EXPERT ADVICE

FAQs and expert advice about flowers & bouquets

Here is a selection of Q&As from Your Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wedding magazine whether it be about flowers, hair and makeup, fashion, wedding themes, health & beauty, cakes, stationery, legal advice. If you would like your question answered by our experts, please email it to editor@yourberksbucksoxon.wedding

Boho Babe

Boho Babe

Q My wife-to-be and I are going for a relaxed bohemian theme for our wedding, but we don't know where to start with our flowers. What would you suggest?
A Sarah Allen says: A relaxed, bohemian vibe sounds divine! Before I suggest colours or floral styles to any of my clients, I like to see their choice of venue, fashion and other aesthetic elements, such as the stationery and cake design. That way, I can ensure the designs I suggest will harmonise with what's around them and enhance their day. So, I encourage you to keep that relaxed, bohemian vision in mind when choosing all the elements for your wedding.

A few years ago, the boho look became synonymous with dusty pinks and nude tones, paired with macrame and Aztec rugs. It's all very sun bleached and has an Arizona desert feel. However, the true meaning of bohemian (apart from being a name for people from central Europe) is unconventional and artful. So, anything goes! I interpret that to mean rich colours and textures. Here are some of my ideas to incorporate the theme:
•Consider seasonal flowers in rich tones such as plum, scarlet and toffee, combined with coloured glassware, perhaps with a pattern or etching in gold.
•Think loose, botanical-inspired table designs in low vessels and lots of candlelight for a romantic atmosphere.
•For the bridal bouquets, consider some trailing elements or a fully cascading bouquet with twisting, whimsical foliage such as jasmine or honeysuckle for a gorgeous scent and leaf formation.
•Don't be afraid to experiment with patterns and colours on your tables. Rich, textural floral designs will work beautifully with floral napkins, a printed tablecloth and patterned plates. Think miss-matched but harmonising.
•Frame your ceremony with flowers, such as a floral arch with abundant foliage and flowers at the base. Alternatively, flowers spilling out of a selection of urns and pots of various sizes displayed at different heights could surround your ceremony space.

Sarah Allen, Love At First Sight Floristry

Flower Show Florals

Flower Show Florals

Q Can we achieve fabulous floral arrangements for our wedding by doing them ourselves?
A Ana Firth says: We have crafted an exclusive service that offers couples the opportunity to create cost-effective wedding flowers. Supported by expert video tutorials that guide them through every stage with ease, this meaningful approach is fun, personal, and a great opportunity to get creative before the big day.

Having soft-launched the brand last year, I have coupled introducing YouFloria's 2024 range with extending my expertise to new workshops, offering both DIY sessions and in-house experiences at my studio in Oxfordshire.

The first step in the DIY process is for couples to pick from one of the brand's floral colour palettes before a selection of seasonal blooms is assembled according to their budget and design preferences. YouFloria will then supply and deliver the high-quality flowers to the customer's doorstep, scheduled in time for their big day. All that's then left to do is gather some helping hands — presenting a perfect memorable activity for family and friends. Couples will also be provided with easy-to-follow PDF and video tutorials talking them through each step. The 2024 range includes a broad collection of traditional and striking flower variations, with plenty of options designed to elevate venue decor and add a touch of personal flair.

Floristry is such a memorable component of any wedding, but what makes it even more memorable is if you can do it yourself. It's this simple concept that has motivated me to build the YouFloria brand and I couldn't be more excited to launch our 2024 range. We have collated some of the best-quality floral combinations, as well as created simple and digestible guides to turn every couple into expert florists in no time!

When couples look back through their wedding photos, they will be able to see how their very own floral masterpieces made their perfect day sparkle that little bit more — and that's what YouFloria is all about. You don't need to be an expert; you just need a vision of your perfect wedding, and we will support you through the rest.

Understanding that the cost of weddings quickly adds up, YouFloria offers a solution to help couples save money without compromising on quality or beauty. Whether it's breathtaking bridal bouquets or show-stopping floral arches, my expert guidance will help make floral arrangements with meaning beyond just aesthetics.

Ana Firth, Youfloria

Something new

Something new

Q I want a wow-factor wedding bouquet featuring something a bit different – can you help?
A Laura Messin says: My newest offering and something I've not seen any other stationer or designer create is hand-foiled bouquet ribbons. Using hand-dyed silk ribbon, I delicately add hand foil calligraphy to each one in gold, silver, copper or rose gold foil and offer more than 25 silk ribbon colours with the terracotta shade a popular choice for autumn and winter celebrations.

Laura Messin, Lucca Studios

All things bright and beautiful

All things bright and beautiful

Q We're planning our wedding flowers for our spring 2023 wedding and need some inspiration – can you help?
A Lynn Lines says: Whilst pinks, lilacs and soft shades are still popular, bright pops of colour such as orange, red and yellow are making a comeback for celebrations in 2023. This is alongside dried, pressed and preserved flowers.

We're all feeling the purse strings tightening with the current economic situation so our biggest tips for keeping costs down are:

• Keep it as green as possible! Add more foliage to your bouquets and arrangements which will make them cheaper and also more eco-friendly.

• We all love a pop of colour from blooms! Researching what flowers are in season at the time of year that you're getting married will also keep your costs down.

• Repurpose your designs using your bridesmaids' bouquets to add more decoration to your venue, for example on the cake table or at the bar - the opportunities are endless.

Lynn Lines, Love Flower Studio

Follow Your Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wedding Magazine on YouTube

VISIT SITE

Latimer Estate Wedding Show

VISIT SITE

Rackleys Wedding Show

VISIT SITE

Piano with Bhav

VISIT SITE