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DIY Brides – Have fun!

By on February 29, 2012 in Corsage, Floristry, Floristry Courses, Weddings
Most brides we see at Green and Gorgeous want to create a natural feel to their wedding. They don't want to fall into line and ride the wedding conveyor belt, they want to 'keep it real'. Creating your own wedding flowers can be a great way of expressing yourself and ensuring your wedding day is unique to you. Many arrangements can be done the day before and is an opportunity for friends and family to come together and feel involved.
At Green and Gorgeous  we offer a combination service, alongside our supply only and full floristry service. This is for those who would like to do some of the arranging themselves but not all. We could arrange just the bouquets and buttonholes or larger elements such as garlands and pedestals too. We also hire vintage china and host flower arranging courses and hen parties, so brides can pick up a few good tips before the big day.
Creating your own wedding flowers should be fun and as long as you follow a few guidelines there is no reason for it not to be a really positive experience. Our garden flowers don't need to be fussed or over arranged, they lend themselves well to being popped into a jug or jam jar.
My Top Tips are:
  • Be realistic about what you can achieve in the time you have available.
  • Make sure your helpers can commit and know what is expected of them.
  • Be mindful of the height of your containers for the tables, make sure the flowers won't mask your guests view.
  • Be prepared and have a plan. Know what you want doing. Have a work space prepared. Have a cool storage place for the arranged flowers to go over night (not the marquee!)  and allow time to tidy up.
  • Ask advice on conditioning and how the flowers will perform.
  • Have fun and most importantly enjoy the process!

 

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Thank you so much for all of our wedding flowers. We so enjoyed arranging the table centres (I put all my arranging skills from the hen do into practise – all your hard work paid off, thank you Jo!) And the bouquets and button holes were just wonderful. The soft natural look worked beautifully with the feel of our day. We can’t thank you enough. -  Anna & Bradley

Jo Wise

 

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This Seasons Round Up

By on November 5, 2011 in Cut flowers, Floristry Courses, Weddings

We’ve been so busy that we are only just catching our breath after an incredible season. The garden has provided flowers for over 60 weddings, a string of workshops, two busy open days, mail order bouquets, plus Farmers markets and our Saturday shop. All of that has certainly kept us on our toes. There has been a riot of colour passing through the flower studio. I’m still amazed by the flowers the garden produces, it’s any florists dream. Three years on from when we set up Green and Gorgeous and I’m still 'the kid in the candy store' when it comes to choosing a palette to work with. The garden is the ultimate paint box. 

Here are a few images from this year's weddings. Hopefully the website will have it's annual makeover soon,  so we'll showcase them all a bit better then in our online gallery.

Round up

We have worked in some fabulous new venues and met some talented people. Tom Weller (www.tomwellerphotography.com ) has taken some amazing shots. He is a very friendly and talented photographer that has the ability to capture the ‘realness’ of the moment. His relaxed style has blended well with our 'garden look'. We loved this shot.

Bridesmaid emma croft

 Our Top Five venues have been:

Friars Court, Clanfield  – www.silverpearweddings.co.uk

Caswell House, Brize Norton – www.caswellhouse.co.uk

The Olde Bell, Hurley – www.theoldebell.co.uk

Notley Abbey, Nr Thame – www.notleyabbey.co.uk

I’m excited about the year ahead. Rachel and Ash are currently at a huge flower trade fair in Amsterdam, so it will be interesting to hear what people think the trends will be for next year. As we grow our flowers, we have to think even further ahead to ensure we’re growing the right flowers to suit all of our brides for 2012. There will be lots of hard work taking place over the next few months, much of which we won’t see the benefits of until spring.  I’m now busy planning my Christmas workshops,  so maybe I’ll see some of you then!

Jo Wise

 

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Wild weather and wildlife

By on September 11, 2011 in Butterflies, Cut flowers, Floristry Courses, Wildlife

Well, Autumn has come in way ahead of schedule, resulting in much dead-heading.  We really have been suffering with a wet and windy week, and is before the hurricane.

 

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And I found this nest in my tractor, which obviously means I am not getting into my cab often enough.

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Other wildlife hilights this year include this amazing chrysalis that turned into a painted lady butterfly. We maintain a healthy population of ladybirds and hoverflies in our polytunnel, whose larvae eat lots of aphids.

 

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I have not been able to identify this clever butterfly however….

 

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 Our course season has also  started in earnest, with attendees enjoying the end of summer dahlia show and some great home cooking. This Verbena always seems to sing, especially with all this dull weather we have been having.

 

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Ashley

 

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