Willow Bridal Arch

Let not a little precipitation dampen the spirits! Last weekend I had a fabulous teepee to decorate. The entrance posts were wound with fresh Kent hops (keep the windows down while you drive, I was advised by the Hop Shop, or you may feel a little happy by the time you get home!) Four large birdcages were hung from the beams too, filled with bright dahlias, alchemilla and green bell foliage. Rustic pitchers were dotted around and looked fabulous and seasonal with crocosmia, sedum, glistening red viburnam berries and the aniseed smelling yellow dill. Standing back with a steaming cup of tea it looked wonderful, shame I cant say the same for my photos but the light inside the teepee wasnt great!

The use of hessian on the tables for the bar area was the perfect foil for the rusted pitchers

I was asked to make a portable archway which was to be  carried by the bridesmaids after the service at the church with the bride and groom walking underneath it, followed by all their guests. The reception was just a short stroll from the church. Here is the base frame of willow and moss being carried to the church gate before being dressed on site the following day.
The trick here was making it as light as possible to enable two people to comfortably carry it but to have sufficient strength to maintain its shape.





On the day it was covered with berried ivy, cerise gerbera, crososmia, berries and green bell and left in pots outside the church ready to be picked up and carried.......what a lovely idea

Renovations, creations and rediscovering

After months of chaos on the home front (which also meant the work front) with building works my new floor went down this week.  I cannot believe the transformation from pretty much building site to room that I can furnish and use. From a concrete, dusty screed to stunning karndean vintage pine in 2 days! I chose this for practical reasons, it's also got a worn look to it including woodworm holes which appeals to me as I don't like new very much - unless we're talking handbags - and a subtle grey tinge every so often.  Then there was the joy of unpacking boxes that have been put away since March, so much fun getting all those lovely bits out again though I do wonder if I need quite so many jugs? Clearly a jug fetish going on here, it's the shape of them I can't resist.  A dresser I fell in love with in April takes pride of place and it's lovely patina made the perfect backdrop to a drop dead gorgeous arrangement that I was delivering on Thursday.  The hydrangea was stunning, pink almost nude and teamed with amnesia  and wham roses with some dainty fillers.

Meadow Flowers

 Off to Ramsgate today, spectacular view over Pegwell Bay and temperature in the thirties to boot. Melissa opted for lilac theme and her bouquet was lovely - the photos I took really dont do them justice, whisps of panicum grass with lavender-pink hydrangea, Ocean Song roses, green bell, astrantia, poppy and scabious heads, flowering mint (smelt divine!) white snowberry , silver balls and wax flower. Her bridesmaids were similar except I substituted the lavender roses for white spray roses and kept them simpler

Vintage Tea Party at Chiddingstone Castle

 The sun beat down at Chiddingstone Castle for Claire and
Marks wedding. Jugs bursting with summer flowers including
scabious, stocks, daisies, spray roses and Sweet Avalanche
roses graced the tables which were also scattered with
my fresh flower confetti.





Vintage crockery was hired in and the outdoor aisle was lined with dainty buckets on hooks with roses, nigella and green sedums

 

Marquee Elegance

  

Lovely jubbly flowers for marquee wedding in superb setting in Benenden. Although the bridal flowers were soft I upped the tone slightly for the marquee. Personally I think the 'whiteness' of a marquee needs to be broken up a bit. Mercuried glass cake stands elevated the table pieces for more impact but without impeding views across the tables. I used Splash Sensation roses, fresh lavender, Amnesia roses, astilbe, astrantia, senecio, fabulous lavender/blue/pink hydrangea and more.

 Bird cages were suspended over the Chill Out Zone with fab sofas and tables provided by The Complete Chillout Company who really know how to transform a marquee limited it seems only by your imagination.