HerCanberra Wedding Series…..The perfect flowers
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My bouquet – David Austin rose, Silk Peony, Yellow Billy Buttons and Succulents.
Right from day dot of our planning I set about creating a colour scheme that would flow throughout our wedding including the flowers. I then did some research (mainly browsing weddings mags) to find the species of flowers I wanted.
I’m a creative person so I wanted to be as hands on as possible to help save money, and one of those areas was with the flowers. I had the bright idea of sourcing and purchasing the flowers, which in turn meant making the bouquets myself. Prices varied dramatically and exponentially and at that point I was only looking at wholesale florists, it was far beyond anything I had budgeted for. And then I spoke with Virginia from Rockabilly Floral Lane…you’ll remember her incredible work on the floral centre piece we used at our Canberra’s Most Fascinating Women dinner party.
Virginia was able to guide me through what I wanted and how it would work. I really wanted peonies but in January they are out of season so she suggested the alternative of the David Austin rose. They look identical so I was happy to have a flower that was in season without having to change the entire look.
Not only did Virginia whip up some incredible bouquets, button holes and corsages but she was able to deliver bulk bunches of baby’s breath and Billy Buttons which were used for the table centre pieces.
Bridesmaids bouquets of baby’s breath; Yellow Billy Buttons and succulents corsages for the Mums and Grandma; and button holes for the boys.
I would recommend Virginia time and time again, her pricing is near unbeatable and you can tell she has a real love for what she does so you’ll be in more than capable hands. I spoke with Virginia about the current trends for wedding flowers and why she loves being a florist.
What made you want to get into the flower business and how long have you been doing it for?
I always loved flowers growing up, then when I was in year 10 I had the choice to do work experience in a few different fields so I chose floristry. I loved it and they offered me a job as they said I had potential. I have been a florist on and off for 25 years. I have mainly worked in floristry I also spent a few years as a diversional therapist in a nursing home where I was able to create flowers with the elderly it was lots of fun.
What is the latest trend in wedding flowers?
There are a couple of trends at the moment. Monofloral (all one flower); also a prominent trend is romantic bouquets filled with fluttery flowers with lots of petals like peonies, ranuculuse, tulips and hydrangers.We are also seeing more baby’s breath and pastels as well the use of jars for reception flowers.
Most brides do like to stick to a theme/flowers for bouquets and decorations, although recently it’s changing a bit and brides are starting to mix it up.
What is the most unique or out there bouquet you’ve designed?
Probably my kitty bouquets which you can see photos of in my facebook albums. I also recently made flower puppy dogs in baskets for flowergirls.
How far out from the wedding date should brides contact you so there’s enough time to prepare everything?
Contact is essential ahead of time – even months, especially if there is a particular florist you want to do your flowers. If they are popular they could book out early. I try not to take more than one wedding a weekend because I work alone and like to concentrate on one wedding at a time.
What is the best way to store flowers the day before/ on the day so they don’t start dying?
When your florist delivers your beautiful wedding flowers they should look like they were just picked and fresh. To keep them this way place them in a cool spot and use a spray bottle with water to freshen up. If your wedding isn’t until the next day you can recut the bottom of your bouquet stems just slightly and place them in shallow water so they can still drink and stay fresh. Don’t put your flowers in your home fridge as it can be cooler than a florist fridge and can perish the flowers unless set to the right temperature.
What is your opinion of using silk flowers if the flower you want is not in season?
I think this can work, especially if the bride likes a particular flower that is out of season. Mixing real flowers with silk also can give the illusion of making the bouquet look its freshest. Always use quality silks. (On a side note the silk peonies that Virginia used in my bouquet looked like the real deal, I didn’t even realise until she told me!)
Any other tips and tricks for brides?
Just remember to enjoy your day trust your florist and do your ground work before choosing a florist so you know you will be getting exactly what you wanted.
the essentials
Who: Virginia Martin, Rockabilly Floral Lane
Email: virginia@rockabillyflorallane.com
Web: www.rockabillyflorallane.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Rockabilly-Floral-Lane
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