Authors:  Simone Gilbert & Sandy Cummins (Blumin)

Following on from our first article on “Green Weddings” we continue our series by looking at some of the more unique trends being set for wedding flowers and styling; what is driving brides to “break” the usual flower traditions and also focus on the all important “setting” for their day.  

 

 

Enchanted Forest - Flowers and Photography by Bloomin

 

Why not? They certainly conjure up romance and wonder for a winter wedding.  While most of Australia won’t encounter a winter wonderland like our northern hemisphere cousins with Snow Queen Themes resplendent with muffs and snowflakes, our more temperate winter climate still allows for crisp winter day adventures including “enchanted forest” themes with peacock and quail feathers, natural fern fronds set upon rustic tables laid out with Limoges china, bone flatware and antique vases. There’s certainly no chance of wilting blooms from 40 plus temperatures with a winter wedding!  Complement this with woodland style flowers including rich merlot colored  tulips, speckled crimson and white winter roses and  (hellebores) and wahla; you have an elegant and simple setting.  Or if blue is more your style, seasonal deep blue irises and pale water irises with grass seed heads add another dimension.  The imagination runs wild - feather save the dates, firefly lighting and vintage jewelry boxes filled with moss and miniature flowers. You can just imagine a fairy darting through the shadows.

 

A recent bride requested the fashionable “green” flower – succulents for her bouquet and boutonnieres.  This combined with the last seasonal blush of English garden roses created a beautiful and unique combination of colour textures and fragrance. Why succulents?  So apt for the Australian climate, they require very little water and especially in the height of summer, they definitely won’t wilt! And what everlasting “favours” they create - a small verdigris aged terracotta pot with wedding colour coordinated bows.  A wedding guest favour that will continue to flourish for years to come.

But with this wedding, what really stole the show?  It was a “wishing tree”, made out of twigs.  At its base a mound of moss and on the edges of the container entwined doda vine.  Here the bride had little tags on which guests could write their special message to the bridal couple to encourage and support their life together.