Let’s set the scene: you’re engaged (congratulations!), you’ve found your dream venue (hopefully the Bodleian!), but where do you start with decoration? It probably won’t surprise you, but floral decorations have existed at weddings for centuries. In fact, the Ancient Greeks and Romans used florals, herbs, and spices at their wedding ceremonies – not only do they have a wonderful smell, but they were also used to bring good fortune and keep away bad luck on the big day!
What makes florals such an evergreen choice is not only tradition, but with huge variations and colour choices, it would be difficult to find florals that couldn’t fit with a colour scheme. Additionally, for eco-conscious couples flowers are biodegradable and many florists can make confetti out of dried petals instead of adding more plastic to the environment,
So are you thinking about what kind of fantastic florals you would like for your big day? Have no idea where to start? It can be overwhelming: How do you make the best use of your space? What will be in season? Will any colours clash?
At the Bodleian Libraries, we work with several incredible florists, all of whom have created some of the most stunning, beautiful, and of course romantic florals for our wedding couples in our iconic Divinity School and the regal Convocation House. So do settle down, make yourself comfy, and read on for the sage advice from just some of our fantastic florists; Nong Smitinand, Zoe from Fabulous Flowers, and Kirsty from Flowers by Kirsty.
Can you please tell us your name and your job title (or whatever you like to call yourself!)
Nong Smitinand: I’m Nong, a florist based in Oxford.
Zoe (Fabulous Flowers): Zoe Rowlinson, Weddings and Events Manager.
Kirsty (Flowers by Kirsty): Kirsty, Business owner.
How long you have been a florist and what made you want to work with flowers in the first place?
Nong: I’ve been a florist for 7 years. I was fortunate to grow up following my dad to fascinating National Parks in Thailand, where he worked. I developed a strong connection and love for flowers.
Zoe: I’m currently in my 13th year as a florist, 8 and half of those have been with Matthew, Gary and the team at Fabulous Flowers. I had a passion for 3D Art whilst in school, but my drawing and painting skills left a lot to be desired! Floristry came up in conversation and I’ve never looked back! I now proudly can call myself a British master florist, achieving the highest qualification within professional Floristry.
Kirsty: For over 10 years. I have always been creative and when friends started to get married I got involved with styling and creating their wedding flowers. My first was my Mum and Dads wedding renewal.
How would you sum up your floral style in one sentence?
Nong: I would summarise my style as nature-inspired, embodying a gentle and subtle approach. Working in harmony with the flowers enables me to adapt seamlessly to the unique aspects of any occasion.
Zoe: Our clients are our style, we take pride in knowing that we have nailed the brief and brought our couples dreams to life.
Kirsty: Luxe fresh-picked flowers, looser in style full of power house flowers.
When decorating wedding venues such as the Convocation House or Divinity School, what do you ask couples to consider?
Nong: Choose classic white and green or bright, colourful colours that go well with the rich and historic feel of the Bodleian. Make sure to balance the bright colours with neutral tones so that the venue looks nice without being overpowering.
Zoe: We have an extensive amount of experience when working within guidelines of The Bodleian Library, so these are always taken into consideration. However, impact is something that we aim to create, whether this be with tall table arrangements to bring the eye up to the beautiful ceilings or simply to compliment the grandeur of the venue. Bigger is better, smaller arrangements added all over the venue won’t give you that ‘WOW’ Factor, focussing on less but larger designs always pays off.
Kirsty: The time of year of the wedding – dressing the rooms with more light during the darker months. We can add wax coated LED candles, dress the aisle and also the steps. Also do they wish to see lots of flowers in the corners of the rooms? The ceremony should always have some wow factor arrangement at the front of the aisle to frame the bridal couple which could be utilised in The Divinity School.
How far ahead would you advise a couple to start looking for their wedding florist?
Nong: A year or more in advance allows sufficient time to discuss flower details and any changes with your florist.
Zoe: For Fabulous Flowers, we recommend making contact around 1 year in advance, this gives us plenty of time to really perfect your ideas, however we have the flexibility to work with close timelines, having turned around wedding flowers within 4 days before!
Kirsty: Once a date has been set and a venue found then do your research, Look firstly at the suppliers list for your chosen venue as those suppliers will have knowledge of the venue. Look at their website and Instagram as this needs to look eye catching and fit in with your style. Even if that florist has not worked at your venue, meet them there so you can discuss areas you want dressing.
Thank you very much Nong, Zoe, and Kirsty! If you are still seeking knowledge from these floral masters, keep your eye out for our next journal post, where we will be focusing on bouquets, corsages and of course floral accessories!
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