Winter Wedding favourite flowers

 Happy New Year!! A little late but still! 

The beginning of the year is all about focusing on the future but it can be hard to say goodbye to the past. Flowers can help brighten the mood, remembering a specially bought bloom or a significant day. The flowers you choose to have in your home can transform you back to happier times, to those special events when the days are filled with love and laughter. Don't dismiss this idea when picking your wedding blooms, these in future years will trigger your happy memories at the sight or scent of a flower.

Winter weddings are probably at the very early stages for next winter or if you are a late planner then possibly for this season. Seasonal flowers are stronger, happier and could be cheaper than those out of season so here are the 7 best according to Funny How Flowers Do That.

Amaryllis

Thought of by many as a Christmas flower this looks stunning in tall displays and could be used as an alternative to a lily. Many beautiful colours from whites, creams, peaches, orange, pink, purple reds and bi-colours. They usual are multi bloomed stems and therefore are a great flower for adding to your statement displays. Symbolising pride and enchanting beauty, a perfect wedding bloom.

Anemone

With single a bloom on a stem they look similar to a poppy with their black hearts. They come in white and the jewel colours (red, purple, pink and blue) perfect for a bright winter wedding. They do keep growing once cut so care should be taken on which displays they are included in. Symbolising expectancy,  consideration and honesty what more could you want for a wedding flower.

Lilac

A late winter to spring bloom with their cluster of scented flowers. They do come in a few colours other than their namesake, pink, white and bi-coloured. Adding a few stems of lilac will fill the room with their scent, place at entrances and on tables for best effect. Symbolising domestic happiness, young love and remembrance what could be more perfect for a wedding?

Lisianthus

I use lizzy in a lot of my designs, it's a delicate flower but so pretty and the colour range is constantly growing. White, cream, yellow, green, pinks, peaches, blues and purples with shades of red and brown becoming popular. They have multiple blooms per stem and can be single or double varieties. If you are having a purple themed wedding these are a must! They symbolise gratitude and appreciation. Gardeners may know them as Japanese roses.

Cymbidium orchid

These come in mini and large flowers with many heads per stem. It may be more expensive per stem but you do get value as they are long lasting. Perfect for large display or the individual flowers can be cut and wired into bouquets, buttonholes and flower crowns. Their colour range is pink, purple, red, yellow, orange, green and bi-coloured. Symbolising a valued and respectful friendship.

Tulip

Beautiful tulips, one of my favourite (til next season of course!). Single bloomed stems, in a range of flower types, some frilly, single or double, white, cream, yellow, orange, red, pink purple. They also come in small or larger blooms but be careful where you add them as part of their beauty is they do keep growing and their stems will bend to the light and eventually droop. If you like your flower neat and upright these may not be for you.

Mimosa

A woody plant with yellow flowers, well little yellow pom poms, it has a light scent and can be used on its on for a cloud of sunshine or added to displays instead of the usual gyp. If your not sure on the flower but the name is familiar then you are thinking of the alcoholic drink with champagne and orange juice which is the same fresh colour.

Are your favourite winter blooms included or do you have a different personal favourite? Let me know

Sandra x

Lisianthus - Flower of the Month - December

Lisianthus

This flower has its roots in the Wild West and has come to Europe all the way via Japan. Consumers can read all about this natural beauty in the Flower Agenda at Funnyhowflowersdothat.co.uk. Even with its delicate appearance, it is quite robust, lisianthus is rather well known but hardly celebrated. This magnificent flower deserves better praise, which can easily be done by presenting them in a special way.   

Lisianthus’ origin 
The lisianthus originates from North America where it grows in desert riverbeds and in prairie regions. In the states of Texas, Nebraska, Nevada and Colorado they call this plant prairie gentian. In the 1930s Japanese growers crossed the prairie gentian, laying the foundations for today’s range. The lisianthus is sometimes called Eustoma, which is the official scientific name.  

Lisianthus shapes and colours 
This flower is mostly seen in white and purple, but there is an enormous choice of colour available: the lisianthus comes in white, green, blue, pink, lilac, purple and salmon hues. Some flowers even have petals with multiple colours. The lisianthus also comes in many shapes: single and double flowered, large and small flowered and even with fringed petals.  Apart from being colourful, lisianthus petals are also very soft and delicate.   

Care tips for customers

• Select a clean vase and fill it with tap water at room temperature.
• Add cut flower food to the water for a longer vase life. This has a very positive effect on the vase life for lisianthus in particular.
• Cut or trim the stems diagonally by 3 to 5 cm with a clean sharp knife or secateurs.
• Make sure there are no leaves hanging in the water.
• Do not place lisianthus in a draught, in full sun or near central heating.
• Regularly top the vase up with tap water; lisianthus flowers drink a lot because they have thin petals, as a result of which they evaporate a lot of moisture.
• Don’t place lisianthus near a fruit bowl. Fruit emits ethylene gas which will cause the flowers to age more rapidly.

Lisianthus symbolism 
The lisianthus may have a soft and delicate appearance, but it is sturdy and has powerful symbolism attached to it:  this flower represents appreciation, gratitude and charisma. That makes it the perfect candidate for a gift bouquet from someone else… or for yourself, of course!   

More inspiration and information 
Consumers will see the lisianthus feature on Funnyhowflowersdothat.co.uk and will learn to appreciate their beauty and learn about all their stories.  

Facebook: Funnyhowflowersdothat
Instagram: @howflowersdothat
Twitter: @flowersdothat

We use Lisianthus in many of our wedding designs (see the right side bar). To give you some inspiration here are a sample

Shower bouquet

Bridal posy

Mother of bride corsage

Natural style buttonhole

If you are looking for wedding ideas for this beautiful flower come and visit us at The Studio and chat through your options.

Sandra

The Mansion Wedding fayre Leeds

 On Sunday I traveled up the A1 to showcase my flowers at The Mansion Leeds, Brides Up North wedding fayre. A stunning venue set at the top of Roundhay park. This means lovely views from all aspects across the park and plenty of green space for those all important photos.

A bird nest design full of lilac lisianthus, purple anemone, vanda orchids and lavender.

 Black urn design with ivory roses and purple vanda orchids.

 Bridal hand tie in shades of purples and lilacs. Memory Lane roses, purple, lilac and white lisianthus, thistles and gyp.

 Glass tea light lantern with vanda orchids

 60 cm martini vase with Blue delphiniums, Iris and lavender with eucalyptus and gyp

 A traditional shower bouquet of ivory and memory lane roses, purple and lilac lisianthus, thistles and lavender.

 My stand all set up and ready for the brides and grooms and their family and friends.

 One of the lovely views over Roundhay park.

Purple and White wedding flowers at The Dower House Hotel

Wendy got married back in May last year. She came to see me for a consultation fairly clear on what flowers she wanted but having been to another florist she had been told not to have them. Now I am of the opinion it is the brides day and if what she wants is feasibly possible then that is what she has. Obviously if it unavailable or really won't work then advise should be given on alternatives. On this occasion all Wendy wanted was a mix of lisianthus (Eustoma) in purples, lilacs and white. Nothing out of the ordinary and easily achievable as you can see.
Lisianthus (Eustoma) are great if having a purple colour scheme as they are a true purple as against a pinky purple or blue purple as so many flowers are.
Back to Wendy's bouquet. This was a hand-tie design of a mix of lisianthus (Eustoma) with a salal foliage collar to add a little strength to the design. The stems were wrapped in purple satin ribbon.

For some reason I don't have photos of the bridesmaids or buttonholes but these were also a mix of lisianthus (Eustoma).

The reception was at The Dower House Hotel in Woodhall Spa. A lovely venue set back in it's own grounds.
The top table was a long and low with a mix of lisianthus (Eustoma) and foliage. Wendy really is a fan of this flower!

With Purple, purple and white two tone, lilac and white there is still some variety even though all the same flower.

The guest tables were small birdcages again filled with lisianthus.

Wendy wanted to keep the design fairly compact within the cage

A matching design in the entrance sideboard

The Dower House hotel all ready for the arrival of the bridal party.