THE BEST OF: New Zealand Florists – Part 1

Image By Hollow & Co – Florals Stylist Co.

Flowers bring an enchanting touch of magic to your wedding day, they can reflect your style and passions as well as enhance a venue to create an unforgettable experience. We’re bringing you all of the tips and trends inside the New Zealand florist industry from some of our countries most loved and talented florists. We’ve packed so many gorgeous images and golden pieces of advice onto this one page to leave you inspired and ready to start planning your own wedding florals… Oh and this is only part 1 of 3.

1. Floral Stylist Co.

What is your ultimate favourite flower to use for weddings over the Spring/Summer season?

I have 4 at the moment ! Moth orchid -for their crisp elegant structure, hanging amaranthus – for their drama and drape, anthurium for their modern structure and hardiness, hydrangea- dried or fresh they all ways look amazing and bring a fullness to the overlook.

Where do you see floral trends heading for the next wedding season?

I see new colour palettes coming through like black and white, corals and terracottas, white sage and even blues and violets but all done in an ultra modern way never seen before.Preserved flowers , dried and fresh combined is still a massive trend. Vines on the table are being replaced with compact but effective florals.

Is there any advice you would give to couples planning florals for their wedding?

At this present time I would say to everyone BOOK YOUR DATE and worry about the details later!! With all the postponements there are not many dates left for the coming season. Also I would say that florals set the scene for your day and really are the decor item.  A few lush installations in key areas will take the look from lack luster to luxe very quickly. You don’t necessarily need flowers everywhere but the right amount in the right spaces. 

What has been one of your most memorable experiences as a florist?

I have many !! For many different reasons but some recent highlights are : Building an indoor garden of eden for H&M x Erdem  launch, flying to Tonga to create a huge wedding, Creatiing a New Zealnad landscaped themed organic runway for Juliette hogan for fashion week, a beautiful cliff top wedding in Kauri Cliffs in Keri Keri and The Twelve Tables wedding pop up..can’t  put a price on  aligning with vendors who you just work so well with .

2. Branch & Bloom

What is your ultimate favourite flower to use for weddings over the Spring/Summer season?

My garden roses and Rudbeckia sahara. When those roses first flush, I get to use them with total abandon. It is the moment when being a farmer florists ticks all the boxes.

Where do you see floral trends heading for the next wedding season?

I see the dried and fresh floral combo sticking around for a while yet but I think the dried elements will become more structured, lighter and tailored. I also believe the mix of foliage and florals in arrangements is going to take two paths, there will either be very little green foliage in an arrangement or it will be only textural foliage.

Is there any advice you would give to couples planning florals for their wedding?

Seasons are your friend, we are so lucky to have beautiful flowers and foliage all year round. I encourage couples to champion their season and together we can work out a mood, palette and style that is unique to them and their venue.

What has been one of your most memorable experiences as a florist? 

A highlight for me was meeting Saskia Havekes from Grandiflora, to me she embodies our profession with class and style while she is personable, down to earth and very hard working.

3. Blush

What is your ultimate favourite flower to use for weddings over the Spring/Summer season?

Hands down we love Phalaenopsis Orchids. There perfection and true white colour are too hard to top.

Where do you see floral trends heading for the next wedding season?

Post COVID 19 , I think it will be a little more about minimalalism, our brides love lush floral and thats our style, so we will always be about abundance but perhaps pairing back in areas where we can. Using a single variety en mass is a great idea too and then detailing it with a contrasting flower. IE Hydrangeas and Phalaenopsis.

Is there any advice you would give to couples planning florals for their wedding?

Yes, I think trust a florist to invest your floral budget as wisely as possible, flowers everywhere and on every surface don’t always create impact, choose a feature or 2 and do it well. Use your Ceremony florals to dress your Rception and remember florals are your biggest styling element so guidance on how to best utilise them is so important. 

What has been one of your most memorable experiences as a florist?

Blush designed a fragrance for ECOYA and we styled flowers to suit our scent in Sydney which was a treat as we could shop the Sydney flower markets and use all the yummy blush dyed Phalaenopsis orchids that we don’t have available here in NZ. 

4. Blossom & Wild

What is your ultimate favourite flower to use for weddings over the Spring/Summer season?

Such a hard question to answer and fav flower changes by the day but I love working with lunaria, it adds an enchanting ethereal touch to the florals.

Where do you see floral trends heading for the next wedding season?

Trends are heading towards the use of more dried and preserved floral elements worked through the floral styling.

Is there any advice you would give to couples planning florals for their wedding?

My advice for couples planning their wedding florals would be to keep in mind that flowers are an natural organic specimen, no one stem grows the same. Therefore, when compiling your inspiration imagery it’s great to gather the visual elements you love, but keep in mind that you are working with nature. Some of the most breathtaking floral art is made from working with nature as is, rather than forcing it to be exactly like a picture you have seen. If you are able to be somewhat relaxed with your vision then something unique can be created that reflects you and vibe you would like to create for your day. Trust your florist.

What has been one of your most memorable experiences as a florist?

There are so many memorable experiences with this mahi. One of the most recent was travelling to the Gold Coast to create a magical enchanted forest, where guests walked through a forest to a flower-filled glade, with florals dripping from trees, sprouting from moss, a magical mushroom patch with crystals, and flower clad horses… I love to create epic beauty that surprises and delights those who attend. 

5. Grace & Flora

What is your ultimate favourite flower to use for weddings over the Spring/summer season?

I get inspired by new blooms all the time, but I always obsess over smoke bush and hanging amaranthus. I love the unusual texture paired with a luscious phalaenopsis orchid or peony. 

Im also big on creating nostalgia with fragrant flowers. The idea that a married couple will smell sweet peas or tuber roses in 10 years time and be taken back to the same feelings from their wedding day really moves me. 

Where do you see floral trends heading for the next wedding season?

Being eco- conscious and sustainable will be hugely important in the times ahead. Already favoured by brides, the blending of ‘everlasting’ dried blooms together with fresh flowers can be done beautifully and these styles will continue to evolve. 

The sourcing and reusing of Art Deco and vintage styled vessels and vases, paired with understated, sleek and immaculate flowers will be popular. Bold, confident colours or an array of neutrals with lots of shape and texture would be both contemporary and impressive. 

Is there any advice you would give to couples planning florals for their wedding?

I know couples often get overwhelmed with the pressure of having everything be perfect.But with smaller, more intimate weddings on the horizon I would say take this opportunity to highlight what’s most important and sentimental to them – to make their own rules and play with personalised elements. 

They should also trust that their florist will look after them and respect their needs. My most memorable weddings are always when the bride references likes/dislikes, but tells me to ‘just go for it, I trust you.’ Less restrictive guidelines mean it ends up being more uniquely tailored to you. 

If the couple has selected a smaller, more intimate venue, I’m a big fan of making a dramatic statement piece like ceremony florals and/or a hanging installation, rather than feeling like you need flowers everywhere. A simple garland of greenery on the tables can be lovely- this will turn guests attention to the focal piece.

What has been your most memorable experience as a florist?

When I first started Grace & Flora on a sleep-deprived afternoon after Valentine’s Day, I sliced my hand open quite badly on a broken vase. It was the day before an important job – I had to put florals together for an event together which included a complex archway. Eight stitches later, my family all came and helped me late into the night to pull it together. They are absolute legends. 

Recently, just before going into lockdown, I had regular customers messaging saying “Honey, tell me what I need to spend, I couldn’t bear it if we lost you”. The feeling of appreciation and support from my customers is something I’ll never forget.

6. Wild Blooms

What is your ultimate favourite flower to use for weddings over the Spring/Summer season?

This is so hard! There are so many favourites but probably garden roses, not only for their colour selection but for their consistency. We know that they will always put on a good show!

Where do you see floral trends heading for the next wedding season?

We see dried flowers and foliage continuing to rise in popularity. They have many pros- they’re sustainable which appeals to the eco conscious, they provide so many different textures that you just don’t get from fresh alone, they won’t wilt in the hot summer sun, and they’re really beautiful in our opinion! A mix of dried and fresh is stunning as well. 

Is there any advice you would give to couples planning florals for their wedding?

Get the flowers and style of wedding that you want! Don’t be swayed by well meaning relatives or friends. It’s your special wedding day. Your photos and memories last forever so make sure your day reflects you and your love. 

What has been one of your most memorable experiences as a florist? 

Honestly, the day we got an email informing us that the wedding of Samantha and Charlie, photographed by Ethan Lowry Photography, was accepted as a feature for Together Journal online. We didn’t even know that Ethan had submitted it, so it was such a lovely surprise! Then to hear it made the top 10 March and April Real Weddings was so incredible to us, we are still buzzing! 

7. Lu Diamond

What is your ultimate favourite flower to use for weddings over the Spring/Summer season?

Ohhh good question! I used a lot of hydrangeas this season and made A LOT of lush Dahlia arrangements, both come in a diverse range of colours and textures which I love! 

Where do you see floral trends heading for the next wedding season?

I think with the massive economic and social shift we are currently experiencing there will possibly be more of a relaxed / pared back approach to styling..Perhaps the opulent and large scale floral installations will be replaced with more subtle and personal floral touches. To be honest I try to avoid the “trends” I prefer to stick to my personal style while working with my clients. 

Is there any advice you would give to couples planning florals for their wedding?

Be sure to style / floral your wedding day in a way that suits you and your location. You want it to feel special but not out of sorts of who you are as a couple.

What has been one of your most memorable experiences as a florist?

I can’t nominate one experience its too hard! I think the friendships I’ve made over the years working in the industry have been the most special and memorable times. From various vendors, growers, brokers, florists to clients, it’s a very fun and social industry to work in. I love it!!

8. Aster & Bloom

What is your ultimate favourite flower to use for weddings over the Spring/Summer season?

I am a sucker for a fluffy, romantic garden rose! You can’t beat them for scent and creating that ethereal look. Also dahlias, cosmos, and scabiosa.

Where do you see floral trends heading for the next wedding season?

Colour! There is always a place for green and white, but I am seeing brides be more bold with their colour choices which I absolutely love. Also minimal greenery, and maximum flower! Also smaller, but punchier bouquets.

Is there any advice you would give to couples planning florals for their wedding?

Decide what areas are the most important to you in regards to florals. Direct your budget to what you have been dreaming of – for example minimising guest table arrangements so you can have that beautiful ceiling installation. Also, allowing your florist to have a wee bit of creative freedom will very often result in something magical! Combining your dream flowers with a touch of our inspiration really can result in something truely beautiful!

What has been one of your most memorable experiences as a florist?

Seeing my bride’s tear up when their bouquets are delivered. It never gets old. It’s the best feeling ever! 

9. Honeysuckle Rose Florist

What is your ultimate favourite flower to use for weddings over the Spring/Summer season?  

Cliche I know but I just can’t go past the luscious beauty of a garden rose… I am such a romantic and nothing says love to me more than that dreamy scent and those ruffly petals.

Where do you see floral trends heading for the next wedding season?

The last few months have been time of uncertainty for so many and I think when wedding season rolls around there will be a real emphasis on the simple joy of celebrating with the ones you love. Aesthetically I am seeing this translated to large scale designs that create a sense of celebration but can then be moved and used after the ceremony to make the most of the gorgeous blooms (not to mention the wedding budget!)

Is there any advice you would give to couples planning florals for their wedding?

Before you have a consultation with your florist try and gather together images you love for the general vibe you want from your day. It’s not just images of florals that can be an inspiration, your dress, stationery and even the photographer you have chosen all form a story and help your florist create a vision that pulls everything together. Go into your consultation with an open mind so you and your florist can create a bespoke concept that will work for your unique day.

What has been one of your most memorable experiences as a florist? 

I have been lucky enough to have worked with some incredible florists while living theUK, I’ve created flowers for royalty and celebrities, incredible Christmas installations on Oxford St and demonstrated at the Chelsea Flower Show, but what I  truly cherish is the feeling I get when my brides are happy with their wedding florals… it’s the best!