am keen to see how the public receives the new format and new features. As always, for the moment anyway I will admire the pictures from afar, but one day, maybe one day I will get there myself!

Stay tuned!

Fwf x

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Wedding Inspirations- Using Blue as your Primary Hue

As florists, the most challenging colour to work with is undoubtedly blue. Whilst blue is a primary colour, and what could be classed as a fairly conservative colour perhaps when thinking about Navy Blue, when it comes to flowers, it proves quite difficult. Despite this, varying shades of blue remain popular. One major factor that I believe contributes to blues popularity is the fact that in one of its varying shades, it seems to be able to complement most complexions. Aside from that, blue is a fairly conservative colour and therefore should stand the test of time, and when it comes to weddings, timeless is key.

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Image via Crossed Keys
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Image via The French Tangerine

But Blue in nature, doesn’t tend to be an easy task…..Blue, from soft powdery baby blues to strong navy blue in fabrics, no worries, but as soon as a client wants to ‘match’ that fabric…..well, that opens a whole world of trouble. The difficulty with blue when working with flowers is that very few flowers exist in straight clean colour tones, making it near impossible to ‘match’ them. As a florist, I do not see this as a major issue as it is not essential to match every element, but rather use complementary colour tones to create a harmonious colour palette. Some blue blooms are more silvery or dusty, with an almost grey over tone,  others tend to look more purple in some lights. There are several blooms available in more powdery baby blue tones, so if you do prefer to match colours, then this may be the best choice for you!

In order to incorporate true primary blue tones you may need to look beyond flowers. Think about ways you can add your chosen feature colour in unique touches throughout your day. Why not use coloured glassware on your tables, or bottles as your pew ends, ribbon details on plain dresses, or choose strong primary blue bridesmaids gowns.

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Image via Wedding Colors
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Image via Wedding Colors
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Image via Intimate weddings

If you favour softer, more powdery baby blues you can sprinkle touches of this colour thoughout most elements as it is not as strong or contrasting as a primary blue. Gorgeous flowergirl outfits can incorporate baby blues easily, soft blue semi precious stones in jewellry, soft blue toned flowers are easier to come by, men’s ties or handkerchief details, even powder blue suits, cake icing, or check out these gorgeous doors that you could hire as your ceremony backdrop!

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Image via Hello May
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Image ; Fab Tutus
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Image via Deer Pearl Flowers

Navy blue is the most conservative of all the blue hues. It is a strong, sleek tone that can easily be incorporated into bridal party outfits, with navy suits, bridesmaids gowns and navy detailing on flowergirls dresses.

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Image: Valient Wang
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Image: Princessly

I love the way this cake utilises some softer blue flowers on top, and then used blueberries at the base. Pieces of navy lace can feature on invitations, bouquet handles, and even as a trim on the cake.

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By no means am I trying to deter any beautiful brides-to-be from using blue, but rather trying to show alternative ways the colour can be used throughout your day with some gorgeous results!

Can we give you a helping hand with any other colours you may be considering using for your upcoming wedding? Drop us a line and let us inspire you!

Fwf x

 

 

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Victorian Posies- The Method and the Meaning

The Victorian posy is a traditional hand-tied or wired bunch where the flowers are placed in ascending rings around a central bloom, usually a rose. This design was very popular for weddings back in the mid 19th century, but lost favour to the cascading shower bouquet in the late 20th century.

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Image: Top Left, Top Right, Bottom Left, Bottom Right

Like all things in fashion, trends come and go, and the Victorian posy can sometimes be requested from time to time, especially for those who like to run their own race, uninterested by what is popular or on trend at the time.

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Image: Patsy Smiles

The Victorians did not have the variety of material available to them as we do today, so their posies tended to use an assortment of pale pink, lilac and blue toned flowers, in what we would consider to be quite traditional flowers such as roses, hyacinths, and cornflowers. The stunning central rose, I am told is pretty much integral to the design, but these days you could choose to make a Victorian posy out of just about any flowers or foliage you can get your hands on.

The Victorians used to back their posies with starched lace, which then became coloured netting or raffia, or twisted wire frames with foliage or even doilies, but theses days many of these elements have been replaced, or modernised.

This style of posy contained secret messages to and from lovers; each flower had its own unique meaning, and the bride chose her flowers based on their significance. As a result of this, unfortunately many beautiful flowers were assigned rather undeserved, sometimes negative meanings, for example, lavender=distrust, or anemones= sickness.

These days, brides tend to choose their flowers based on their preferences or flowers with special significance to them personally rather than these somewhat outdated meanings.

Gorgeous bridal bouquet design for the fall bride.:
Image: The Knot, Flowers by Festive Couture Floral
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Image: Cut Out and Keep

The Victorian style of posy fell out of favour during the early 20th century, but the posy has slowly gained popularity again, whether it be hand-tied and natural stemmed, or wired. A natural stemmed posy, as the name suggests, uses flowers on their stem, simply cleaned off so that the handle of the bouquet does not become contaminated from breaking down debris, or too bulky. This style of bouquet can be formal or informal, structured or unstructured depending on what flowers are chosen and its composition. Generally though, this look is more natural and relaxed.

Alternatively a wired bouquet can be created; which is where the flower is cut from it’s natural stem and then attached to an artificial stem made from wire. The result is usually more lightweight and as it is more structured, tends to look more formal.

The formality of the Victorian rings has been dropped, in favour of either evenly dispersed placements, where the flowers are evenly placed throughout the arrangement to achieve balance, or alternatively the floral elements can be grouped together for a ‘chunkier’, clustered and modern look.

At the end of the day, if you are considering a Victorian posy, or posy of any kind for your wedding, talk to you designer about the colours, textures and the overall look and feel you wish to achieve. Wedding professionals have a wealth of knowledge and will be able to make appropriate suggestions to help you achieve what you are after.

I cannot stress enough the importance of aligning yourself with suppliers who have a body of work that emulates the look and feel you are after.  Trusting your supplier is the single most important thing you can do to lower your individual stress as well as allowing them the freedom to ‘create’ and do exactly what you employed them to do…

Fwf x

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The Ultimate Compilation

Floristry is not something that comes naturally to everyone, as is often the case with many creative professions.  And sure, I guess there are elements of floristry that you do see everyday people giving a go, much like we might try and put a home colour through our hair. I’m sure that they are under no illusion that it looks ok, but certainly not professional, but sometimes this is all that is required, and we are all guilty of cutting corners (and costs) at times.

But there are some areas of floristry that should be left to the professionals. They are tedious and technically challenging and unforgiving, showing every fault when they are not created correctly.

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Image: Svenska Blomster Bloggar

The compilation bouquet is certainly one of these.

What is a compilation bouquet? The compilation bouquet, is also known as a composite bouquet, a Duchesse Rose (if made with roses), Malmaison or even a Glamellia.

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Image: Best Destination Wedding

Essentially it is a bouquet where individual blooms (of the one variety) are disassembled, and then the petals are wired and placed together again piece by piece until a giant single super bloom is created. These days many people bypass the wiring somewhat and glue the composition together. Regardless of what technique you favour, it is fiddly, detail orientated work and you should certainly ensure that you set up your work station with everything ready to go. If you are using the glue, it can get messy, and the individual rose petals can wither quickly.

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Image: Save On Crafts

The original term, “Glamellia” started back in the 1940-50’s, when during the war, Camellia blooms were considered particularly expensive. The solution? Take the petals of the more common, and less costly Gladioli, and create a single bloom that looks like the more expensive flower, the Camellia.  Glamellia= Gladioli + Camellia.

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Image: Wedding Bee

The term “composite” simply refers to any handmade flower which is accomplished by placing pieces of several flowers together to make it appear to be one large bloom.

Initially, this bouquet was designed with Gladioli, but most commonly it is created with roses. These days, the sky is the limit, and I have found some beautiful examples using Cymbidium Orchids, Ranunculas, Roselilies, Lilies and I’m sure there is much, much more out there.

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Image: Wedding Wire
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Image: Svetlana Lunin
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Image: Brad Austin
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Image: Wedd Book
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Image: Hot House Design Studio

The composite bouquet is an ‘Old School’ Floristry technique, and many florists would shy away from creating this style of bouquet simply because they are not ordered often, so you tend to feel out of practice. Undoubtedly this style of bouquet is a show stopper, primarily because it is not the kind of thing you see everyday.

One of the benefits of this style of bouquet is that it is lightweight and fairly easy to handle. As all the stems have been removed it tends to be far less bulky than any hand-tied or wired bouquet. It makes a fantastic choice for wedding bouquets, especially if you want to stand apart from what is out there generally.

What do you think, are you a fan of the “Glamellia”?

Til next time,

Fwf x

Featured Image: Inside Weddings

 

 

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The Height of Fashion- Hanging Florals

Weddings are beautiful. The whole idea of marriage is inspiring, and idealistic, and often, even the simplest of affairs can hold it’s ‘audience’ captive, simply as a result of the genuine love on display and the conviction in which the vows are spoken.

But all that aside, weddings can be visually beautiful affairs as a result of talented and creative wedding professionals and open minded, inspired couples who want to make there day one of a kind in more ways than one.

These days the sky is the limit- quite literally. Venues are designed taller, bigger, better. Hiring companies offer a variety of structures that can be utilised to create intimate ‘capsules’ in which the whole scene can take place. Really the only limitations to the visual effect you create is the capabilities of your suppliers…..and your budget.

The floral fantasy wedding of just a few years ago is becoming more commonplace, with many couples choosing full floral garlands cascading along the length of their bridal table (and above!) rather than a series of smaller arrangements along the edge. Similarly, outdoor ceremonies are being favoured with gorgeous floral archways, gazebos or chuppahs becoming centrestage.

Generally speaking, if you are on a tighter budget, but would like to incorporate this concept throughout your wedding somewhere, I would suggest the ceremony is the best place to start. Firstly, it will feature in many of your photographs (the ones you actually frame and put around your house) and secondly, it will usually require a smaller area to be decorated, and thus will keep the cost down. Hanging florals can be attached to chuppah like structures, archways or gazebos, or even more unique choices like doors, and ladders. Check out some of the gorgeous examples we have trawled the net to find you below;

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Image: Wedluxe

 

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Image via Refinery 29
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Image via Style Me Pretty

One benefit of this style of decoration is that it creates a grand appearance that can fill what would ordinarily be an empty space.  It provides a more modern option to the twin pillars and alter style arrangements that have been favoured in the past to create parameters for the ceremony.  This may or may not appeal depending  on the location you choose; iconic destinations that you have chosen to show off to international guests may not require this sort of decoration, however in some ways, even a simple ‘framework’ can be utilised onsite to create an intimate focal, especially for photos.

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Image via Style Me Pretty
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Image via Mod Wedding
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Image via Deep Pearl Flowers

At the reception venue in particular, this style creates a feeling of decadence and opulence. With this style of decoration, you can expect a big price tag. Structures may need to be created, rigging experts may need to be consulted or on site for installation depending on the size, and the team required for ‘bump in’ and ‘bump out’ may need to be two, or three times the size normally required on site to get the job done in what are usually very tight time frames.

It is important to be realistic about the cost and not attempt to grind your supplier down on price as in the end, it will be you who loses out. These big and impressive concepts require a lot of work, man hours and a lot of talented people. If cost is your first priority, I would suggest this is perhaps not the best option for you.

However, if your heart is set on having flowers that are the height of fashion, and give you the feeling that the heavens are opening up for you, check out some of the hanging florals we have found to get you inspired.

Fwf x

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Image via Wed Me Good
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Image via Lucas and Co Photography
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Image via The Style Co
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Image via Style Me Pretty
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Image via The Bridal Detective
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Image via The Knot
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Image via Elegant Wedding Invites
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Image via Don’t Pay Full
Specializing in Candid Wedding Photography
Image via Pinterest

 

 

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Dressing the Space- Office Flowers

First impression matter, right? That is, afterall, what we are constantly told. Reception areas, foyers, studios, and offices are no different.  They create the initial impression you have of the establishment, from the decor they have chosen, to whether it looks well maintained or run down, whether it is clean and tidy, or looks unorganised and chaotic. It begs the question, do I want to do business with these people? Are they going to get the job done? Is this business aligned with my values?

Flowers in your work space can elevate the impression you are giving. Chose right, and the colours and textures will sing in the space, complementing the existing elements/theme. Choose wrong, and at best they simply add nothing. At worst, they add to the confusion of an already unappealing space, or pose the question ‘Why did they even bother?’

Office flowers are hard to get right. Generally they need to last a week, but on occasion, companies ask that they are only replaced fortnightly. This make our job as designers really difficult as there are very few flowers that last for 2 weeks whilst managing to look their best.

Image of an elegant office flower piece from Flickr
Image: Courtesy Cindy Anderson via Flickr
Image of a corporate flower piece by Jeff Leatham
Image: Jeff Leatham’s work at the Four Seasons

Generally speaking, the most appropriate fresh flowers for reception areas/offices/business are tropicals, lilies and native blooms. These are the most consistently long lasting flowers. These flowers however do not fit every design brief.

  • Tropicals are mostly available in vibrant colours, and have angular appearances which do not suit softer settings.
  • Native blooms come in a variety of colours, but tend to be more muted the way nature made them. What I mean by that is as is so often the case these days, many blooms are dyed, and with that, artifically vibrant native blooms are also now available. Beige Banksias pop up in the not so sublte tone of fuschia, or emerald green. Wowzers.
  • Lilies are one of those flowers that seem to divide people, and not just in the office. Oriental lilies are highly scented, so can be quite the office nuisance, setting off allergic reactions left, right and centre. The strong perfume can be a little too hard to handle in small confide spaces, and the pollen can aggravate hayfever sufferers.

Outside of these common choices, an array of beautiful flowers and foliage is available, but what is suitable for your office will depend on your needs. Disbud Chryssanthemums can be a great addition to the office flower rotation, as they are ‘softer’ in appearance yet still manage to be tough nuts, lasting a couple of weeks comfortably.

Image of the Coveteur
Image: The Coveteur
Image of the Les Fleurs
Image: Les Fleurs
Image of Thai Thomas Mai Van
Image: Thai Thomas Mai Van

Getting the most from your Flowers

  • In order to get the most from your weekly flowers, brief you designer on your requirments. If you are only open to the public 5 days, the flowers are only required to last 5 days, be clear if this is all you expect and require as it will open up alot more options for your designer to choose from. It will mean you get much more variety on rotation, interesting colours and textures that just are not available when you require your flowers to last longer.
  • Make it someone’s responsibility to top up the water, or better yet, change the water every two days.  The bacteria that grows in your vaseful of dirty water, will cause the flowers to deteriorate much faster. You can take this opportunity also to remove any spent blooms which make the overall appearance of the arrangement look dead. As an incentive, perhaps consider giving the flowers to this person at the end of each week for them to enjoy at home; the better they look after them, the more vase life they will enjoy at home. Win;Win.
  • Be open minded. Allow your designers to use a variety of containers to create unique displays for you each week. This allows them to use a variety of material, with different stem lengths to give you maximum visual effect.
  • Avoid placing your fresh flowers in direct sunlight, directly in front of air conditioning, or heaters. This quickly dehydrates your blooms, and will have them looking shabby very quickly.
  • Consider plant where your budget is limited. If your budget does not allow your flowers to be replaced at least once a fortnight, consider using plants in the office. Plants like the Zanzibar or Phalaenopsis are lush and exotic to look at, and are low maintenance so are extremely cost effective.

We’ve included some beautiful inspiration images throughout this post from some of our talented peers, but if you want to check out more of our work too, you can do that here

Til next time,

Fwf x

Image of Tempo Da Delicadeza
Image: Tempo Da Delicadeza
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Image: Jeff Leatham’s work at the Four Seasons
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Image: Nature at Work

 

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Jofia- A floral extravaganza by Jeff Leatham

A stunning bride and dashing groom were married last weekend in true luxury. Flowers literally dripping throughout the ceremony and reception with no expense spared. A detail orientated bridezilla (by her own admission) emerged as the wedding date drew near.

Following their engagement last Christmas after just 6 months of dating, with a 7 carat rock perched upon her finger, the loved up pair set upon creating the day of their dreams. They enlisted the elite in the wedding industry to help them bring it all together including floral designer extraordinaire, and rockstar in the floral world, Jeff Leatham. These are the kinds of jobs as a florist that test your ability, your creativity, your ingenuity and your ability to truly understand the vision inside your clients head and bring it to fruition but Leatham seems to be able to do it with his eyes shut. And we can only assume from the couples shout outs to Jeff online, that they were thrilled with the results.

Sophia Vergara married Joe Manganiello in a lavish ceremony At the Breakers Palm Beach Hotel, Florida, surrounded by some 400 guests, many of whom were celebrities of course.

Sophia was a vision in a gorgeous custom Zuhair Murad Couture design gown, reportedly adorned with 6 pounds of pearls and 11 pounds of sequins! Sheesh!  It was only one of three white gowns the beautiful bride-to-be wore over the weekend of wedding fun; including performances by Pitbull, pre-wedding cocktail parties, post wedding hangover brunches, Magic Mike striptease and more!

Floral designer Jeff Leatham and his team created a gorgeous orchid bouquet for the bride, and adorned the inside ceremony in The Mediterranean Ballroom, with white roses, hydrangea and orchid blooms, literally dripping from the ceilings. Sophia’s son Manolo, walked his mother down the flower lined aisle, to her waiting hunk of a spunk  to begin the ceremony which was performed in both English and Spanish.

In a stark contrast to the ceremony, the reception in the Venetian Ballroom was a rich and romantic mix of reds and pinks; a wild jungle of roses and orchids, stunning and opulent, a style that has become synonymous with Jeff Leatham. He has been awarded the prestigious  “Chevalier de L’Order des Arts et Letters”, in 2014 – The French Governments Highest Honor for Artists whom have made a significant contribution to French culture, and often his floral installations are compared to contemporary art. His style is a unique combination of his love for flowers as well as his passion for overall design. His pieces are bold statements, not merely backdrops, that focus on shape, colour and simplicity to produce a dramatic effect.

Formerly a successful male model on TV and on the runway, after leaving the world of fashion, Leatham turned to the floral world. Beginning at the Four Seasons Hotel Beverley Hills in 1994 as an assistant to the floral designer, Jeff made it clear he was extraordinary and was then made artistic director of the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris in 1999 when the hotel was still under construction. Every 3 weeks Leatham creates a entirely new concept to “knock people over” when they enter the hotel, not simply adorning the concierge desk with a vase but rather creating masterpieces that carry right through the hotels public areas and into 80% of the guest rooms. The hotel very quickly became known as the ‘flower hotel’ and is on the to-do list for many visitors to Paris.

Leatham also presents seminars to us mere motals, where we can gain insight and inspiration from his work with celebrities and for luxury brnads. Leatham has written 3 books: “FLOWERS BY JEFF LEATHAM”, “FLOWERS BY DESIGN” and  “Jeff Leatham – Visionary Floral art and Design”.

Now, I’m sure it goes without saying that this wasn’t Leatham’s first rodeo. He has a regular list of celebrity clients, and had the honour of creating the florals for the Wedding of Marc Mezvinsky to Chelsea Clinton, daughter of President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, as well as Eva Longoria, Avril Lavigne and Tina Turner. He has also serviced the floral needs of Oprah Winfrey, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, The Kardashians and Celine Dion and His Holiness the Dalai Lama and has appeared on Martha Stewart, Queen Latifah and Oprah’s show. Talk about an impressive resume!

Despite his success, Leatham hasn’t forgotten his roots and is loyal to the Four Seasons:  “Whether at the George V or outside the Hotel, everything I do is on a Four Seasons level,” he says, adding, “I’ve had an amazing career and I own it all to Four Seasons. I’ll be here until the end.”

I certainly am inspired by the sheer volume, quality and intricacies of his works. Check out the gallery below, all posted by the beautiful bride herself on her Instagram page @sophiavergara.

You have a look for yourself and see what you think,

Fwf x

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