Wedding Tips: Questions to ask your florist if your wedding has been postponed.
For many of our couples, the dream day that they have spent months, even years planning, is being postponed. These postponements are due to government restrictions surrounding the Coronavirus. For many couples, these dramatic changes are happening in the final hour.
We know that our venues have been working tirelessly to find new dates that can work not only for the couple, their family and friends, but also their caterers, production teams, entertainment, celebrant, cake designers, florists and many other parties.
Photo Credit: Imogen Xiana Venue: Royal Hospital Chelsea
It's a lot to take in. It can seem you're re-planning your day from scratch when many details have to be altered, all thanks to a date change. A shift from Spring to Autumn can mean that outdoor elements need an inside alternative, menu choices may have to change, bridesmaids' outfits might need that extra layer, and of course, flower types will vary.
Speaking to the team at Hampton Court Palace on the differences between Spring and Autumn weddings at their venue the team said: "A spring wedding at Hampton Court Palace offers a lot… our immaculate gardens can be the perfect floral backdrop to your big day - you can literally come and smell the roses. [However] Autumn is such a beautiful time of year to get married, especially at Hampton Court Palace, your wedding photos will look sensational in the autumn glow, as the rose-red Tudor brickwork of the palace perfectly complements the autumnal colour palette. How fabulous to have your flowers magnificently match your venue - we're thinking deep reds and burnt oranges!"
Photo Credit: Phillipa Sian Venue: Hampton Court Palace
As florists, we embrace the change of season for the new flower varieties it brings, but for those who perhaps don't have this floral knowledge, it can be daunting knowing what will be available. So here to help those couples is our guide to seasonal Autumn flowers! This list is not exhaustive, but it includes some of the most common and well known Spring florals – a Hall of Fame if you like.
Spring Option: Blossom
The ever-popular blossom branches are at their most perfect around April and are a popular choice for weddings because they bring a rustic flair while providing height and drama to arrangements. Their soft florals are also perfect for romance.
Venue: Royal Hospital Chelsea
Autumn Alternative: Branches and Twigs
Branches and twigs are perfect for an Autumn wedding as they reflect the changing landscape outside. Similarly to blossom, they add drama and height whimsically and naturally. Just because they are branches doesn't mean they have to be bare, ask your florist to tie flowers amongst them such as roses, orchids or other florals to match your designs (they will be able to advise you on this).
Venue: Victoria & Albert Museum
Spring Option: Peonies
Blousy and beautiful, peonies are one of the most requested flowers we get from brides. With our company name as it is, we have phone calls all year round asking if we can source them! Unfortunately, their window is relatively short (from late April to mid-June reliably), and so alas, we can't grant everyone's wish list.
Photo Credit (L-R: Holly Clark Photography, Pinstripes and Peonies)
Autumn Alternative: Dahlias
Reliably around from September, these beauties have an almost mythical end date of "when the first frost hits" – which we usually find to be mid-November. Conveniently, dahlias come in pretty much the same colours as peonies including white, cream, blush, peach, pink and dark burgundy (as well as tones of orange, yellow and coffee).
Venue (L-R) Wallace Collection, Hampton Court Palace, Pinstripes and Peonies Studio
Spring Option: Sweet Pea
The fluttery and fragrant sweet pea can add a delicate touch to your wedding flowers. Often found in bouquets, flower girl posies and smaller table centre designs, sweet peas may be small, but they pack an almighty punch.
Photo Credit: (L-R) Pinstripes and Peonies (1st and 2nd) Billy Edmonds, Jennie Cumlin
Autumn Alternative: Freesias
Available all year round, freesias are equally as delicate and beautifully fragrant as sweet peas. An added benefit is that they are much hardier than sweet peas which makes them great for buttonholes, hair flowers, no water venues and more.
Central Image, Credit: Flo Brooks Photography
Spring (& Summer) Option: Delphinium
Although available from May right through the summer months, it stops looks its best around mid-October. (Variations of it can now be found year-round due to demand, but we wouldn't always recommend it). Available in a range of colours it is most popular for weddings with a blue colour palette because of its range tones from vivid azure to soft powder blue.
Last Image, Photo Credit: Holly Clark Photography
Autumn Alternative: Blue Thistles
Blue is a tricky colour for Autumn and Winter, but fear not, there is always something available! As mentioned above, your florist should still be able to get hold of some delphinium; however, if you want to top it up with some more vivid blue try thistles. Just as whimsically meadow-esque it works well with dark purple florals, such as veronica or iris) to make the blue pop.
Last Image Credit: Imogen Xiana
So there we have it, an introduction but by no means an exhaustive list. Hopefully, this will show you that there are options out there, so fear not! If there is a particular flower type that we haven't covered and you want to know more on, do ask! We love talking flowers!
Quarantined Regards & Flower Power,
The Pinstripes and Peonies Team x