your budget go further by choosing flowers that are in season. During the spring, many more flowers are available from local English growers. Look for tulips, arum lilies, scented narcissi, English violets and grape hyacinths. As an alternative to cut flowers, place miniature daffodils or snowdrops in pots along the middle of your tables and attach small bunches to napkins with pretty ribbon. Guests can then take the plants home as a keepsake.
Wrist corsages are ideal for giving adult bridesmaids a more contemporary look or as an alternative to a traditional corsage. Choose tulips! With over 500 varieties to choose from, they suit both contemporary and traditional style weddings. Mix up colours for a more funky look. Fill some smart mirror boxes with amaryllis, scented paper white narcissi, hyacinths and roses, for a really modern centre piece.
This is the season for lily of the valley. Its pretty white flowers resemble wedding bells and its distinctive perfume makes it a great choice for a bridal bouquet. Place a few sprigs in shot glasses to fill your reception with fragrance. Bluebells have always been a favourite spring flower but as a protected species, it’s impossible to use them for weddings.
Scillas are the commercially grown equivalent and are widely available. Combine them with forget-me-nots and pretty blossoms for a natural-looking bouquet. The trend for naming reception tables continues, at a recent wedding the bride named her tables after flowers, with each table centre made up of a different white flower – tulips, hyacinths, ranunculus, narcissi, amaryllis and lilies. The effect was stunning and made a change from the production line look of some wedding flowers.
Check out friends’ and neighbours’ gardens for pretty cherry blossom. It comes in white, pale pink and dark pink and looks great in tall glass vases. Forget raffia, ribbon is back! Satin, organza, grosgrain and taffeta – the choice is vast. Wrap it around bamboo canes to make May poles at the reception entrance. |
