A Romantic Guide to Wedding Flowers

Letting Flowers Tell Your Love Story

On your wedding day, every detail becomes part of your story — and your flowers are one of the most beautiful ways to tell it. From the bouquet you carry down the aisle to the blooms that surround your first dance, wedding florals create feeling, atmosphere, and memory. If you’re not sure where to begin, this guide is here to gently walk you through the process.

1) Begin With the Feeling You Want to Remember Before Choosing Flowers

Pause and imagine your day. How do you want it to feel as you walk down the aisle? Soft and intimate? Romantic and timeless? Light-filled and joyful? Modern and sophisticated? Your florals should echo that emotion.

Think in terms of mood, colour, and texture rather than specific flower names. Gather images that make you excited — those moments of inspiration will help your florist understand your vision more than any checklist ever could – creating a Pinterest mood board is a great tool. The Flowers ‘that follow you through the day wedding florals’ aren’t just décor — they’re companions to your most meaningful moments.

Your bouquet: the piece you’ll hold close, featured in countless photographs

Personal flowers: boutonnieres and corsages that connect you to your loved ones

Ceremony florals: the blooms that frame your vows

Reception florals: arrangements that welcome guests and set the tone for celebration

You don’t need flowers everywhere — just in the places where love and attention naturally gather. Quite often it is best to do a small number of arrangements really well within your budget rather than having too many which can look quite overwhelming & try ‘too hard’ let the seasons guide the beauty.

A stunning table setting with tones, textures and elements that set the tone

There is something incredibly romantic about letting nature lead. Seasonal flowers are at their most beautiful, full of life and movement and freshness. Trusting what’s in season allows your florals to feel effortless and organic — never forced. A skilled florist can translate your vision into seasonal blooms that capture the look and feeling you love, even if your dream flower isn’t available.

2) A Thoughtful Approach to Your Floral Budget

Wedding florals are an investment not only in flowers, but in artistry and care. Open conversations about your budget allow your florist to design something meaningful and intentional. Larger ceremony pieces, lush installations and statement designs tend to make the biggest impact. Many couples choose to repurpose ceremony florals at the reception, allowing beauty to flow seamlessly throughout the day.

3) Color, Texture, and Romance

While certain flowers are iconic, it’s often the combination of soft petals, gentle movement and harmonious colours that creates romance - think blush, ivory, soft neutrals, or muted pastels. Airy, garden-inspired designs a balance of blooms and delicate greenery. When you describe how you want your flowers to feel rather than what they must be, you give your florist the freedom to create something truly special.

4) Designed for Your Space and Your Guests

Your venue plays a beautiful role in shaping your florals. High ceilings may call for sweeping installations or elevated arrangements, while intimate spaces shine with lush, low designs that invite conversation. Florals should enhance the space—not overwhelm it—creating warmth, flow, and comfort for everyone you love.

5) Trust the Hands That Create the Magic

Your florist is more than a vendor—they are a storyteller translating your love into blooms. Share what you adore, what feels like you, and what matters most. Then trust their experience, artistry, and intuition. Some of the most breathtaking designs are born when couples allow space for creative magic to unfold.

In the end… your wedding flowers don’t need to follow trends or rules. They simply need to feel like you—a reflection of your love, your journey, and the beginning of your forever & art to be excited about. When you look back on your wedding day, your florals won’t just be something you saw. They’ll be something you felt.

Enjoy!! Arn xx

How To Create Your Own Floral Tablescape Arrangement

There’s something special about a beautifully dressed table — it sets the tone before the first plate even hits the linen. A floral tablescape doesn’t have to be complicated or costly. With a few creative touches you can turn your dining table into a work of art! Here’s my quick ‘how to’ - keep these tips in mind for your ideal Christmas setup this year.

1. Start with a Theme

Think about the mood you want to create. Is it relaxed and rustic, elegant and refined, whimsical & wild? Your theme will guide your colours and textures. For example, for a summer lunch, think soft pastels and citrus tones. For an evening gathering, rich jewel hues and candlelight always wins hearts.

2. Choose Your Colour Story

Monochromatic or wild & varied? If you’re not confident with colour combos, stick to one or two main complementary colours and let nature do the rest. Think ‘like’ shades — blush and burgundy, sage & cream, green and white — these always blend well. - Important noted : the colour/s of the Bridesmaids dresses/gowns will dictate what colour way to use. Picking just one colour adds solid dramatic effect and you can add texture and ‘wow’ by mixing flower types.

3. Pick the Right Flowers

This is one of the most important steps to making your tablescape successful. Based on your theme and colour, selecting seasonal flowers and ones that ‘last’ (hold up the best over time) are vital. That’s where your florist is so important as their guidance will ensure the biggest bang for your buck.

4. Get the Scale Right

Varying heights add instant interest. Keep your main arrangement low enough so guests can see each other, then layer smaller bud vases, tealights or fruit bowls along the table for depth and rhythm. The trick is to make the table feel abundant but not crowded. Clustering together always adds dramatic effect so well.

5. Add Creative Touches

Candles and tealights bring warmth and glow — scatter them between blooms to catch the light. Fruit (like pomegranates, lemons or berries) adds colour and texture, while natural elements such as nuts, herbs or small branches bring a hint of whimsy. Even coloured glassware or fabric napkins can enhance your floral story.

6. Placement & Flow

Start with your central piece, then work outwards. Alternate heights and shapes and leave small pockets of space so each element can shine. Step back occasionally and view your table from different angles — balance is key.

7. The Final Flourish

Dim the lights, light the candles and let your flowers take centre stage. Your tablescape should feel welcoming and uniquely you!

Enjoy!! Arn xx

Left to right ideas: Pick a single colour tone in flower varieties; one colour on mass creates dramatic effect; mixing colours with complimentary tones for punch and vibrancy; incorporate potted plants to add bold scope; use your favourite Christmas/seasonal ornaments & trinkets in the display; fresh fresh and vegetables provide texture and interest


VALENTINES DAY →

Modern Valentine’s Day, as everyone knows, symbolically signifies expressions and tokens to showcase love - both romantic and platonic. Indeed, #valentinesday and #galentinesday are mainstream across social media. The tradition of the Day however, is steeped deep in history, dating back centuries, with many religious and pagan links. The Catholic Church celebrated Saint Valentine or the Feast of Valentine on Feb 14th and Lupercalia was the pagan celebration linked to fertility and Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture.

Modern Romance

Moving forward in time, Valentine’s Day became associated very much with nature and nature’s connotations of romance or love. For example, in Middle Ages, it was widely believed (in France and England) that February 14 was the beginning of birds’ mating season, contributing to the notion that that it should be a day for romance (in fact it was believed that birds proposed to each other or married on that day)!

With my family roots and history in Slovenia, I was interested to learn that Saint Valentine or ‘Zdravko’ was one of the saints of spring, the saint of good health and patron of beekeepers and pilgrims. The proverb "Saint Valentine brings the keys of roots" signifies the beginning of plant and flower growth on this day. Historically it has also celebrated the commencement of work in the vineyards and in the fields.

Fast forward to the 18th Century, it had become customary to send cards and exchange gifts to express love. This tradition has held true right through to today.

I find it so fascinating of nature’s connections to Valentine’s Day and now how appropriate, fitting and symbolic of the gift of flowers are! Whether you’re a traditionalist, loving red roses, or more contemporary and embrace a variety of colours, nothing, I believe expresses emotion like flowers!

Left to right : Romantic Roses, Wedding Bouquet, Valentine’s Day Flowers

Signing off with pure romance - a poetic phrase by Ludwig van Beethoven to his beloved, meaning “from this day forward, what is mine and yours is now forever ours”

“Ever thine, ever mine, ever ours”…

X Arne

My favourite flowers during each and every year!

Of the most regular questions I get asked is “Arnie, what is your favourite flower”? Whilst I do have one that stands out for all time - the Dahlia (which I’ll explain about a little later in this blog) I like to think about favourite flowers across all the seasons! Spring, summer, autumn and winter presents us with their own special ‘gems’ to treasure at each particular time of the year.

SPRING … Ahh, perhaps the most challenging of the seasons to pick a single favourite, so I might list a couple 😉 of my absolute favourites.

Purple Violets!

The violet. Tiny, fragrant and delicate, violets are perennial flowers that grow well in shady spots as they are protected from wind and too much sun. The symbolism of the violet is linked to love and affection and really is appropriate given its heart-shaped leaves. Appearing in a variety of single/solid colours, as well as bicoloured, my favourite by far is the purple! Violets can be traced back to ancient Greek and Roman times as it was used to treat illnesses. Known for its incredible fragrance, the fragility and short window span of the violet is what makes it extra special.

Lilac. Nothing can by-pass Lilac’s aroma and colours. Commonly known as the ‘Queen of Shrubs’ due to it’s hardiness, it’s blooming season is typically earlier on in Spring and has a very limited flowering period. Like the violet, only being able to enjoy the beauty Lilac for such a short period of time, makes it so memorable to me.

Heavenly Hydrangea!

SUMMER … Hydrangea! Although first cultivated in Japan, ancient fossils of hydrangea have actually been found in North America from Jaw Mountain in Alaska, dating back 23 million years ago!

As natural pH indicators, the active gardener can try to manipulate the colour of hydrangeas by adding fertilisers and other elements to the soil they are grown in. Hydrangea flowers will turn blue when the soil is acidic and pink when the soil is alkaline.

For me, hydrangea en masse, in the blues, pinks and whites (& available in many other colours and varieties i.e. Paniculata, Oak Leaf, etc ) all are simply heavenly! And then there is the warm rich tones of the Autumn hydrangea - they continuously giving, flowering from Spring - Autumn. From a floristry and creative perspective, hydrangea is golden in terms of being a base, or flower anchor. This foundation is critical in constructing arbours, installations and even vase arrangements.

AUTUMN … Now, remember my opening statement about the Dahlia! This is the flower that I wish my coffin to be draped in (that is how truly fond I am of this truly beautiful flower). The Dahlia origin is Mexico (it is Mexico’s national flower)!  Dating back hundreds of years, the hollow stems of these plant were often used for hauling water to travelling hunters. Exploration of Dahlia as native to Mexican natural history around 1570, but it wasn’t until the 18th century, when botany was developing as a science, that dahlias were first cultured in Europe.

The Dahlia is my No.1 favourite because of its many colours and forms. As a floristry flower, it absolutely brings to every arrangement a very certain “je ne sais quoi”! They are happy, colourful, moody and loved by so many.

Left to right : Dahlia’s, Cymbidium Orchid, Hydrangea

WINTER … Winter is of course the season for many flower species’ ‘sleep’ period. An absolute stand out for me during the colder, darker months is the Cymbidium Orchid. Available in the most stunning array of colours – from magentas and chocolate through to lime green, bright lemons and yellows, pinks and much more.

Also known as the boat orchid – the term ‘cymbidium’ comes from the word ‘cymba’ which is Latin for ‘boat’. This of course, references the flower’s boat-like shape. As a flower that blooms in Winter and into Spring, the Cymbidium Orchid was cultivated thousands of years ago in China. In fact, it is referenced in the Chinese philosopher, Confucius’s writings for beauty and fragrance. Able to withstand cold is due to the early Cymbidium varieties, which first grew in the forests of the Himalayan Mountains.  

I love the Cymbidium Orchid for their flush of spectacular colour, their waxy textured petals and as either a potted plant, or cut stem, offers an extended and long-lasting bloom life which makes them exceptional during the more dormant season of Winter - and a great indoor plant.

There are so many more flowers in my ‘love box’  like delphiniums, gloriosa lily, flowering dogwood, flannel flower, lily of the valley… the list is endless.

It is also a great reminder that knowing your seasonal flowers and of course buying in season is best for sustainability and ensures that your flowers life-span are at their peak in terms of freshness and durability.

Curating your own favourite flowers of the year is a fun and insightful thing to do.

Always,

Arn x

From Farm to Vase... The floral journey … a slow movement industry

So, what’s behind the bloom?

‘Slow fashion’ and ‘farm to fork’ have been highlighted (and quite rightly so) over recent years because of their focus on the importance and value of how produce and materials are made and eventually become available to you, as a customer.

From Farm to Vase

Considering the floral industry as part of the ‘slow’ movements is important and puts into perspective how and why the quality and cost is currently determined. When you are given or buy flowers, a chain of many people and businesses have been working with each other to ensure bloom presence in shops, for you. This process, all the knowledge, practice and evolution is years in the making.

Starting from cultivating & growing, to harvesting, transportation, distribution and design, each link in the chain is affected by aspects beyond control, like seasonality, climate dependence, perishability through to logistical coordination issues, long hours and physical demands. The value of flowers is influenced by all these aspects. What is overlooked, is the HUGE amount of ‘behind-the-scene’ aspects that play a part in this industry and are, unfortunately, highly under-valued. It is all this ‘silent’ work that is pivotal in making flowers, ‘happen’.

For starters, consider the grower of flowers. Factors like the growth time of species, climate changes, feeding, weeding, harvesting, approaching businesses for sales. Consider then, the face-to-face shopfront of being a florist. Years and years of practicing your craft, evolving your techniques and skills to match industry trends, improving creative thinking to be innovative in a very competitive space. Hours and years spent building relationships with growers and suppliers to secure the freshest, most beautiful and in my case, the more unique and special offerings.

Long hours - pre-dawn cuttings and market runs, late night creations, midnight bump-outs from weddings are a given but not really acknowledged as part of the service. Behind the scenes, well before creating is even considered, there are constant consultations, contract writing, proposals, emails, phone calls, All part of the process, yes, but in order to have an amazing bouquet, function or wedding, the slow build up to the end result is foundational.

Additionally, the pressures of COVID and economic stress caused by raising inflation and interest rates are hitting ALL small businesses, tremendously. The heart-breaking increase in small business falling and closing is evident and leaves a huge ‘gap’ - which is why the voice of ‘slow’ or mindful production and produce is so important. The pressures over the last few years were felt and are still now hitting he floral industry chain - from cultivation, harvesting, transportation, distribution and design.

As a florist whose been in the business for over 20 years, presently is perhaps the most challenging of all years in the trade, not only for shopfront florists, but for partners in the floral industry. That is why, now, the power of local, community support is vital, and so gratefully appreciated.

Always,

Arne x

Our Garden

The ability to create beautiful arrangements is without doubt the abundance of flowers, foliage and berries we use. The berries, seed heads and other interesting textural and tactile elements our gardens gives us is an enormous pleasure in so many ways.

Barry and I purchased our block about 16 months after the 1983 Ash Wednesday bush fires suffice to say there was no garden to speak of, however, we were endowed with beautiful terracing although these needed to be restored and repaired. There was a lot of cleaning up to do before we even considered planning a garden.

The next stage was the home, we built this on the original house site, which, naturally gave us the boundaries on which to plan the garden. I didn’t know much about gardening or even planning a garden back then.

Our instinct was to plant a number of trees to compensate for the bareness left by the Ash Wednesday fires, planting a number of trees such as Oak, Copper Beech, Golden and green Ash, Elms, Maples, Crab Apples, Dogwoods and a copse of Silver Birches. The eucalypts were already re-establishing themselves. My very first tree I planted was the majestic Mt Fuji Cherry tree, which after 30 years of growth, has now a trunk girth of nearly 1.5 metres and canopy of nearly 7 meters. This is the tree we enjoy sitting under in summer.

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Next was to plan the perennial beds; today called a ‘cutting’ garden. Most of our beds are designed to be open for ease of access, however, during the process we planted a number of ‘Buxus’ hedges for an element of formality. During he early years of our garden and planting we included David Austin and hybrid tea roses, delphiniums, dahlias, peonies and other interesting perennial and a lower canopy of shrubs of different varieties - viburnums, azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, climbers such as wisteria, clematis and hydrangea and my favourite climbing rose ‘Albertine’.

The next life cycle of our garden was the drought. We struggled through a close to 15-year drought, water being so precious at this time I had the attitude that it had to survive with or without any watering. We did lose a couple of silver birch trees and rhododendrons, one of my favourites ‘Fragrantisima’ sadly didn’t survive, but luckily the rest managed to survive.

Twenty-five years on the top canopy of trees have grown enormously and have provided welcoming shade from the summer heat, however, casting such a wide shadow has impacted on my perennial beds. I had decided to remove perennials and roses that no longer flourished and introduced a number of shade-loving plantings, increasing my hellebore beds, introducing Hosts, delicate cyclamen and a number of other interesting shade loving perennial plants and bulbs.

Our garden is ever evolving, trying to keep pace with the ever-changing weather patterns, our personal needs and how e would like to enjoy our time with the garden. My next ambition is to plant shade-loving native varieties.

Although I do use my garden on occasions for my business as a florist, primarily it is a garden that has grown with us and our life style.

Make your garden your own.

In the beginning ...

… I look forward to sharing my love of flowers and all things floral and garden … I’m excited to be sharing my world ... I hope you get inspiration and encouragement for your own personal pursuits … a floral journey!

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