Bespoke Wedding Flowers
Bespoke wedding flowers in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Cambridgeshire.
(Photo kindly supplied by Photos by Rachel Wood)
“Ali took her time to get to know us, our likes and dislikes and what we wanted from the brief - Because of this, we had zero stresses in regard to the flowers”
Individually tailored to you
From meadow aisles to floral staircases to hanging chandeliers, wildly abundant urns and cascading table runners... it’s all possible, and all begins with just one idea.
I only take on a select number of bespoke weddings a year, as I really want to get to know my couples, the vibe they want to create and their unique set of requirements.
Bespoke floral design really does mean bespoke. I will create individually tailored mood boards for your day, idea proposals and an itemised quote, based on your particular needs. The full bespoke wedding service usually takes 9-12 months of planning and involves liaising with the venue, possible site visits, made-to-measure floral installations, on-the-day set up and attention to all the little details that ensure the smooth running of the day.
“I love to find organic floral solutions, and the more unique and individual they are, the better”
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Don’t be deceived by the ‘natural look’ thinking that it’s just wildly thrown together! Natural beauty needs to look exactly that. Natural, and not ‘forced’! This, believe it or not, is harder to achieve than it looks. I’m a little meticulous when it comes to achieving this on the day. I’ll be ‘jousshing’ each individual stem until it looks ‘just so’ before I go. Tumbling ivy, crossing stems, buds and flowers, seed-heads and branches; they need to look ‘perfectly imperfect’.
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I’ll always advise my clients to work with and within the seasons as much as possible. Flowers are a natural product and whilst we can source most things at many times of the year, that’s not an environmentally sound choice, and won’t be great for your budget either. Better to work within seasonal availability and use the stunning array of British florals that are available within their growing season (April- October).
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I love to add locally grown flowers into every wedding I create. We may still have to supplement this with imported Dutch flowers, but working with my local flower farmers brings individuality, elements of surprise and a natural look. It supports local business and, with no air miles, is a much lower carbon footprint; therefore much better for our environment.
Seasonal Wedding flowers that are uniquely yours
Inspiration for a bespoke wedding can come from many different places – it comes from talking to you, getting to know your vibe, thinking about your dress and suit choices, and how the florals will ‘fit’ with everything else.
Bouquets will be inspired by the shapes and silhouettes of dresses…. buttonholes inspired by the ‘quirkiness’ of a groom’s tweed suit, or the formality of black tie.
We will consider the architectural features of the venue; the height of ceilings and windows, the season (which affects how much light will flood the room). We’ll consider the table layout, how guests will be seated, entrances and doorways that will be in the photographs, and where your guests will mingle and linger.
Let me guide you and help you with some of the decisions, with my experience and best advice.
Real couple inspiration
“Within a minute of our first Zoom call, we knew Ali was the florist for us”
Chris & Bern
Chris & Bern had a clear vision of the kind of look, vibe and ethos they wanted to create for their wedding day at The White Hart, Ampthill. Right from the very start, we got excited together about how to create a unique, foliage-heavy look; with plenty of ferns, fluffy Astilbe (one of their garden favourites) and incorporating some dried flowers/grasses and touches of black.
Want to discuss your wedding flower ideas for your unique day? Let me help you create that special, memorable, look…
“As well as having such an incredible talent, Ali also has the kindest heart. She really made our day”
Carla & Gav were a little overwhelmed with choices – they knew the look they wanted to achieve, but needed some clear direction and advice on how to achieve it, within budget. They definitely wanted a family-friendly, informal, vintage summer party vibe. Carla had seen the de-constructed archway idea, perfect as an informal natural ceremony backdrop at Bradwell Abbeys’ Cruckwell Barn, and this was the perfect starting point for the rest of our meadow look design set-up.
Want to discuss your wedding flower ideas for your unique day? Let me help you create that special, memorable, look…
Carla & Gavin
“From our very first chat, we knew that we would love working with Ali and that she would create something truly fabulous”
Hannah & Kevin came to me with the idea of creating a sumptuous and inviting space for their guests to feel cosy and warm in the beautiful Oak Barn at Milling Barn, Buntingford. Candles, twinkly lights and warm soft toffee and burgundy tones created the ambience they were looking for.
Want to discuss your wedding flower ideas for your unique day? Let me help you to create that special, memorable, look…
Hannah & Kevin
Genuine excitement and enthusiasm, for every individual wedding
There for you, every step of the way…
I genuinely do get excited for every new wedding brief and feel so privileged to be part of your special day. It’s so lovely to design bespoke florals that will truly reflect you and your venue; your style and your vision.
I’m often working closely alongside the venue management and staff, photographer and stylist so that the ‘behind the scenes’ stuff just gets done seamlessly. Wedding mornings are a hive of chaotic activity; it is so important to have a florist that people can enjoy working alongside, with a friendly, professional approach. We need to work together and around each other, to hit those wedding-morning deadlines in a timely way! I want you to relax and know that the flowers are definitely one thing you need NOT worry about!
How much will my Wedding Florals Cost?
Fresh flowers are a luxury item and I want to continue to support local growers, and collaborate with a network of talented florists, and to continue to pay a fair price for that privilege.
Our Industry has experienced the same recent dramatic increases in costs, as all business (transport, energy prices, labour) but I wholeheartedly believe in sourcing the very best ingredients, employing the best talent to work on my weddings, and supplying the very best service for my clients.
As a guide to pricing, you may expect to invest around 10%-20% of your overall wedding budget (depending on how dramatic an impact with florals you aspire to). It’s very difficult to outline prices, as every wedding is bespoke - and it depends on the season, the floral impact required, and the look and overall aesthetic that has been asked for. (all fully bespoke weddings have a minimum spend of £1,500)
For lower budgets, I have curated a series of signature collection packages, for collection/delivery (see below)
Looking for a more affordable, simplified option?
If you are looking for a simple pared-back floral solution for your wedding day, our Signature Collection may be for you. Beautifully curated floral packages for more intimate weddings, in an easy ready-to-wear, package. Simply choose your look and vibe, from our range of colour palettes, check wedding date availability, and place your order!
Nature inspired
Eco ethos
Supporting local
Choosing the best seasonal ingredients
You may want elegant florals with subdued classic whites and creams or an abundance of wild country meadow flowers, or a rustic English country garden look, or a sophisticated paired-back look.
With my background in horticulture and 25 years in Garden Design, I have a real passion, flair and understanding of nature, and how flowers look and grow in their natural environment. This background allows me to bring the outdoors in, and put together floral designs that really do look like they’ve grown there, in situ.
Working closely in collaboration with my network of local flower farms, I like to choose the very best for you - and often that means straight from the field!
Where necessary, I will use Dutch imports to supplement the display, but with an increase of British flower content year on year..the aim is to be 100% British as soon as we can.
“Understanding your wishes completely, and creating a bespoke service for you, is at the heart of every wedding I create”