What could be nicer than playing with midsummer flowers at the stunningly beautiful Mapperton House in West Dorset? I was lucky enough to start The British Flower school at Mapperton, with my studio in The Old Stables which featured highly in the recent film of Far from the Madding Crowd, and for this bridal floral shoot I took inspiration from that abundant Hardyesque feel, combined with a slightly classic look to match the stunning surroundings of the house and gardens.

Mapperton is a wonderful place for a wedding, a hidden gem. It is relaxed and romantic but elegant, and brides have the run of the gardens after drinks outside the stunning Orangery before retiring to a marquee on the main lawns or into the house or barn for intimate affairs. It continues to be one of my favourite venues and we are lucky enough to be asked often to provide glorious wedding flowers for brides here, although the Flower School has now moved to a new venue locally as our former studio has become needed for another purpose.

We specialise in old fashioned highly scented roses in the summer, so these always feature highly in summer bouquets and displays, along with our typical relaxed cottage garden flowers – lots of colours, lots of scent, lots of texture, that’s what we do! I can never decide whether I prefer making a classic white, cream and green bouquet – this one featured philadelphus and roses in particular – or something with lots

of colour. I think I like them all. It was also fun to combine field grasses with old fashioned cream scented roses, and I liked Jess’s single bridal gladioli flower on a slide pinned just behind her ear as it’s so often a

challenge to think how to add a floral component to a short head of hair.

The dresses came from Belle and Bunty, perfect for a relaxed and utterly romantic country wedding – I chose them as they supplied my own daughter’s wedding dress and I was so impressed with their quality, beauty and service. The models were three wonderful and talented sisters, one of whom was working for me and has now gone on to great floral things and is running the wedding flowers side of Saipua in New York!

I think Helen Lisk’s photos so beautifully captured the spirit of the place, and even after 14 years it’s always a treat to pick beautiful flowers from our gardens and make them into bouquets and displays!

Well if that doesn’t have you dreaming about creating your own romantic love story of a wedding day I don’t know what will. Thank you to Charlie from The Real Cut Flower Garden and Helen Fisk for sharing this truly lovely shoot with us.