Question 1

We love flowers but have no idea about all the different varieties. What will look great and be in season for our summer wedding?

Accepted Answer

Karen says: There's an amazing array to choose from and one of my go-to summer picks is the delphinium; a wonderful tall flower available in shades of blue, purple, pink and white. One of the few naturally blue flowers, it's perfect for large statement arrangements, great to fill space if your venue has a high ceiling or a large blank backdrop. Extremely versatile, they can be used not only to create contemporary designs, but also a wild country look, mix with whimsical flowers such as nigella, scabiosa and Ammi majus. A true wow-factor bloom, they can be added to hand-tied bouquets to add height and texture and look divine in a shower bouquet. There's also an abundance of colour to celebrate the season, beautiful pink, purple, white and of course yellow. Summer arrangements using all these can be very uplifting, especially if your venue is a little dark or the décor is quite neutral. Your wedding is about you though, so don't feel pressured into using an array of colours if it's just 'not you'. If a timeless classic look is more to your taste then go for white, lime green and a mix of different shades of greenery, or add a hint of colour, like the blue delphinium!

Question 2

We want our autumn wedding to reflect all the magic of the season. What would you suggest?

Accepted Answer

Sian says: I like to pair deep floral tones with metallics to create elegant and striking autumnal tablescapes. Russet and shades of pink team well with rose gold and other golden hues, while deep ruby reds work beautifully with silver accents. In my book, you can never have too many candleholders, as flickering candlelight always adds a magical intimate touch to the wedding décor. Make the most of seasonal fruit too, like viburnum berries and trailing vines to create a table runner; ideal if you're only using a few tall flower arrangements.

Question 3

We got engaged during lockdown and haven't even thought about setting the date yet. I know I want masses of lovely flowers, especially peonies as they're my favourite. I've no idea what type of blooms are available at different times of the year though. Can you help?

Accepted Answer

Nicola says: Brides often set their heart on a particular flower only to find it's out of season for the time of year they're getting married. The peony is the queen of bridal flowers, with stunning layers of delicate petals, beautiful form and colours ranging from cream to blush pink and coral, it really does steal the show. The peony has a fairly short season though from May through to the beginning of July and once they're gone, they're gone!! Late summer through to autumn brings the dahlia, which in my opinion is just as stunning as the peony. It comes in more than 400 different types in all shapes, sizes and colours, including many brides' favourite the café au lait variety. It has lots of petals and beautiful soft warm tones ranging from cream to pink and apricot. It will blend and complement any of the blush colour palettes and is available from August through to the first frosts in late October early November. Spring provides us with the stunning ranunculus, another popular choice for weddings as it has lots of similar features to the peony, but on a much smaller scale. With very delicate layered petals, there are many different shades to suit most colour schemes and it's available from early January through to April. These are three very popular varieties all very great for weddings and with very distinct seasons. So even if you can't have peonies if you decide to get married in September, don't worry as there's always a lovely alternative to take its place.

Question 4

What should we look for in our wedding flowers in order to reduce the carbon footprint of our day?

Accepted Answer

Jo says: We use biodegradable floral foam in arrangements where ever possible and other planet-friendly practices like recycling plastics and having floral trays and dishes returned to be used again. Looking to the future, it may even be worth florists introducing incentives, especially for weddings, by giving people an allowance on plastic items returned for re-use. We also use long-burning candles more than once and offer discounts to customers who are keen to minimise waste. There are a number of other things you can look out for including: - Reduced packaging - Paper and tissue wrappings instead of cellophane - Cardboard boxes for display and sending out wedding bouquets - Locally grown flowers to reduce travel miles from grower to supplier - Simple swaps back to more traditional techniques such as avoiding plastic bouquet holders - Blooms without any artificial dyes or paints

Question 5

We want the flowers to add wow factor to our big day but don't know where to start. What's set to be big for the year ahead?

Accepted Answer

Louise says: It looks like time to say goodbye flower walls, hello large statement decorations. 2020 will continue with big impressive arches, think Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry's royal wedding. Demand for hanging decorations will also continue to gain momentum particularly in the form of foliage or floral chandeliers. Both of the large designs (pictured) are made without nonbiodegradable floral foam, another really big choice for sustainable, plastic-free and ethical wedding flowers and decorations.

FAQs and expert advice about flowers & bouquets