When it comes to planning your wedding, there’s so much to think about: the dress, the venue, the ceremony and, of course, the flowers. But, while I am the owner of an, albeit tiny, garden, I do not possess an encyclopedic horticultural knowledge, so the question was (cue mild panic): ‘Where do I begin?’ Here are my (and my florist's, the amazingly talented Linzi Deprez of Jack Fleuriste) top tips…
1. Make social media your friend
Not having organised a wedding before, I had no idea where to begin when it came to choosing my flowers. Pinterest was my lifeline. Look at as many images as possible to determine what you do and don’t like, then whittle down searches according to your preferences. You’ll soon get a clear idea of what style you want.
2. Look at the big picture
‘When designing wedding flowers, your florist will usually ask about your venue and dress choice,’ says Linzi. ‘Knowing more about these gives them a good idea of the style you have in mind for your big day – and your flowers can help set that.’
Think about the room(s) your having your ceremony and reception in, your guests, and what kind of vibe you want – flowers that work at a countryside gathering will never feel right in a more urban setting. Our venue was Edinburgh’s amazing Prestonfield House, an elegantly quirky boutique hotel, so the flowers had to be bold enough to hold their own against the décor.
3. Book your florist early…
And meet a few different ones. ‘Florists can get booked up to a year in advance, especially for summer weekend weddings,’ says Linzi. ‘Start planning your flowers around six to nine months beforehand.’
It’s important to work with someone who understands and shares your vision: I wanted natural, textured flowers in loose, flowing arrangements. Going with a more traditional, formal florist wouldn’t have resulted in the look I wanted. As soon as I saw Linzi’s website, with her beautiful, seasonal and slightly offbeat arrangements, I knew she was the one.
4. Trust your florist – and be flexible
A few weeks before our wedding, I had a complete change of heart about the flowers. When I’d initially met with Linzi, in summer, we’d discussed a completely different colour scheme – more bold pinks. However, it felt completely wrong for autumn. I found an image that featured soft, muted purples and greens, with succulents and snowberries, and fell in love. I sent Linzi the photo and asked if it was still possible to change direction (most florists order the flowers two weeks before the big day). Thankfully, she said yes, and produced exactly what I had in mind.
5. Keep it personal
What with my name being Fern, it seemed obvious that I should incorporate some ferns into my flowers. They, along with the season (autumn lends itself to texture and berries) created the template for wild, natural arrangements, so Linzi worked with what was at its best to create richly textured displays in soft purples, pinks and greens that, to me, reflected the colours of Scotland’s mountains, which are my favourite place on earth. My bouquet even contained, wait for it, an ornamental cabbage – I’ve never seen a cabbage look so pretty!
Linzi’s top tip? ‘Try to be as flexible as you can about flower choices. In general, florists work best with a colour palette and a clear idea of the style that you want,’ says Linzi. ‘If you have a favourite flower, your florist will always try their best to incorporate it.’ I had complete confidence in Linzi and trusted that she would create arrangements I loved, so I just relaxed and trusted her to do her job.
Linzi Deprez is Jack Fleuriste. For bookings, go to jackfleuriste.com or call 07580 701 198
All photographs by Donna Murray Photography; donnamurrayphotography.com
