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… Continue reading below for part 2 of 3.
1. Leaf & Honey
What is your ultimate favourite flower to use for weddings over the Spring/Summer season?
There are too many to name, peonies, dahlias and hydrangeas for their beautiful big heads. Foxgloves, phlox and achillea for their beautiful tone and texture. Clematis vine and sweet pea tendrils for their form….
Where do you see floral trends heading for the next wedding season?
Hmmm, we generally try to stay away from trends and try to advice our couples to go for something personalised, beautiful, timeless and modern. If someone loves a current trend we would tend to look at it in a more subtle way, a nod to the current trend rather than an OTT approach. Going forward we see refinement in the future. A delicate softened touch to a structured look. Fresh ideas, simplified and personalised design.
Is there any advice you would give to couples planning florals for their wedding?
It can be quite overwhelming looking at all the different styles and images out there. No matter what your personal taste is there is the perfect florist/stylist out there for you. I would say look around, if you see someones florals that speak to you overall, get in touch and trust them to come up with the perfect designs. Just like in fashion, trends come and go, we always say to our couples, imagine looking back on your images in 5 years time.
What has been one of your most memorable experiences as a florist?
We have been so lucky to have had many many crazy and memorable experiences but our fondest memories are of the people we meet. That is what leaves the most impression on us. The couples, growers and creatives we get to work for and alongside allow us to continue to create those memorable experiences. We are very grateful for those connections.
2. Le Fluer
What is your ultimate favourite flower to use for weddings over the Spring/Summer season?
I love poppies for there airy execution in design work but im also a sucker for fully blown peonies!
Where do you see floral trends heading for the next wedding season?
I can see alot more brave colour alot less foliage and a real minimalistic vibe.
Is there any advice you would give to couples planning florals for their wedding?
Trust your florist to pull your visions together create a friendship, and try not to get too caught up with particular flowers.
What has been one of your most memorable experiences as a florist?
I honestly can’t pick! There have been so many pinch me moments i guess being able to work as a full time wedding florist is forever a memory ill cherish!
What is your ultimate favourite flower to use for weddings over the Spring/Summer season?
We adored our locally grown blooms this season – incredible Dahlias, freshly picked morning of some of our beautiful brides wedding. Zinnias in all of their incredibly vibrant colours & of course we can’t go past the all time wedding flower – the Peony. Most of our feature flowers are locally grown here in Wanaka & we love telling the story of how they came about, the love that goes into the blooms that make it into our brides & grooms arrangements.
Where do you see floral trends heading for the next wedding season?
Really feeling the shift into COLOUR – which is our all time FAVOURITE aspect of wedding flowers that we get to have a little creative freedom with. To stand out from the norm is a challenge we happily accept here at The Green Room!
Is there any advice you would give to couples planning florals for their wedding?
Trust your amazing vendors; do your research, choose the vendors who you feel comfortable with, who you vibe with, and whose style makes you smile. And if you really need to then send them a simple list of ‘do’s & don’ts’ and leave them to it! You’ll ALWAYS be pleasantly surprised, if not absolutely blown away when creative freedom (and a little magic) is left up to the experts.
What has been one of your most memorable experiences as a florist?You can’t beat a lovely bride (or groom!) bursting into tears when you walk through the door with a bundle full of beautiful flowers made especially for them. It gets us every time.
4. Twig & Arrow
What is your ultimate favourite flower to use for weddings over the Spring/Summer season?
For Spring and Summer, Ranunculus and/or Parrot Tulips are my all time favourites – i’m a sucker for a good Parrot Tulip. The way they develop over time, completely changing day to day, always surprising you is so special.
Where do you see floral trends heading for the next wedding season?
Well, there will definitely be an emphasis on dried florals I think, and colour! We see a lot of orders for things that are colourful and tonal, as opposed to the classic white and green or white and blush – so I think that’s where the trends are headed.
Is there any advice you would give to couples planning florals for their wedding?
To be open to letting the professionals do something really unique for you. Only use websites like Pinterest as a source of inspiration, that way you won’t be replicating someone else’s special day, you’ll have something totally unique to you and your partner.
What has been one of your most memorable experiences as a florist?
Being asked to do the florals and styling for Holly Whittaker’s wedding was definitely very memorable for me. We had been asked to turn the family’s vintage car garage into an elegant, industrial venue, and create an absolutely massive installation above their tables. Ultimately any wedding no matter how big or small is important to me, but when I’m challenged creatively with a space or brief, it’s always really fun.
What is your ultimate favourite flower to use for weddings over the Spring/Summer season?
It would have to be garden roses… you just can’t beat their beauty and smell! We’re so lucky to have locally grown ones here on Waiheke.
Where do you see floral trends heading for the next wedding season?
I’ve been noticing that people are starting to move towards a more ‘floral heavy’ look, the greenery heavy look was very popular a couple years ago and it feels like we’re moving back towards lots of florals- which I love!
Is there any advice you would give to couples planning florals for their wedding?
I highly recommend asking your florist if they have any suggestions! Definitely express your ideas and share what you like/ don’t like, but I can’t recommend enough asking your florist if they have any ideas. As florists we are constantly being exposed to new ideas and inspiration and if you’re open to ideas you might be blown away by the amazing concepts your florist is hoping someone will ask them to do! What has been one of your most memorable experiences as a florist?My first day of the Undone Floristry workshop in 2017. I had never touched flowers before in my life and I walked in there on day one, having signed up for the course a week earlier on a whim with this gut feeling it was the right thing to do. I don’t think I had any idea what an incredible impact flowers would have on my life.
6. Jardin Bell
What is your ultimate favourite flower to use for weddings over the Spring/Summer season?
Tricky question for any florist.. I have to say the Dahlia is my favourite summer bloom just as it comes in so many types, sizes and colours. I often grow many varieties too. Spring brings sweet peas and just anything scented is a go to for me.
Where do you see floral trends heading for the next wedding season?
Given recent events I feel that bride & grooms may scale back a bit on the big installs and have more table flowers, archways and bridal party florals. For colour I feel lilac and that bold peachy tone will be a hit!
Is there any advice you would give to couples planning florals for their wedding?
Don’t fall into the must haves, it can add up – it still needs to reflect you as a couple. If you don’t want to toss your bouquet and so on!
What has been one of your most memorable experiences as a florist?
It is later this year, the biggest wedding to date. I can’t share the details, so you will have to be following me closely to see when and where.
7. FLWR
What is your ultimate favourite flower to use for weddings over the Spring/Summer season?
Tough question for a florist! It’s like asking a mum to pick a favourite child. If I really had to choose some particular flowers it would be garden roses and peonies as the central statement feature in a design and scabiosa as a perfect complementary gesture flower that helps with the overall shape, depth and movement.
Where do you see floral trends heading for the next wedding season?
In my opinion, the current trends are leaning towards more natural and loose shapes. Too symmetrical arrangements or shaped with perfect geometry are less popular but everything depends on a particular wedding style and design. And of course sustainability! It does matter now: working with local growers and avoiding single-use materials as much as possible.
Is there any advice you would give to couples planning florals for their wedding?
Be brave with color. Pale pink and white are safe and always work, but there are so many amazing combinations of hues and shades that could surprisingly compliment and multiply your wedding mood and play in conjunction with your venue, table setting and bridal party. And trust your florist!
What has been one of your most memorable experiences as a florist?
I am very grateful and I truly am lucky to be a part of one of the happiest and anticipated days in the lives of my clients. Hearing “that was much more than I expected” from them is the best reward.
8. Rock N Rosie
What is your ultimate favourite flower to use for weddings over the Spring/Summer season?
I’m a big fan of Ranunculus and Poppies in Spring, they add such a gorgeous pop to a bouquet, but there’s something about the romance of a peony, they’re just so pretty and around for such a short season, you’ve just gotta make the most of them in late Spring and Summer!
Where do you see floral trends heading for the next wedding season?
I think the dried floral trend will continue still and I’m hoping we’ll start to see more colour again… out there colour combos and scaled back bouquets is what I envisage with even more emphasis on locally grown blooms.
Is there any advice you would give to couples planning florals for their wedding?
Choose a florist that aligns with your style and vibe for the wedding… it helps to work more with a colour palette and feel rather than exact flowers varieties as sometimes availability can limit you, it’s always best to work with the seasons and trust your designer to create the magic for you. If your on a budget I think it always helps to work out what the most important element of your florals are, for example your bouquet or your archway and focus on those elements being your showstopper!
What has been one of your most memorable experiences as a florist?
My most memorable experience as a florist…. there’s been a few! But I have to say opening my own studio store in little old Dunedin after years of freelancing from wherever I was in the world has been and still is a huge experience! My studio space has allowed me to not only focus on fresh flower bouquets but expand to large scale weddings and installations, dried flowers, and a whole new region of weddings to experience.
What is your ultimate favourite flower to use for weddings over the
Spring/Summer season?
That’s one very hard question for a florist… I change all the time
but my die hards are in November Peonies are a must, their fullness
and flirty petals you simply can’t beat them! I am also a total sucker
for movement in a bouquet, I really love it when the flowers dance
around as the bride walks down the aisle – so phalaenopsis orchids for
the win creating that feel.
Where do you see floral trends heading for the next wedding season?
I would love to see more large bar installations and creating a centre
gathering point, what better spot than to park up for a drink.
Less of the little stuff to make one big impactful and memorable floral piece.
Is there any advice you would give to couples planning florals for
their wedding?
Most of us by now have attended a wedding or three…look back,
remember what was memorable for you both. In those moments inject
florals! Use tones you both enjoy may that be pulled from your home
furnishings, art or clothing … don’t just fall into convention, what
really reflects you and both your personality.
What has been one of your most memorable experiences as a florist?
It’s been almost a decade for me and there have been too many stories,
I could write a book.. some hilarious, some tears and very much some
holy shit moments but most of all i’m so very lucky to work with
flowers and also the rad people I have met along the way it has been
an endless amount of fun.
