If you’re looking for a way to bring your day together with ease, start with your flowers.
It might seem like just another element of décor, but floristry is key to creating the look and mood you envision, effortlessly tying every detail into a cohesive and effortlessly bespoke aesthetic.
Perdie's Flowers Checkered Photography
“Wedding flowers are one of the most beautiful ways to tell the story of a couple and their day,” says Perdie Griffith-Gilham from Perdie’s Flowers (perdiesflowers.co.uk). “Flowers should never feel like just another item on the checklist. They should reflect the couple, the setting and the feeling of the day: natural, joyful and completely personal. Some of the most special weddings include thoughtful touches such as flowers grown in family gardens or blooms that hold a memory for the couple – or even using a scented herb or flower that brings those memories back each time you smell it.”
Blossom & Kelp Mark Shaw
We asked the experts what every couple should consider when it comes to their wedding flowers...
Concept & palette
Whether you have a clear vision or no idea where to begin, your florist will take the time to get to know you and the details of your day, creating a mood board to match.
“Don’t worry if you don’t have a fully formed vision or a perfect palette when you first sit down with a florist. We actually love the blank canvas!” enthuses Rachel Millson-Hill from Blossom and Kelp (blossomandkelp.co.uk). “Part of our craft is helping you develop that concept by asking about your venue, your dresses and even your personality – whether you’re a laid-back soul or someone who finds beauty in perfect organisation – we can begin to map out a floral plan designed just for you.”
Victoria Bampfield-Hammond from The Woodland Atelier (thewoodlandatelier.com) adopts a similarly personal approach, with no preconceptions to ensure a collaborative and organic process. “I always encourage an initial conversation about the type of day my couples imagine, including the colour palette and flowers they’re drawn to. From there, I can begin to understand the style and atmosphere they hope to create with fresh flowers and suggest ways to bring it to life.”
The Woodland Atelier
Establishing the key elements – from colour palette to favourite blooms – while allowing space for creativity – both your own and your florist’s – will set things in motion. From there, you can begin to consider specific flowers and placements, alongside details such as symbolism, scent, visual impact and sustainability.
“My background in art, design and photography shapes the way I approach every wedding. It gives me a strong eye for colour, composition and detail, and allows me to see the whole picture – how flowers move through a setting and transform a venue,” explains Perdie. “From large marquee installations filled with seasonal blooms and foliage to romantic venue styling, statement arches, meadow-style arrangements, milk churn displays, table centrepieces and delicate personal flowers such as bouquets and buttonholes – every design is created to suit the couple and their surroundings. Some weddings call for dramatic installations that cascade from above, while others are more intimate, where a beautifully crafted bouquet and a few meaningful arrangements create all the magic needed.”
Perdie's Flowers Mark Horton
Ceremony flowers
Depending on the setting and season, your florist will create designs that work in harmony with your surroundings – starting with the ceremony.
“Your venue’s layout and logistics are the primary directors of your ceremony floral design,” says Rachel. “To truly maximise the space, I always recommend a venue walkthrough with your florist. Seeing the scale in person is vital – a large driftwood arch is a showstopper for a windswept beach, but it could feel overwhelming in a small, intimate chapel. Beyond logistics, think about framing. Investing in a ceremony backdrop and aisle flowers helps anchor the aesthetic and ensures the focus remains exactly where it should be during your vows.”
Blossom & Kelp Sofie Michelle
Victoria points out that the ceremony is your guests’ first introduction to your flowers, making it worthy of special attention. “I love aisle flowers and pew ends, using scented blooms and aromatic foliage with silk ribbons that catch the breeze,” she says. “Larger arrangements with trailing vines, blousy old-fashioned roses and masses of candles set the most exquisite scene.”
Perdie also considers how floral design interacts with outdoor settings, particularly in relation to the “weather and what the venue already offers,” she explains. “Many venues already have arches or structures, and I also stock a range of arches and styling pieces. Often, the most effective approach is not to compete with the surroundings but to frame them – especially here in Cornwall, where you might have a sea view or rolling hills behind you. Flowers can highlight the couple while still allowing the landscape to shine.”
Perdie's Flowers Clare Kinchin
For marquee weddings, it’s important to consider the interior as well as the backdrop outside. “Installations can transform the space overhead, while pole decorations, entrance flowers and statement table arrangements bring warmth and atmosphere,” adds Perdie.
The Woodland Atelier
Personal flowers
While the look is important, so too is how your flowers make you and your guests feel. From intricate details and meaningful touches to symbolism, this is where florals become deeply personal.
“In my opinion, bouquets and boutonnières should be chatted about for hours!” laughs Victoria. “Consider the size and shape in relation to what’s being worn, and don’t forget scent and texture. I love the inclusion of hidden details – lockets, a single bloom to represent a loved one, or even a handwritten note. I love using antique lace and silk ribbons and imagine them washed and tucked away as a forever keepsake after the wedding.”
Natural Elements
With endless ways to add a poignant flourish, flowers can become a reflection of your story. “Don’t be afraid to ask your florist to incorporate something meaningful – a ribbon, a trinket or a flower that reminds you of someone special,” says Rachel. “I once visited a bride’s family garden to cut flowers planted by her dad years before. It meant she felt he was with her on the day.”
The Woodland Atelier Risen Wild Photography
Reception & tablescapes
From look and feel to flow, consider how your florals will evolve as the day moves from ceremony to reception. Alongside creating atmosphere, they should complement how your guests interact with the setting.
Perdie's Flowers Mark Horton
“Your reception and tablescapes are the perfect canvas for your individuality, but they must also be practical,” says Rachel. “There is nothing worse than a beautiful display that blocks guests from chatting across the table. To strike the right balance, I recommend a venue walkthrough or speaking with your florist if they’ve worked in the space before. If you want impact, hanging installations are a brilliant solution, while floral meadows can transform the entire space.”
Blossom & Kelp Yeah Mike
Victoria agrees. “Most time is spent at the table. A simple footed bowl of flowers with candles looks stunning, and keeping arrangements fairly low means guests can see one another. Alternatively, go high – placing flowers above the eyeline in elegant vases or on frames. Filled bud vases look beautiful in abundance, as does a flower-studded garland with masses of fragrant foliage, fruits and herbs.”
Natural Elements
Sustainability & seasonality
With the average wedding estimated to produce 14.5 tonnes of CO2, considering the environmental impact of your day is more important than ever – and your flowers offer a natural place to start.
Perdie's Flowers Rabbit House Studio
“Always choose seasonal blooms,” encourages Rachel. “You’re guaranteed flowers at their peak – resulting in more vibrant colours, sturdier stems and heady fragrances that imported varieties simply can’t match. Environmentally, it reduces the carbon footprint by eliminating the need for long-distance refrigerated shipping and intensive greenhouse heating. By working with nature rather than against it, your flowers will look and feel more at home in their surroundings while supporting local biodiversity and sustainable farming practices.”
Perdie's Flowers Clare Kinchin
FLORAL NOTES
Here, Perdie, Rachel and Victoria share their expert advice for creating truly memorable wedding flowers...
Book early. Popular florists often book 12–18 months ahead, especially for peak wedding dates. Perdie
Start with what you love. Look to what you love – from colour and fashion to interiors, art and culture – for inspiration, then let your imagination lead. Victoria
Be open about your vision and budget. Knowing your floral ‘ceiling’ allows your florist to direct those funds towards the details that will have the most impact. Rachel
Choose your florist for their style, not just their price. Flowers do far more than decorate — they shape the atmosphere and appear in lasting memories and photographs. The right florist will always work with your budget, but choosing someone whose style you love and whose vision you trust will make all the difference. Perdie
Embrace creativity. Whimsical and detail-rich, with meaningful touches, remembered scents, favourite rose varieties and a sense of theatre, the most imaginative briefs often lead to the most unique results. Victoria
Look to small details for inspiration. The silk of a tie, a piece of vintage fabric or an heirloom passed down for your wedding can spark the most beautiful palette. Rachel
Consider floral meadows. Flexible, romantic and adaptable, they can be shaped to suit almost any space. Designed to work across different styles, sizes and budgets, they also move seamlessly between ceremony and reception spaces. Perdie
The Woodland Atelier
Main image Blossom & Kelp/Yeah Mike Photography
