Flowers in warm colours for a joyful July wedding day
Kayleigh and Dan married in July 2024 in Dan’s beautiful home village of Cookham, Berkshire. Not far from me, though a travel for the couple who live in Stoke-on-Trent. Kayleigh was keen to use dried flowers, both for the look and the wonderful opportunity to keep and gift them afterwards, and also keen to support a small local business - so lovely to know that couples have this in mind when planning such an important day. The only downside was that her mum had yet to be convinced of the idea of dead flowers for a wedding!
Such a happy bridal party ! Warm oranges running throughout the wedding theme. Photo: Tszlokphotos
Kayleigh’s wedding flower journey began with a visit to my very humble, flower filled work space here in Henley. The majority of my customers live too far to visit in person, so it was so lovely to meet and to be able to look together through all the potential materials, and get a feel for Kayleigh’s preferences.
As soon as we started, the list of potential ingredients grew and grew! If, as most people, you aren’t aware of the vast array of plants that can be dried, how can you possibly envisage the potential of what can go into your bouquet? Adding more textures and colours as we discovered more beauties in my stash, we mocked-up a quick bouquet, giving Kayleigh the opportunity to test out a bouquet for size and have a little taster of what was to come in a few months time!
The eventual selection of materials included dahlias, hydrangea, lonas and strawflowers in oranges, yellows, reds, burgundies; eucalyptus, and ferns for greens to break up the hot colours; cress, nigella pods, pampas, reed grass and miscanthus for texture and fluff; and little highlights of white ammobium. A really rich, warm palette that would complement the oranges of the bridesmaid’s dresses.
For the reception tables, we decided on groups of three bud vase arrangements. Living in The Potteries, Kayley and Dan liked the idea of featuring ceramics in their wedding, so we used a collection of vintage stoneware ink pots as the vessels.
Finally, the dried flowers completed the bridal party’s outfits with buttonholes and hair pieces. A large comb for Kayley, together with small pins worn in her long hair - just gorgeous! And smaller combs and pins for the bridesmaids.
Large bridal comb, with pins to the sides.
Photo: Tzlokphotos
It was such a pleasure to work with this lovely couple, and to see how the flowers fitted into their beautiful day, through the photographs of tszlokphotos.
