How many other brides-to-be have visited their florists garden to pick out the flowers for their wedding? Well in today’s post from TNWC Real Bride Ellie she shares how she did exactly that over the summer, and she took along some of her family and bridesmaids. 

Ellie is a girl after my own heart with her love of countryside and seasonal flowers and foliage. Over to Ellie to tell you all about it…

For some brides, the most exciting part of wedding planning is finding the perfect dress. For some, it’s food and drink and, for others, it’s music or decoration. For me, however, the most exciting part of planning my big day has always and unequivocally been…flowers!

Since I was a little girl, I have walked along country lanes with my Mum and Granny and been filled up with the names of the flowers growing madly all along the verges.

I’ve also been lectured somewhat extensively on the folklore of flowers; from blackthorns being the preserve of evil faeries, to a horror of white lilies displayed on their own (exceptionally funereal), flowers have always been a part of my life – and, perhaps oddly, a huge part of how I’ve related to members of my family, and an important impetus for spending time together.

Choosing a Date

The flower obsession first struck when Jon and I were choosing our date. I, somewhat greedily, wanted the best of both worlds – the paler and more delicate colours of Spring, together with the full-on blooms of Summer.

I’m also a real fan of peonies, which to me are the most feminine flowers ever imaginable.

The conclusion was therefore obvious; a late-May wedding, it was.

Finding a florist

Before we started, I had a very clear sense of the look and feel of the flowers that I was after. I like loose arrangements – things that have the freedom and movement of the natural world.

I’m also really into foliage (when Jon buys me flowers, his selection of things like wax flower, September flower and eucalyptus always draws comment from anxious florists, who try to convince him to buy ‘statement blooms’ like roses and lilies).

Whilst I don’t object to either of those, I much prefer arrangements to have plenty of green, and plenty of movement – in essence, to look as close to a hedgerow as possible!

I was therefore completely delighted when I came across the fabulous Alice at Lock Cottage Flowers on The Natural Wedding Company directory. As a quick browse of her Facebook page will testify, Alice is an incredibly creative florist who has just the same philosophy and, from my first contact with her, we got on like a house on fire!

Choosing our flowers

Exactly one year before our wedding, my Mum, Step-Dad, two bridesmaids and I set off on a pilgrimage to meet Alice, and to have a look around her garden – where she grows many of the flowers that she uses in her arrangements.

A quick whizz round with a pair of secateurs and we had armfuls of Nigella, Sweet Williams, peonies, foxgloves, larkspur and ranunculus. I was completely thrilled with the result (see my practise bouquet below), and can’t wait to see the real thing!

Top tips

1. Think carefully about the look and feel of the flowers that you’re after, and put time into finding a florist who shares your philosophy.

2. Use British flowers! They’re absolutely STUNNING, and will have to travel far less far than many of the most popular wedding blooms.

3. Get yourself a copy of Vic Brotherson’s beautiful book, Vintage Wedding Flowers. It’s full of fantastic ideas and inspiration!

4. If you’re going to do some of your flowers yourself (my Mum and I are doing the flowers for the Church), contact the lovely Georgie at Common Farm Flowers. She grows and supplies beautiful, seasonal British flowers – and you can get a bucket-full for a very reasonable £80!

5. Use herbs, and provide yourself with a sensory memory of your wedding day. My boys are all going to have rosemary in their buttonholes – and I know that, every time I smell it, I’ll be reminded of the day I married Jon!

Images: (1 – 8) Brides own pictures