We asked Caroline Oleron from Cherfold Flowers, Godalming, Surrey, to share her top tips on how to choose flowers for an autumn or winter wedding.
What should you consider when choosing colours for a autumn or winter wedding bouquet?
Depending on how important the flowers are to any bride, it might be the flower colours that dictate the rest of the wedding colour palette. Or some brides will start with bridesmaids’ dresses and think about which flowers might work well alongside those. Sometimes I think it’s nice when the flowers don’t tie in too precisely with the colour scheme. Everything doesn’t become too ‘matchy matchy’. A good starting point is to ask yourself if you prefer bold brights, or soft pastels. Once the colours have been pinpointed then any florist can help with what is available seasonally.
Can you give some creative wedding bouquet ideas?
For autumn and winter wedding flowers, I would recommend getting out in nature for inspiration. From the changing colours of the trees to the beautiful bracken and pinecones/heather in the countryside, there is so much to inspire you. I have made seasonal ‘nature table’ type arrangements on wedding breakfast tables. They are so fun to do. Acorns, different leaves, moss, pinecones, blackberries etc can look lovely around candelabras or hurricane vases. Coloured candles complete the look. I have even made buttonholes with tiny mushrooms!
How long before a wedding can you make a bouquet?
For a Saturday wedding I tend to order the flowers at the beginning of the week to arrive at the studio on a Wednesday. This gives some flowers such as roses time to open over a few days to look their best on the day of the wedding. Bouquets are made on the Friday and any final tweaks made early on the morning of the wedding. Ribbon is added at the last minute.
Tell us about the latest trends for wedding flowers?
From my personal experience I have seen so many bold and beautiful combinations for wedding flowers so far this autumn. Couples are really embracing deep, rich tones, tying them in with colourful bridesmaids’ dresses. The official wedding photos which I have seen have been full of joy.
What is the best way for brides to choose wedding flowers?
Take inspiration from visiting any high street florist to see what is around. If you book your wedding over a year before the actual date, you can really enjoy seeing what’s in season the year before. Even the supermarkets and garden centres have good displays of seasonal colour flowers and decorations. Instagram and Pinterest are great places to get ideas from, but bear in mind that some images are heavily filtered when you consider flower colours.
Do you have any tips regarding environmentally friendly or budget conscious autumn and winter weddings flower displays?
Foam free installations are becoming more and more popular, to steer away from the detrimental environmental impact of floral foam. I always talk to my couples about any items that can be repurposed at different stages of the wedding, every little helps the budget.
Is there favourite flower for autumn bridal bouquets?
I am a huge fan of Dahlias as they come in so many rich jewel-like tones. I like to grow my own varieties so I can pick the best-looking ones on the plot for the all-important bridal bouquet. Dahlias do not like the frost however so mindful if you are getting married end of October as you may need a backup option. To contact Caroline Oleron from Cherfold Flowers visit www.cherfoldflowers.com
