Wedding Flowers in Cornwall & Devon


Confusing your poppies with your peonies? Get clued up on your wedding blooms with Wed's compendium of petals

Somewhere along the path from the engagement to the wedding day, you'll be faced with a petal predicament: which flowers would you like to dress your day? When are they in season? And, most importantly, what exactly does an anemone, ranunculus or hellebore actually look like?

For those not au fait with their flowers, it can be something of a dilemma. After all, the choice of flowers is key to setting the tone, colour and even scent of your day - and a little floral knowledge goes a long way. We've teamed up with wedding florist Laura Hingston and artist Charlotte Atkinson to present our pick of the top-trending wedding flowers, along with some all-important pointers on seasonality and symbolic meanings.

Rose
Classic and romantic, multi-petal flowers available in almost every shade.
Symbolic meaning: love
In season: June to early autumn

Wedding Flowers Cornwall 7

Peony
Large, silken and scented blooms in colours ranging from pink and peach to crimson and white.
Symbolic meaning: happy life
In season: late May to early July

Wedding Flowers Cornwall 4

Dahlia
Dramatic blooms with symmetrical petals available in a spectrum of vibrant colours.
Symbolic meaning: inner strength
In season: June to October

Wedding Flowers Cornwall 13

Tulip
Cheery flowers available in a range of varieties - including double, parrot and lily - and virtually every colour.
Symbolic meaning: hopeless love
In season: March to May

Wedding Flowers Cornwall 15

Lily of the valley
Delicate bell-shaped white flowers, which occasionally may be pink.

Symbolic meaning: humility
In season: June to September

Wedding Flowers Cornwall 12

Delphinium
Elegant, tall spikes lavished with flowers in shades of bright blue, indigo, lilac or white.

Symbolic meaning: swiftness
In season: June to July

Wedding Flowers Cornwall 5

Foxglove
Bold spires of tubular flowers, commonly in pink and purple shades speckled with spots.

Symbolic meaning: healing
In season: June to September

Wedding Flowers Cornwall 9

Ranunculus
Pretty, papery clusters of petals available in a variety of shades from white and pink to red, yellow and orange.

Symbolic meaning: charm
In season: April to June

Wedding Flowers Cornwall 6

Hellebore
Dainty, translucent petals with pointed, delicate leaves, which come in a kaleidoscope of colours.

Symbolic meaning: strength
In season: January to early spring

Wedding Flowers Cornwall 11

Anemones
Delicately beautiful blooms with small, round petals and available in a wide choice of shades, from crisp white to richer hues.

Symbolic meaning: forsaken
In season: late February to April

Wedding Flowers Cornwall 1

Lupin
Dramatic spikes of petals in pretty pastel shades through to rich reds and purples.

Symbolic meaning: new opportunities
In season: late spring to early summer

Wedding Flowers Cornwall 10

Clematis
Large, blowsy flowers in a choice of shades from vivid purple to soft pink and white.

Symbolic meaning: mental beauty
In season: late spring to late summer

Wedding Flowers Cornwall 14

Poppy
Striking flowers with delicate petals in brilliant shades, from white and pink to yellow and opulent red.

Symbolic meaning: dreams
In season: May to late June

Wedding Flowers Cornwall 8

Hydrangea
Big, bold flower heads in a range of colours - particularly popular in pastel shades and blue.

Symbolic meaning: boastful
In season: July to October

Wedding Flowers Cornwall 3

Freesia
Pretty, funnel-shaped flowers with a rich scent and available in a range of colours.

Symbolic meaning: innocence and friendship
In season: July to October

Wedding Flowers Cornwall 2

FLOWER POWER
Let sentiment guide your wedding flower choices. Here are the symbolic meanings of other popular blooms

Dogwood - Endurance
Daisies - Innocence
Honeysuckle - Bonds of love
Aster - Beginnings
Hyacinths - Young love
Jasmine - Good luck
Violet - Faithfulness
Periwinkle - Promise
Primrose - Hope
Crocus - Youth
Sweet pea - Lasting pleasure
Rosemary - Remembrance
Daffodil - Chivalry
Ammi - Life

BESPOKE BLOOMS

There's something utterly gorgeous about dressing your day with personalised petals. Laura Hingston shares her top tips

1. Choose flowers that carry emotional importance. Ask yourself questions such as: what flowers did your mum or grandmother have in their bouquets? Do you have childhood memories of flowers that grew in your grandmother's garden? What was the first flower your husband-to-be ever bought you? Simply having any of these blooms in your wedding flowers can be a secret reminder for you of happy memories.

2. Use personal items in your flowers. Small framed photographs of loved ones who can't be there on your day, either placed in your bouquet or perhaps in a top table arrangement for only you and you husband to see. Trinkets or jewellery can be incorporated into the bindings of bouquets. We had a bride once who sadly lost her father before her wedding day. His favourite flower was Bird of Paradise but it didn't fit in with any of her wedding flowers. So we hid several of them inside decorations as well as wired one to the inside of a stone archway the bride walked through on her way down the aisle...only she saw it but it made her feel like her dad was there walking with her. The options are really limitless.

3. Custom beadwork or embroidery can be used to wrap the handles of bridal and bridesmaids' bouquets. We typically use Italian silk to wrap the handles of bridal bouquets but once we used antique lace that was used as a table runner for her grandmother's wedding breakfast and it was stunning.

4. Use flowers that are seasonal, which will remind you of your wedding year in and year out. Being growers as well, we often provide our brides with seeds so they can regrow their bouquet in their own garden.

5. One of the most important tips for personalising your wedding flowers is to really get involved in the design process with your floral designer. Your wedding flowers should involve more than a 15-minute conversation discussing colours and blooms! The process should involve several conversations, emails, Pinterest boards, etc. Your flowers design will evolve during this process and eventually be everything you want them to be. This can ultimately be one of the most rewarding parts of your big day!

words Rebecca Matthews
illustrations Charlotte Atkinson www.watercolourweddings.com