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Rachael Smith
Owner of Vanilla Rose Florists. Tel: 020 8871 0353 or visit www.vanillarose.co.uk. |
Rachael Smith answers all your Flowers related questions |
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Red hot bouquets
Q. I would like to have red amaryllis in my wedding bouquet but I don't know what to combine it with. Can you help?
A. Rachael Smith says: These flowers look fantastic in bouquets and your florist will buy them about one week before your wedding, to ensure they are fully open on the day. In a hand-tied bouquet you could just use them alone, but if you really want to combine it with other flowers pick strong sculptural blooms as anything delicate will be overshadowed by the amaryllis. Alternatively, try mixing them with white calla lilies or, if you are getting married around Christmas time, use berries and ivy for a traditional winter look. |
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Contempary Cool
Q. We are holding our reception in a contemporary restaurant and wonder which table arrangements and flowers would complement this style best. What do you think?
A. Rachael Smith says: To create stylish, modern designs stick to one flower or colour. Instead of traditional displays consider winding flowers inside vases with some grasses. Alternatively, ask your florist to suspend flowers inside vases of water, perhaps with floating candles, which makes a simple yet stunning display. |
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Exotic Blooms
Q. I planned to have a simple bouquet for my wedding but I love Singapore orchids and would really like to include them. Would these work in the kind of hand-tied bouquet I have in mind?
A. Rachael Smith says: Singapore orchids are beautiful and have a very luxurious look. Your florist would be able to wire orchids into a hand-tied bouquet however you may want to consider a shower bouquet instead. Singapore orchids look fabulous in these and the style really makes the most of their beautiful stems. Don't worry about it looking too formal - your florist will be able to make you something less structured and contemporary if this is the look you want.
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In Budget
Q. I love the idea of some of our guests wearing buttonholes to match our wedding flowers. Unfortunately, we can't afford to supply one to everyone. Would it be rude to only give them to just a select few?
A. Rachael Smith says: No, it is really up to you and your budget. Providing buttonholes for everyone can be expensive so it is quite usual to provide them for the immediate wedding party. This normally includes the groom, best man, ushers, and the bride's and groom's fathers. You may also want to include immediate family such as brothers. To stand out from the crowd I would suggest the groom has a slightly different buttonhole to the rest of the wedding party. This could be an extra flower from the bride's bouquet or some foliage. |
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Pure and Simple
Q. I've decided I would like a very simple white theme for my wedding in April. We are having long tables as oppose to round ones and ,while I don't want anything too fussy, I would still like my flowers and reception venue to look amazing - is this asking the impossible?
A. Rachael Smith says: Absolutely not, sometimes the simplest designs can be the most effective. As you have long tables why not use different sized and shaped vases filled with just one flower along the length of it, or maybe mirrored cube vases packed with white tulips? Consider hyacinths, they not only look beautiful but smell fantastic and fill tiny 'bubble' vases with lily-of-the-valley and dot them around the table. Add a few candles and you'll achieve a fresh, contemporary look that your guests will love. |
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True Blue
Q. I'm having a blue and purple colour scheme for my wedding and would like to include roses in my bouquet and arrangements. Are there any blue or purple roses I can use other than dyed ones?
A. Rachael Smith says: Although there are no true blue roses there are varieties in a blue-mauve colour that would coordinate beautifully with your colour scheme.
In particular, look at Pacific Blue roses which are a very soft colour or Cool Water roses for a deeper mauve.
Blue roses are generally more delicate than other colours and can bruise quite easily so this is something to think about if you are considering using them for buttonholes as well. |
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Make an Impact
Q. We don't have very much room on our reception tables but I would like some kind of centrepiece that will make an impact when our guests walk in. What would you suggest?
A. Rachael Smith says: Flower arrangements don't need to be huge to make an impact.
I would suggest choosing small vases filled with strong colours and shapes.
Try lilies, which always look stunning when they are fully opened, or orchids which look fantastic and will give your arrangements the wow factor.
Guests love seeing something different so ask your florist if they can recommend any unusual flowers which are in season when you get married.
You could also scatter rose petals on your tables or include a small flower on napkin rings or next to name cards. All of these things take up very little space but look very effective. |
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