Although couples are insisting on committing to their 2009 wedding plans, the economic downturn has nonetheless brought with it a whole gamut of challenges for those intending to marry this year. Partner up the recession with the fact that the average cost of a British wedding topped £20,000 for the first time in 2008, shows that deciding when to scrimp and when to splurge on a such a monumental day isn’t going to be easy.

As the wedding season has approached, we’ve seen a significant increase in wedding flower enquiries in recent months, and with those we’re seeing more emphasis laid on price: “We’re looking for something cheap…” , “Could you advise us on the cheapest flowers…” etc. This nature of enquiry can automatically put any florist into defence mode, as any floral designer worth their salt knows that “cheap” is a relative description and doesn’t normally equate for very good (or even appropriate) flower arrangements.

Wedding Flowers on a Budget

If there is a budget involved (see below for more advice on setting wedding budgets), a wedding florist can then easily come up with flower choices and designs that will fall within that budget. According to last year’s figures, the average cost of wedding flowers in 2008 reached £381, accounting for just 2% of the overall average UK wedding budget of £20,000 (Source: Sky News, November 2008). But in most cases, wedding flowers normally take up 10-15% of the final wedding bill – thus proving every wedding is different with an array requirements and preferences.

The task of choosing wedding flowers is a personal, expressive and emotional experience, which is why we always recommend brides drop into Flowers HQ for an informal chat to discuss their requirements in person with our wedding florists, who will source the right wedding flowers for you – not only suiting your pocket but also of exceptional quality too.

Credit Crunch Wedding Flowers

While 10-15% is a good estimate for your wedding flowers bill, you can modify many floral elements to determine the actual amount you will spend on your wedding arrangements. Factors such as whether or not your preferred flowers are in season, the number, size and complexity of the arrangements all influence your final cost estimate.

In economically hard times, creativity comes to the fore, as brides are find ways to spend their wedding budget more wisely, and discovering “cheap” wedding ideas that help them save money. Here are just a few budget-friendly ideas to help you on the way to beautiful, economical wedding flowers that won’t cost you a king’s ransom.

Easy Peasey. Flowers in season are often less expensive and easier to source. For a list of common flowers for each season, visit our wedding flowers tips page for our guide to seasonal flowers. Don’t forget that flowers over peak / holiday periods such as Valentine’s, Christmas and Mother’s Day will cost more.

Simple things. Because the time taken to create your flowers will be factored into your wedding flowers bill, go for less elaborate bridal flowers which are less labour intensive.  For instance, a hand-tied or free form bouquet takes less time to create than a wired or teardrop one. For extra savings, bridesmaids can carry a single flower in a flower wand instead of a bouquet.

Filler thriller. Use more, cheaper foliage and greenery, baby’s breath, wax flower, soft ruscus etc which will pad out flower arrangements. Use flowery blooms as an accent to the arrangement rather than the main ingredient.

Bargain hunt. Shop around for end of line / discounted glassware in charity shops and budget household stores for vases. This way, for the price of renting / paying deposit on breakages, you can keep, sell on or recycle. The Christmas sale period is the perfect time to purchase candles, fairy lights and other decorations at huge discount.

Let’s go outside. Find a venue such as a park or garden that is already lush and beautiful – a springtime wedding in a garden will require little in the way of floral arrangements, while a traditional church may be breathtaking on its own. Also consider that many venues come ready decorated in the lead up to Christmas, so holding an earl-mid December wedding may provide you seasonal flowers for free.

A problem shared. Find out from your venues whether any other weddings are scheduled for the same day. If the two events can share decorating expenses, you’ll save a lot of money.

Recycle arrangements. If you can’t share your arrangements, transfer the flowers from your ceremony to your reception. Save more money on head table decoration by displaying the bridal bouquets on the head table.

Don’t Do it Yourself!

Floristry looks easier than it really is, so if you really can’t afford a florist, make sure you find someone with at least some skill and experience with flowers. We can provide flowers wholesale at discount prices for brides wishing to create their wedding flowers ‘in house’, but don’t forget you’ll need somewhere cool to store them safely and keep them fresh.

Making of the arrangements should be left to the very last minute, so best not leave them to a stressed-out, sleep deprived bride-to-be! If you don’t know what you are doing and don’t enjoy working under pressure, don’t try this – even if the temptation of saving some money is far too much to resist!

A good budget compromise would be to ask your florist to create the key arrangements such as the bridal and bridesmaid bouquets which are important to get absolutely right, then purchase additional matching stems for your own vase displays and other ad hoc uses such as buttonholes, hair flowers etc.

Jilted at the Alter?

With sterling still relatively weak against the euro (therefore inflating wholesale prices) as well as diminishing footfall, local independent florists are increasingly falling victim to the economic downturn, leaving distressed brides empty handed for their big day with little time to make alternative arrangements.

If your wedding florist goes bust, first off – don’t panic. Most florists will be able to stock your wedding flower requirements within 4-5 days, depending on how often they visit their wholesalers. If you are based in the London area (and your wedding doesn’t fall on a holiday / event day such as Mother’s or Valentine’s Day) we’ll be more than happy to pick up your order (we get fresh flowers in direct from the Dutch auctions nearly every day).

In many cases we’ve been known to slash existing quotes, and can sometimes provide wedding bouquets with just a day or two’s notice. So, even with times as they currently are, there are good deals to be found by the frugal bride. If you’re just starting to plan your wedding, our short list of 5 steps to a debt-free wedding might just be of some use…

Easy Steps Towards Recession-Proofing Your Wedding

1. Establish Your Wedding Budget
Choose a reliable method to keep track of all expenditures – there are now lots of websites that offer free budgeting services. If possible, keep your wedding fund separate from your personal accounts, so you can easily determine what’s being spent on the wedding. Don’t forget to call in all those favours: contact old mates, colleagues, family members and even the bloke down the road who you lent that jump lead to last winter, who may be able to offer their services.

2. Wedding Wedding Gifts.
Continuing from the above, barter your way to the wedding you want by asking wedding guests to offer their skills and services as a wedding present. If there’s a hairdresser or keen photographer on your guest list, time to bend their ear and put them to work! Chances are they’ll probably bring you a pressie anyway on the day, too… ;)

3. Beware Hidden Costs
Set aside 5% of your budget for those extras that are bound to sneak in one way or another. If you absolutely cannot exceed £20,000, aim to spend £19,000. When last minute costs such as VAT, fees etc come up (and they will), your reserve funds will save you from debt. Similarly, look out for deals and discount rates often offered during low season, midweek or during the day which can trim significant costs from your wedding bill.

4. Super Skinny Me
Serve three courses instead of five (saving on catering and waistlines). Have two bridesmaids instead of four (saving on dresses). Invite 100 guests instead of 200 (saving on just about everything). If you’re struggling with whom to cut from the guest list, cut out children and anyone you don’t know personally, and you’ll see that guest list rapidly streamline itself!

5. More Wine, Madame?
Don’t crack under pressure of the up-sell! That diamond-encrusted designer dress, the fancy five star hotel suite, the vintage champagne – they might seem like good ideas at the time, and it’s easy to get carried away, but they all add up. It’s important to understand which details are truly most important to you.  Be strong, prioritise what you want beforehand and you’re less likely to face a nasty surprise later.

Similar Posts: If you liked this post you may find our credit crunching post Lessons From Flowers – Tulips & the Economic Crisis interesting as well as our oodles of wedding related posts!!

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With an estimated 20% of the UK population suffering from hay fever this summer, watch any weather report from now through to September and you’ll see the emphasis increasing on the ‘Pollen Count’ as the allergy season progresses and airborne allergens attack their hypersensitive victims. We all know somebody who suffers from hay fever, and you may even have thought twice about buying flowers for them over the years.

But why should a seasonal dose of rhinitis stop you from receiving or indeed sending flowers? Truth is, if their allergies are particularly severe, many flowers are going to affect the recipient negatively but, in general, the more dangerous flowers are the ones with the most pollen. So a good guideline for sending flowers to a someone who may potentially explode into an itching, weeping, snotty mess is to avoid choosing flowers that have visible pollen.

Flower No-No’s(e)

Asiatic and Longiflorum Lilies are some of the most dangerous flowers for allergy sufferers, as parts of them are covered in powdery pollen. Songstresses Tina Arena and Britney Spears (pictured, left) are both alleged to have a lily allergy.  As the story goes, knowing of her allergy,  chart rival Pink once sent Britney a bouquet of lilies when they were feuding.

However, Lilies can be a good choice for allergy sufferers, as it is easy to simply remove the stems of pollen from each flower. Just try to find a non-allergic chum to do this particular job, as it will probably have the most robust nose and eyes and running at the earliest opportunity!

Another type of flower that is particularly bad for allergy sufferers is tree flowers / blossom. When choosing a spring flower arrangement, be careful not to include almond, cherry, apple, or any other kind of tree blossom.

Top Flowers for Allergy Sufferers

Andrew, our Head Florist here at Flowers HQ recommends chrysanthemums and gerberas, with new hybrids coming onto the market bred so that the parts of the flower that used to produce pollen now produce extra petals. But watch out for regular chrysanthemums and daisies as they can be highly allergic.

Another great choice for the allergy sufferer is roses. Not only are roses the most popular cut flower to send, modern roses used in floristry don’t have much of a negative effect on allergies. The reason for this is that their pollen is too large in size to be able to become airborne and truly infiltrate the respiratory system. To allergy-proof your bouquet arrangement, choose roses with little or no smell as these will contain the least pollen.

One of the best kinds of flowers for allergy sufferers are orchids and exotic flowers. Very few types of orchids cause any pollen-related allergies, and so are quite safe for those allergic to most flowers. It is important to note, though, that some orchids may cause a slight skin rash on sensitive individuals.

If in doubt, do contact us first before placing our order.

Hypo-Allergic Wedding Flower Tips

Traditional bridal gowns don’t normally include pockets for hankies, so the last thing a bride needs are snail trails up her lace sleeves from a runny nose. If the bride or groom is known to suffer pollen allergies, here are some simple tips to keep in mind when choosing wedding flowers which will help minimise hay fever symptoms:

1. Wedding Venues
   The best strategy is to avoid airborne allergens completely by holding your wedding ceremony indoors during the peak allergy season, especially if the main culprits are tree and grass pollen. So, no posing around in country meadows for those arty post-ceremony wedding photos, then!
2. Wedding Flowers
   Allergies to flowers are mainly due to their pollen count rather than fragrance.  Flowers begin to release pollen due to the aging process, so using Arena Flowers, the freshest flowers available, will prevent this problem. As for bridal bouquets, buttonholes, and other wedding flower arrangements, there are many flowers that don’t trigger severe allergies (see above for some suggestions).
3. Other Wedding Day Triggers
   Although many people may not realise it, hay fever symptoms do not always come from allergic reactions, but instead can be caused by everyday non-allergic triggers — and not just during the allergy seasons but at any time of the year.  So beware of perfumes and hairspray, sudden changes in temperature and even cooking odours.

Allergy-Free Artificial Flowers

If you want an absolutely 100% allergy-proof alternative for hay fever sufferers, then artificial flowers are the product of choice. No-nonsense and low maintenance, we are pleased to announce the launch of our new Artificial Flowers section added to ArenaFlowers.com — due to popular demand.

We will be adding more flowers to this section throughout the year, so let us know which artificial flowers you would like to see in the future.

Click to see our full range of allergy-free artificial flowers.

By following some of these simple guidelines, we hope you enjoy a pain-free summer this year, and don’t forget to consult a GP or pharmacist if symptoms persist!

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The enquiry from Marika, organiser of the Think Pink Wedding Show came late in the day last week to see whether Arena Flowers may be interested in exhibiting last minute. Apparently, a couple of other London florists had let her down at the eleventh hour, and the show was left conspicuously missing wedding flowers from the burgeoning list of exhibitors for the show in Raynes Park, south west London.

Our florists were more than happy to rise to the challenge, and Judith got her thinking cap on while I started knocking together some promotional literature. With the flowers arriving freshly picked from Holland very early Saturday morning; our wedding florists Judith, Andrzej and Paulina got to work at the crack of dawn to create not one but four beautiful wedding bouquets for the show, as well as three coordinating buttonholes, two table arrangements and a gorgeous cascading tall vase display.

Once completed, the next challenge was to very carefully pack the wedding flowers so they weren’t damaged in delivery. With two drivers and an anxious florist overseeing the operation, it was a real eye-opener to see that as much care and strategic planning go into the delivery as do with the actual creation of wedding flowers!

Leaving just after 9am, it was straight to Raynes Park in the van with our rather lovely driver Jacek who put up with me in the passenger seat as I tried to prepare best I could for the unknown! On the way through Barnes I spotted a heron stalking the Barn Elms football pitches, just a few feet from the busy thoroughfare – wasn’t expecting that…but it kind of reminded me of my mission – a lone stalker, drawing in those brides to my lair of sumptuous wedding flowers!

Met with a huge bottleneck queue of cars and vans outside the venue, we made the decision to quit the extraordinary wait and frantically carry our booty the final 100 yards, heave them up the vast stairs (no lift!!!) and set up our pitch for the day with just an hour to spare before the doors opened to the public.

As soon as the show started, the event was packed with excited brides-to-be, mums, fiancées, bridesmaids and other womenfolk eagerly sourcing wedding garb and accoutrements from start to finish. Located right next to the entertainment, we found ourselves in a prime spot and, although a little deafened by the steel band (!!), the Arena Weddings stand was kept populated by interested parties and potential clients throughout the day. There was also the odd glass of plonk to entice visitors to my side of the ‘pond’…later polished off by me and a few other dry-of-mouth wedding suppliers located nearby.

The event seemed to go quickly and I was particularly pleased with the interest our wedding flowers arrangements generated, especially as this was pretty much new territory for us and a few miles out from the comfort zone of Flowers HQ! With online enquiries already coming in off the back of our first event, I am confident that we may be returning to the London Wedding Show circuit again soon – but perhaps with a bit more advance notice next time!

Interestingly, there were two common questions asked by visitors to the show: ‘Are they real flowers?’ and ‘How can I keep my wedding flowers budget down?’. To answer the first question, yes – all our flowers are real (maybe some of our flowers look just too perfect!), fresh and – wherever possible – ethically sourced. As regards budgeting for your wedding flowers, that’s for my next blog post – coming soon!

The wedding flowers on display at the Think Pink Wedding show last Saturday were: Amnesia roses, Cool water roses, Schwarzwalder calla lilies bridal bouquet (from £65), guest table arrangement (from £50) and buttonhole (from £7.50); Cool water roses, Limbo roses, Sea holly / thistles bridal bouquet (from £65); Sweet Avalanche and Sea holly bridal bouquet (from £65) and buttonhole (£7.50); Orchid cascade bridal bouquet (from £120), vase arrangement (from £26) and buttonhole (£7.50); and large mixed vase display including while lilies, pink mini gerberas, sea holly, sweet avalanche roses, limbo roses, carnations, and completed with soft ruscus and bear grass (from £80 plus vase hire).

Click here for a quick movie of the Arena Flowers stand at the Think Pink Wedding Show

If you enjoyed this post, you may want to check out our recent blog post on Winter Wedding Flowers, or learn more about our team of dedicated Wedding Florists or perhaps see how Arena Weddings began, with Jackie’s original blog post!

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On display will be some of Judith (one of our award-winning florists)’s beautiful floral work especially created for this very special wedding fair in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer. The arrangements have also been designed with seasonal, ethically sourced flowers and take into consideration today’s tough economic climate, which has had an impact on wedding budgets up and down the country this year.

We at Arena Flowers want to make sure every bride feels like a princess without breaking the bank on their wedding flowers, making us the first choice for wedding planners throughout London and the South East. So it’s no wonder we’re fast becoming one of Cosmo Bride’s favourite stockists!

And talking of princesses and the glossies, come along to the event and you will also get the chance to view a stunning private collection of vintage wedding dresses dating from Victorian times, including a sample from Princess Diana’s iconic wedding gown.

Come join the fun from 11am-4pm. Entry fee is just £1 – which goes direct to Breakthrough Breast Cancer – and kids go free, so no excuses if you’re in town!

Wear It Pink Wedding Show
David Lloyd Health & Fitness Club
Bushey Road,
Raynes Park
London SW20 8TE
Click for directions

Full report with piccies to be posted next week – but if you need an immediate wedding flower fix, check out this post, this post or even this post about sourcing flowers for gothic wedding bouquets. Bride-tastic!

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If you look out into the garden, it may seem that the selection of winter flowers is limited, but many varieties are available all year round. For instance, roses, lilies and carnations – the nation’s favourite wedding flowers – may traditionally be known as summer flowers but they can be found in virtually any colour throughout the year. Winter weddings may also be brightened by using lilies or chrysanthemums. Again both of these are a popular choice and are available all year round so you will not have to worry about breaking the bank when it comes to choosing your wedding flowers.

While the prices for winter wedding flower bouquets may run a bit on the high side, there are some great seasonal bargains to be found. For a real festive touch, what better than red or white amaryllis for an extra showy effect (as illustrated by our bridal bouquets above), or perhaps even poinsettia, holly or winter berries – mixing with winter evergreens such as firs and spruce.

Alternatively, there are also many varieties of lilies or orchids that make beautifully exotic winter wedding flower arrangements (as illustrated by our bridal bouquets below) and won’t necessarily cost you an arm and a leg. An exotic or tropical themed wedding in the bleak midwinter can make a lovely break from the cold.

Fire & Ice – Decorating Your Winter Wedding Flowers

Winter Bridal Bouquets
Winter white or very light ivory flatter any bride’s skin tone, and make the perfect canvas for bright, bold colours – bringing life to an otherwise monochromatic winter hues. When selecting a theme for your winter wedding flowers, a favourite choice is to opt for shades of white, rich greens and tones of copper or red and burgundy.

Buttonholes, Boutonnieres & Corsages
Continue a seasonal theme with spray roses coupled with holly and/or berries, or alternatively take the low season as an opportunity to experiment with exotic flowers such as orchids or asiatic lilies.

Flowers for the Ceremony & Reception
If opting for a ceremony in December or early January, it is likely that the wedding or reception venue will already be decorated in red and green for seasonal events however you do not need to feel constricted by these colour schemes. Metallics and whites will complement your festive setting, while extra colour can be added by lightly spraying petals with glitter to add that little extra winter sparkle.

Candles are highly recommended for adding warmth and glow to any venue, and decorating your winter wedding flowers with light or crystal embellishments also brightening your scheme. Mirrors, glass pebbles and baubles will add a glamorous touch to table decorations for your wedding reception. Wax apples, pine cones or cinnamon sticks will also add an extra festive feel to your centrepiece arrangements. For more ideas and inspiration for your wedding flowers visit our online portfolio.

Seasonal Availability & Christmas Flower Prices

In this day and age of under soil heating and imports from as far afield as Africa and Asia, most flowers are available to buy in the UK all seasons. However, the more ethically aware bride may have issues with the perceived carbon emissions associated with their availability – as well as inflated marketed prices over the Christmas period! Sadly, it is likely that wholesale prices for some flowers are set at a much higher market price then at other times of the year because of the increased demand for them for festive flower arrangements – something florists cannot control.

However, here’s a list of winter and all-year-round availability without the need for vastly inflated prices or air miles: Agapanthus, Alstromeria, Amaryllis, Anemone, Anthurium, Aster, Bouvardia, Calla Lily, Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Craspedia, Cymbidium Orchid, Euphorbia, Freesia, Gerbera, Gloriosa, Gypsophila, Heliconia, Hyacinth, Iris, Leucospermum, Lily (Asiatic & Oriental), Lisianthus, Muscari, Narcissus (Daffodil), Nymphaea, Ornithogalum, Phalaenopsis Orchid, Phlox, Poinsettia, Ranunculus, Rose, Sunflower, Strelitzia, Tulip, Veronica.

If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy this one about about our family summer wedding, or perhaps this post about spring wedding flowers or even this one about getting the best from your wedding photography.

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To be fair to her, she wasn’t really being difficult – just that she was marrying a Scot and wanted to have the traditional theme of an English rose and Scottish thistle carried through the wedding flowers – as it had been on all the wedding stationery.  Katharine was also absolutely set on white roses with a touch of pink at the tips for her bouquet and venue flowers.

Then she came in to meet Judith, our head wedding florist who designs the most amazing bouquets and arrangements, and everything changed…

Andre makes a start on a pedestal arrangement

…adding some peach roses to complete the effect

One of the church arrangements

The white roses were discarded in favour of our lovely peach roses, as they were more in keeping with her French lace wedding dress.  Judith spent hours discussing exactly what she would like with flowers, with books, drawings, scraps of material, foliage and bridal magazines littering the table. Luckily our florists’ benches are really large.

Then we discovered that thistles are not considered to be bona fide flowers by Sassenachs, but simply as weeds!  This meant that it was impossible to get the genuine thistles that she wanted for the buttonholes and table arrangements. However, we settled on sea holly – Eryngium – as being the closest we could get to a thistle, so that was one problem solved.

Judith and Pawlina make the pew ends

Then Katharine wanted balls of flowers hanging from the ceiling of the marquee – ‘No problem’, said Andre, our head florist.  Judith decided that as we were having a Ceilidh – Scottish reels – in the evening we needed a giant thistle on the stage, and so started planning the flowers she would need to create it.

This thistle made from flowers stood fully 1 metre tall

And then we needed some large arrangements to indicate the entrance to the marquee – trees made of flowers were the obvious choice – to her, at least!

After some quite detailed discussions, all was finalised and Judith and Andre made enormously long lists of flowers that they needed from Holland and we sat back to let it all happen.

Table Arrangements: Before and After the Arena Touch

Judith and Andre started work on the Thursday before the wedding on Saturday and made all the large church arrangements, pew ends and table arrangements in advance. Early on Friday morning, two Arena vans pitched up and disgorged huge amounts of flowers into the marquee.

Judith then started work on her own -  making bouquets, buttonholes, wonderful arrangements for the marquee, flower balls, flower trees, and cake decorations – so many flowers it was quite overwhelming!

Arrangements all ready on the tables and flower trees in place

In the afternoon all the church flowers were taken to the church to set them up and then it was back to the marquee for an evening’s work. Judith was then later joined by Andre and they worked into the early hours of the morning, transforming the marquee and creating the most fantastic wedding flowers.  When we got up in the morning, everything was ready and looking simply stunning.

All that remained was for the weather to change. It had rained and rained and rained and… at about half past ten the sun broke through and the day got better and better until, by the time of the wedding the sun was shining brightly, the sky was a clear bright blue and it was the most perfect English summer day to celebrate our only daughter’s wedding.

As one of my sons remarked to me (and I think he spoke for all of us), it was the happiest day of his life.

To see more great pictures from the wedding – and pictures of weddings of some of our non family clients -  visit our Real Wedding Photos & Feedback gallery. If you would like Arena Weddings to create perfect wedding flowers for your special day, you can contact me direct on 020 8896 8693 or email weddings@arenaflowers.com with your requirements.

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You might have noticed that I have been quite conspicuous by my absence from the Arena Flowers Blog for the last month or so. No, I’m not planning a wedding myself (!!) but have been beavering away with our all-new Arena Weddings microsite which, in itself, has become quite a labour of love!

If you’re lucky enough to be getting married this coming spring, then October is traditionally the month to begin planning your special day – so you can get on with enjoying the Christmas party season.  So, you’ve set a date for the ceremony; booked the venues; arranged the photographer; procrastinated over the fluctuating guest list and perhaps even chosen a planner to coordinate it all – but don’t neglect to plan your wedding flowers!

With years of experience of creating the perfect wedding flowers, our florists have an unbeatable reputation for creating stunning, contemporary designs and traditional arrangements to suit even the tightest of wedding budget. They are also ethically sourced wherever possible, too!

With this experience and social responsibility, we have naturally accumulated a burgeoning visual history and portfolio of our bespoke wedding flowers, created specifically to the requirements of our brides.

Over the next week or so, we will be bringing you a wealth of wedding-themed blog posts to help you through the planning stages of your special day – from tips and hints, through to our own experiences of planning beautiful, fresh wedding flowers the Arena way.

In the meantime, take a browse through our extensive portfolio of bespoke and designer wedding flowers and simply give us a call on 0800 0350 581 to discuss your wedding flowers requirements, email weddings@arenaflowers.com or use our new enquiry form for a totally personalised service and quote – and our wedding team will delighted to help…

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On their return, they brought with them a lovely box of some particularly yummy chocolates (featuring in true comedy chocolate style a local landmark (in this case Amsterdam’s Central Station)  – perfect comfort food for the rubbish weather we’ve experienced in the UK this summer! And of course, our intrepid trio offered the perfect opportunity initiate me into this ‘Comedy Chocolate’ malarkey that seems to have carved itself into the Arena psyche…

The only question – which bod at Flowers HQ to tie-up and interrogate?! Having previously jumped Ruth, Vanessa, Damian and Ronald, we thought it was about time Andrzej (or “Andre”, as we call him in these parts!) and his team of amazing award-winning, hard-grafting florists (pictured above) received a thorough ‘going over’ and put under the spotlight. Plus, as the new academic year is almost upon us, each of our experienced florists offer career advice for ‘budding’ (geddit?!) florists…

Andrzej joined us way back in November 2006 when ArenaFlowers.com was a mere seedling. With ten years under his belt as a florist, Andrzej favourite activity at Flowers HQ is creating new flower designs and fulfilling bespoke arrangements. His favourite flowers to work with are sunflowers, amaryllis, tulips, hydrangea and “exotic flowers”. Andrzej became a professional florist after visiting and helping out at his friend’s flower shop. A passion for flowers soon bloomed (!) and Andrzej opened his own florists which he ran for eight years before joining Arena Flowers.
Andrzej’s career tip: “Don’t be afraid to experiment with flower arrangements, and listen and learn from experienced florists.”

Judith has been with Arena Flowers since – practically – the very beginning. Carving herself an unrivalled reputation for her wedding flowers, Judith always rises to the challenge of creating show-stopping flower designs with her favourite stems of ranunculus, lily of the valley, tulips, calla lilies, peonies and “many more.” Judith tells us that she actually fell into floral design “accidentally” as she wanted to utilise her creativity. Having considered fashion and interior design, Judith finally settled on floristry.
Judith’s career tip: “Don’t be scared if it doesn’t meet your expectations and choose the people you want to learn from carefully!”

Paulina, at just 22, is the relative youngster of the Arena Flowers floristry team but flower design is in her blood. Starting out by helping with her sister’s flower shop, Paulina soon picked up the skills to enable her to embark on a career as a florist on her arrival in London. Paulina joined Arena Flowers in July 2007 and particularly enjoys working with tulips, hydrangea, roses and calla lilies. Her favourite Arena bouquet is A Dozen Red Roses.
Paulina’s career tip: “Go for it if you’re passionate about flowers – even if it seems hard at the beginning.”

Ela started at Arena Flowers around the same time as Paulina and loves working with our luxury bouquets, especially Luxury White and Mass of Red Roses. Ela tells us that she “always knew she would one day become a florist as she was always very active in home decoration for different occasions.” After studying, Ela decided to try her real passion, so here she is…
Ela’s career tip: “Although it is hard work, your satisfaction and motivation rises when you see the happiness on the recipients’ faces.”

Kristina has been with Arena Flowers for nearly a year and originates from the Czech Republic. Her favourite Arena bouquets are Lovely in Lilac and A Dozen Peach Roses. Freesias, orchids and peach roses feature among some of the many flowers favoured by Kristina to work with.

Similar posts: If you enjoyed this dose of comedy chocolate and meeting some of our team, you might also enjoy the four previous comedy chocolate posts.

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Whether it is a birthday celebration, wedding to be planned or Christmas party to organise, you want it to be perfect, with perfect beautiful flowers to match. Perfection comes from the heart, a passion for getting things right and just how you want it to be. No compromise.

Our flower arrangements are far from set in stone, and we know that one size (or colour or flower stem!) doesn’t always fit all. We’ve been fulfilling the individual wishes (and whims) of our varied customers since the inception of Arena Flowers back in July 2006, and this has included the sourcing of unusual and exotic flowers, flowers out of season and flowers in massive numbers, with arrangements designed in all colours and all sizes.

‘Bespoke’ is not just a description of what we can do for customers and their flowers. It also describes how we approach our service, by treating each customer as an individual. From the moment we receive a bespoke enquiry, our team takes the time to listen and understand your unique requirements and take great care and attention to detail, to interpret your dream into reality.

There is no greater satisfaction for our exceptional team of award-winning florists than in the challenge of creating a flower arrangement just for you – to your specifications.

So Why Choose a Bespoke Flower Arrangement?

Bespoke Wedding Flowers
• Your dream wedding bouquet unique to you: No other bride anywhere will have the same flower arrangement as you!
• A choice of embellishments – intricate beadings, grass looping and leaf embroidery to add extra originality
Visit our Wedding Flowers section for inspiration >>

Bespoke Bouquets
• Congratulating a special occasion? Say it with flowers with specific meanings and symbolism.
• Whether it’s a specific number of flowers or a combination of colours, it’s your choice!
Visit our Bespoke Bouquets page for inspiration >>

Bespoke Floral Displays
• Looking for that extra special centrepiece for an event or venue? Amaze your guests with a fragrant work of art – designed by you or our florists.
• Have fun with a variety of floor standing, table top or pedestal arrangements, created for specific decorative functions.
Visit our Bespoke Floral Displays page for inspiration >>

Bespoke Table Arrangements
• Where there’s good food there should be great flowers! Complete your dining tableware with a contemporary table arrangement.
• A versatile range of vases and containers to suit your business or home decor.
Visit our Table Arrangements page for inspiration >>

Bespoke Corporate Flowers
• Match your branding with coloured coordinated flowers, arranged to suit your company’s style.
• For work or pleasure, Arena Flowers offers a personal professional service for professional people.
Visit our Bespoke Corporate Flowers page for inspiration >>

Bespoke Funeral Arrangements
• Specify floral tributes that have significant meanings and evoke emotion unique to the sender’s sentiments.
• Our customer care team who will guide you through the process of ordering your funeral flowers with respect and integrity to your wishes.
Visit our Funeral Arrangements page for inspiration >>

If you have a bespoke enquiry, please do not hesitate to contact our friendly and helpful customer service team with your requirements. Email customer@arenaflowers.com or call us free on 0800 0350 581 (+44 20 8993 5400 for international customers).

Similar posts: If you enjoyed this post, you may find this one about the supermarkets pumping out uninspiring flowers and arrangements interesting.

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So naturally, I had the urge to investigate the availability of the elusive black rose – or indeed any black flowers – on the market.

For a black bouquet I could easily promote to my many dyed-in-the-wool (or should that be ‘died’ in the wool?) alternative chums, especially those who are currently looking for black wedding bouquets and arrangements. Upon reaching the answer, I was devastated. Well, OK, I was a bit disappointed… There’s no such thing as a true black rose. Grr..!

You may have seen Adarsh’s rather well researched blog post on blue flowers, and how science may soon have the answer to supplying the ultimate blue rose. I thought maybe a black one would be on the way – considering the demand – but no such luck.

This is because the vast majority of flowers have bright colours (including blue) to attract insects – even the ones that attract flies are meat-red and smell of rotten flesh. Nice!

Sadly, the nearest any flower will get to being black is when cell death occurs. So, if you want a black bouquet, it could be argued that it’s best to leave your Grand Prix roses to dry out to a crisp, though that could make a bit of a mess, really, by the time you reach the wedding reception.

But all is not lost. According to www.planet-science.com, there are over 2,750 varieties of dark plants, with some having flowers that come ‘deceptively close to black’. Some ‘black’ roses to look out for when selecting dark flowers for bouquets include ‘Black Baccara’ and ‘Black Beauty’.

With its deepest red colour and a black velvet feel to the petals, the ‘Black Baccara’ rose is said to be the darkest red rose available with a mystical and powerful effect on anyone who receives them, while the ‘Black Beauty’ rose – introduced in 1973 from France – is a hybrid tea rose with a slightly smaller flower than the ‘Black Baccara’, but packs as much punch.

An image consultant once told me (!!!) that to show off a love of black to the max, you should ‘accessorise’ with primary colours. My favourite bi-coloured black roses include the wonderful ‘Abrakadabra’ rose – a yellow and dark brown affair with particularly striking wasp-like stripes, depicting devilishness and radiance. Another is the ‘Stracciatella’ rose with velvety black petals with ‘punky’ pink specks. But the story of black – or rather ‘nearly black’ – flowers doesn’t end with roses.

‘Black Beauty’ cosmos is one of the the blackest ‘black’ flowers that can be found. As well as looking particularly sumptuous, apparently this cosmos atrosanguineus smells like chocolate praline. Yum!

‘Black Forest’ Calla Lily – also known as the ‘Schwartzwalder’ Calla Lily – has been developed quite recently through years of Dutch breeding and engineering, producing an energetic, upright plant with silky blooms of the darkest burgundy/black. With lilies being a particular wedding bouquet favourite, I can envisage this becoming one of the leading callas on the market for the future.

Irises are almost legendary for their deep dark colours in hues of violet and blue. The ‘Chrysographes’ Iris with its blade-like leaves is no exception. Sometimes marketed by flower and seed distributors as ‘The Black Knight’ Iris, this flower is almost true black with the darkest plum-purple petals. Also look out for the bearded ‘Superstition’ Iris, an equally dark flower with a slightly purple hue.

Tulips have always been our favourite flower here at Flowers HQ and are one of our most regularly requested arrangements. Adarsh’s blog post confirmed that there is no such flower as a true blue tulip, however the ‘Queen of the Night’ tulip is the closest that hybridists have come to creating a truely black tulip. This particular variety is fast becoming one of the most popular tulips to grow. Although not actually black but a very dark purple, in the dim light of dawn and twilight, this tulip looks jet-black.

Although monikered with a slightly dubious name, the ‘Black Boy’ cornflower is another well-established, tall variety, making a grand fine cut flower with double flowers of a rich deepest dark maroon colour.

The scabious scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Black Knight’ - sometimes called the Pincushion Flower or Bachelor’s Buttons – is something else, with its stunning dark purple flower on a long central stem, with several auxiliary flowers.

When choosing a bouquet, the appropriate foliage is almost as important as the flower stems themselves. A particularly popular choice are our ‘Black Tie’ aspidistra leaves, but we can also source ‘Black Giant’ capsicum to compliment your arrangement. Finally, no discerning blog post on the subject of black flowers would be complete without a mention of one of the most beautiful black flowers on the market – the ‘Black Barlow’ aquilegia.

A real head-turner, this particular variety comes with fully double spurless near-black flowers that resemble Dahlias. From the picture on the right, I think this particular bloom looks like the perfect blue-black goth hairdo!

Don’t forget – if you’re looking for the perfect flower arrangement (in any colour, not just black!), just contact our customer service team and they will be more than happy to help you source the best flowers this side (or the dark side!) of the web.

Also, if you’re looking to send a one of our existing range of bouquets, check out our superb Black Magic bouquet, framed by ‘Black Tie’ aspidistra leaves, deep pink cala lilies, dark red ‘Grand Prix’ roses and deepest purple lisianthus.

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Although late summer is fast becoming a popular time of the year for matrimonial activity, June is the traditonal month for weddings and anniversaries. This is because June is traditionally considered to be the luckiest month to marry in as it is named after Juno, the Roman goddess of love and marriage.

Additionally, the summer as a whole was considered a good time to marry, partly to do with the sun’s association with fertility.

The flowers at your wedding will reflect your personality and character, so choose the flowers for the table, button holes and bridal bouquets that symbolise your feelings about your relationship. Take a look at our Flower Meanings page for inspiration for your wedding.

Our own Mariusz (aka ‘Super Mario’), Head of Distribution here at Flowers HQ, celebrated ten years of marriage to his georgeous missus Madzia (pictured far right with Mariusz) at the weekend, and marked the special occasion with a stunning bouquet of 100 grand prix roses with an intricate ‘10′ detail entwined with white roses.

Prepared by one of our team of ultra talented florists, the lovely Judith (pictured right with her work), this amazing bouquet had to be kept underwraps as Madzia herself popped into the office visit her other half on Friday – causing much panic and raised heart pressure!

The flower arrangement was finally handed over to its more than grateful – and pleasantly surprised! – recipient at the weekend, and is still looking as fresh as it heads into its second week.

As expectations of Arena Flowers increase and the talents of our team are stretched, confidence is growing in specialist and bespoke designs for special occasions. Whether you are planning a wedding or anniversary celebration, contact our team at customer@arenaflowers.com who will be more than happy to assist and offer friendly advice.

If you are looking for a quick yet effective fix for an upcoming anniversary, we supply a comprehensive range of appropriate gift ideas direct from ArenaFlowers.com for sameday delivery within the M25 and next day for the rest of mainland UK…

1st Anniversary | Carnation
Dianthus, the carnation’s botanical name, means “divine flower”. Available all year round, carnations can last up to three weeks but should be kept away from ripening fruit and vegetables because of ethylene gas.
The UK’s best-selling cut flower, red carnations denote “alas for my poor heart”, striped for refusal, yellow for disdain, pink for woman’s love.

2nd Anniversary | Lily of the Valley
Currently out of season at time of writing, lily of the valley differs from generic lilies by the little white bells arranged up a short delicate stem.
Signifying “return to happiness”, lily of the valley is much used in bridal arrangements for their sweet perfume. Traditionally associated with May 1st, especially in France where the “muguet” is handed out at special events.
As an alternative summer gift, we suggest our Precious in Pink arrangement of pink lilies, a bottle of Contarini brut prosecco and delicious Prestat organic Earl Grey milk chocolate wafers.

3rd Anniversary | Sunflower
A traditionally summer flower, the botanical name for sunflower is Helianthus, the Greek word “helios” meaning sun and “anthos” meaning flower.
Sunflowers are commonly associated with pride and adoration, and thought to signify boldness and exuberance, with an additional association with the summer star sign of Leo.

4th Anniversary | Hydrangea
Originating from Japan in the 18th century, Hydrangea means “water barrel” and refers to the shape of the fruit after it has sprung open. Their small, star-shaped flowers are packed closely together to form a rounded or pyramidal head. A popular addition to wedding bouquets, hydrangeas are available right through from spring until autumn and make beautiful dried flowers. Please email us direct at customer@arenaflowers.com for availability.

5th Anniversary | Daisy
Daisies come in all shapes and forms, including gerberas and asters. Available all year round, gerberas were little known just a few decades ago but now there are over 200 varieties, with many variants. Our favourite gerbera flower arrangement is our ethically sourced Pink & White Gerbera Bouquet – packed with smily happy fairly-grown flower stems!

6th Anniversary | Calla
Also known as the arum lily, calla lilies are another popular favourite with wedding planners. Often depicted in many paintings, the calla lily is visible in many of Diego Rivera’s works of art (see The Flower Vendor, amongst others) and signifies “magnificent beauty”. Our magnificent Luxury Romance hand-tied bouquet contains pink calla lilies as well as asiatic lilies to make a memorable sixth wedding anniversary gift.

7th Anniversary | Freesia
Symbolising innocence and thoughtfulness, freesias have established themselves as one of the UK’s favourite cut flower – despite being relatively unknown until the 1950s. Their appeal doesn’t merely lie in their delicate blossoms and wide spectrum of hues alone – the flowers have a strangely attractive asymmetry, growing off just one side of a thin, elegant stem.

8th Anniversary | Lilac
First cultivated in the middle of the last century in Europe, the cut flower of the lilac is considered to be far more glamorous than its shrub counterpart, with long branches laden with flowers. The flowers are very labour intensive to grow but the final result is well worth it. Available in white, mauve, violet or pink, with the purple-flowered varieties containing the stronger scent. Lilacs have come to signify youthfulness, humility and confidence.

9th Anniversary | Bird of Paradise
Named after King Charles III’s wife Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Streliz, the strelitzia, also known as “the bird of paradise” due to its resemblance to the exotic bird species, is a versatile plant that makes the ideal gift for both male and female recipients. Available all year round, the bird of paradise signifies ‘magnificence’ and it’s easy to see why with our exotic Strelitzia Tropical Arrangement.

10th Anniversary | Daffodil
Otherwise known by their genus name, narcissus, the flower is named after Narcissus in Greek legend, “Narcissus” deriving from the Greek for “numbness” referring to the narcotic properties of the plant.
Daffodils and narcissi have sap which is toxic to other flowers, so are generally displayed separately. The emblem of Wales, the daffodil is traditionally worn on St David’s Day and is also used by Marie Curie Cancer Care to raise money on National Daffodil Day. Symbolising regard, rebirth, new beginnings, unrequited love, chivalry, the daffodil is the birthflower for March.

11th Anniversary | Tulip
Tulips are Arena Flowers’ favourite flowers. The colour pink is symbolic of perfect happiness and confidence. Since tulips are large, showy, and usually solitary flowers, a ‘tulip’ has come to mean ‘a showy person’. ‘Tulipomania’ is the craze for tulip growing, originating in the Netherlands in the 17th century. The tulip stands for ‘perfect love’ and each shade expresses some emotion of life. The pink tulip signifies admiration.

12th Anniversary | Peony
Cultivated for over 2,000 years, the Chinese name for peony is “sho yu” which means “most beautiful”. Peonies are only available between late May and early July, so get them now while you can! Peonies are generally regarded to symbolise luxury and indulgence, however they also represent a happy life, happy marriage, good health and prosperity – not bad for twelve years together with your loved one!

13th Anniversary | Chrysanthemum
The name chrysanthemum derives from the Greek term “krus anthemon” meaning gold flower. However, nowadays they come in all colours except blue (which have been known to be dyed for special events). The Chinese who considered chrysanthemums to be the highest of flowers, named their royal throne after the flower.
Available all year round, the chrysanthemum is depicted on Japan’s imperial weapon and flag, with the country also having a national festival devoted to the flower (Sept 9th).
The birthflower of November and signifying cheerfulness, optimism, rest and truth, Feng Shui adherents believe the chrysanthemum brings laughter and happiness to your home.

14th Anniversary | Orchid
Currently the most popular houseplant in the UK according to the Flowers & Plants Association, the orchid’s name derives from the Greek word “orchis” meaning testicle, because of the shape of the bulbous roots.
Orchids are the largest family of the plant kingdom with over 25,000 naturally occurring species in the world, as well as all the specially-developed hybrids.
Lasting well over a month on the plant, orchids simply need regular misting to stay healthy and can withstand central heating better than some cut flowers.
Orchids have come to signify love, refinement, mature charm, beauty and long life. As well as the 14th anniversary, orchids are also associated with the 28th wedding anniversary.

15th Anniversary | Rose
Originating from China, the rose is now cultivated from America to Africa and from Eastern Europe to the Far East and available in every colour except blue and true black.
Available all year round and probably the best known and best-loved flower in the world.
The red rose is the symbol of England and is (sometimes) worn on St George’s Day. It is also the symbol of love and is hugely popular on St Valentine’s Day, when roses make up the largest proportion of the £22 million spent on flowers in the UK on this day.
As well as love, a red rose has come to signify passion, respect, courage, beauty, purity, prosperity and perfection – from which our ultimate ethically sourced rose bouquet gains its name. The rose is also the birthflower of June – so another good reason to spoil someone rotten this month!

20th Anniversary | Aster
Asters are named after the Greek word for “star” due to the star-shaped flower head similar to that of a daisy. Asters are found abundantly throughout the globe as they grow in a wide range of climates from the tropics to cooler regions in the North. Asters signify variety, elegance and daintiness and are the birthflower for September.
Gerberas belong to the Aster family (Asteraceae) and can be easily spotted throughout the for their lovely clusters of purple, blue, pink, white, or red petals.

25th Anniversary | Iris
Meaning “rainbow” in Greek, irises come in a broad spectrum of colours, but cut flower irises are mostly blue, white and yellow like the summer sky.
The popularity of irises over the centuries has been demonstrated in the still life paintings of the Dutch masters, and in some languages, irises are called flags or sword flags, relating them to symbols of heraldry and royalty, hence the original “Fleur de lys” of heraldry. In Japan the shape is seen to express heroism and the blue colour refers to blue blood, so irises play a key role in their spring festival for boys.

30th Anniversary | Lily
Lilies have been cultivated for over 3000 years. Feng Shui believers hold the lily as an emblem of summer and abundance; to the Chinese, lily means “Forever in love”. The lily was the holy flower of the ancient Assyrians. Until the 16th century the Madonna lily was the only garden variety known, because of this the “lilies of the field” as mentioned in the bible are thought to be this specific lily.
A lily has adorned the coat of arms of the kings of France since 1179. King Chlodwig I allegedly received this ‘fleur de lys’, as it is called in heraldic language, from an angel. But in actual fact his flower wasn’t a lily, as the name implies, but an iris (see 25th anniversary, above). In Greek poetry, the lily stood for tenderness, and has later come to signify majesty and wealth.

40th Anniversary | Gladiolus
Famously associated with Dame Edna Everage, and the birthflower for August, gladioli are used extensively throughout Mediterranean countries in festivals and saints’ days and symbolise strength of character, remembrance, infatuation, splendid beauty, sincerity and admiration. Gladiolus (from Latin, the diminutive of gladius, a sword) is a genus of flowering plants in the iris family (Iridaceae), so we recommend our new summer bouquet Just Good Friends (pictured left) – friendship, of course, being one of the key necessities in a long-lasting relationship!

50th Anniversary | Yellow Roses
Not discovered until the 18th century, yellow roses have a shorter history than other roses. However, once the first yellow roses were introduced, their popularity quickly spread.
A bouquet of yellow roses now brings to mind all of the sunny, cheerful feelings of warmth and happiness. In contrast to the romantic meanings attributed to other roses, the yellow rose is purely a symbol for friendship. This gives it a unique place in the pantheon of roses, sending the perfect message of appreciation and platonic love without the romantic subtext of other colors. They can represent feelings of joy and delight, and are an ideal way to brighten someone’s day who may be feeling down. There is perhaps no other flower that is able to bring out a smile in quite the way that a yellow rose can.

Below is a quick and useful ‘ready reckoner’ of wedding anniversaries – don’t forget that for wedding anniveraaries of 60 years and higher, you can apply to Buckingham Palace for a special celebratory message from the Queen herself, gawd bless ‘er.

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After the recent shock secret wedding of Mariah Carey to Nick Cannon, we could be seeing a change to this mega-star who helped coin the term ‘diva’. Who would have thought that the woman who demanded her Jack Russell be flown in to the hotel she was staying at a cost of $1500, as well as a pink rose bouquet on arrival, would settle for a small, secret ceremony without a fanfare or thousands of guests?

Whether she will become more down to earth or not after her small-scale wedding, I’ve got the perfect diva for you to admire this month. She’s from-the-earth, beautiful, with a full body and a satiny-smooth texture – and doesn’t make too many demands (hey we’re talking about a diva here so there’re going to be one or two, right?). Like the stars, she likes the right water (but not like Madonna and her requirement of chilled kabbalah water) and the best conditions (but not a thousand-dollar hotel room) – but I guarantee you’ll get endless pleasure from her. Her name is Rose – and she comes in all colours to match your décor, your mood – or even your outfit!

Did you know that rose fragrance hides a scientific secret that aids ‘falling in love’? PEA, phenylethylamine, is a substance found in fresh roses, which helps give them their distinctive scent. PEA contributes to giving us the high and the euphoria of being in love. The effect of PEA has been described as a mood-altering chemical that is able to prolong feelings of sensuality. No wonder roses are a favourite at Valentine’s Day!

But they are perfect for Summer, too. They express our happy feelings sunshine brings in a way no other flower can. The Victorians used to have a meaning for every single colour of rose – so much so that you could have a whole conversation by just exchanging a few stems! Take this to another level and create wild, wacky mixtures of colour with roses just to let everyone know you’re in a good mood.

Roses are thirsty flowers and like just a little care and attention. When you get them home, take them out of their wrapping, and cut at least a thumb’s length from the stem at a slant with sharp scissors or a knife. Take off any leaves that will fall below the surface of the water, and stand deep in water for at least 4 hours. If the flower droops, remove more leaves, place in an inch or two of boiling water for a few moments, then plunge into deep, cool water. You can also wrap the heads individually in damp newspaper. Go crazy with your roses – make petal pictures, thread the flowers on a wire to make a necklace, cut down short to make a chic posy for your best friend.

Old divas die hard – I hear that after such a small ceremony Mariah and Nick plan to hold a large wedding ceremony after all – every year. Roses are a great flower to bring out her diva ways for her wedding bouquets – and to make you feel as pampered as a princess, too!

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Type in ‘Wedding Photographer’ and your location into Google and take a look at how many results come up on your screen. It’s a daunting challenge picking out a photographer isn’t it? Especially if you are easily confused by all the photographic jargon some like to rant and rave about. Being absolutely certain that you have picked the right one for your wedding is essential.

With so many different packages, prices, styles and approaches how do you go about finding a photographer that’s right for you quickly and easily?

Well, here’s a Top 5 ‘Tip List’ to help you along your way:

1. Be clear on your budget
A lot of photographers like to act quite the car salesman, going for the hard sell and throwing in all sorts of extras at you in the hope you’ll get caught up in the moment. Before you even start to look for a photographer work out how much you can afford. Be wary of photographers who don’t have clear price listings and make sure the package you’re interested in includes any details you may be interested in, like bridal preparation photos or bundled books and prints. A £700 package may sound ideal, but if you’re only going to get basic ceremony shots and a few family photos out of it it’s not as good as it may initially sound.

2. Quick searching
To start with you may have to set aside a bit of time jotting down some potential photographers to get in touch with. If you haven’t had any recommendations from friends and family then the easiest way to do this is by using an Internet search engine. Don’t just type in your area – think of some additional keywords that neatly sum up the style of shot you’re interested in such as ‘Wedding Photographer London Contemporary Relaxed Fun’. Try and get your list down to around 10, making sure you jot down all the essentials like web address, phone number and package costs and your initial thoughts on their gallery examples.

3. Test the water
Meeting ten different photographers could be a hassle, especially if you’re out at work all week. Test the water by sending out e-mail enquiries. Don’t just ask if they’re available; feel free to ask them as many questions as you can think of. If they’re professional enough to be tolerant of your enquiries then this stands them in good stead. If they take ages to get back to you, or come across as abrupt then you may as well take them off your list straight away. If you decide to book them you will need to make use of their customer service later on so it’s important you can rely on them and they don’t make you feel like a burden.

4. Suss out the relationship
In order to achieve great wedding photos there has to be a good, friendly connection. The only way to see if one exists is to meet up in person. If your photographer makes you feel uncomfortable or would rather talk about their kit and how many letters they’ve bought to go after their name than find out about you and your wishes for the day, then chances are they won’t make you feel relaxed on your wedding day.

As well as asking about their packages and prices don’t be afraid to get personal and ask them questions about their background as a photographer. Do they come across as too nervous or pushy? Wait and see how they follow up your consultation – do they give you a detailed breakdown of your meeting or do they just hassle you to make a decision. If it’s the latter, don’t be afraid to let them know that they weren’t right for you.

5. The ins and outs
It’s very easy to get caught up in the excitement of planning out your style of shots and the run-down of your day, but what happens when if your photographer’s car breaks down on the way to the wedding, or your wedding changes date at the last minute? Make sure your photographer has a clear contract detailing all the circumstances you think of. Also, make sure they are covered for any mishaps with Personal Indemnity Insurance… boring admittedly, but you could be thankful for it later!

Finally, make sure you’re clear on the process after your wedding. Find out how long it would take for you to get your photos, and how easy it would be to buy additional prints and at what price.

If you think you need a bit more of a helping hand on finding a good photographer, The Anti-Bride Wedding Planner book from Abundance (£12.99) has a great selection of questionnaires for potential wedding florists, caterers, musicians and photographers.

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We love flowers and we love weddings – combine the two and our florists are in heaven! Nothing is more exciting for them than to help make that very special day even more special by designing some really beautiful wedding arrangements. We can organise wedding bouquets, buttonholes, church decorations, table arrangements for the reception – whatever you’d like to make your day perfect, we’d be delighted to organise it for you – just like we did for Celine and Rob (pictured above)!

I have to confess to a vested interest in wedding flowers as my daughter is getting married this summer – and guess who is going to be doing the flowers for her? I’m always amazed at the talents demonstrated by our florists – I have none as far as flower arranging is concerned – and the sheer beauty of the bouquets they create. My daughter is very lucky to have our team organised for her wedding!

For more beautiful wedding pictures read on!

We like couples to come in to see us a few weeks before the wedding date to discuss exactly what they would like with our florists and our buyer, Ronald. Because Ronald buys all our flowers for us on the markets in Holland he knows exactly what is available at any time of year and can make suggestions as to what would make the flowers really spectacular.

For this wedding he suggested some really unusual almost brown roses which helped to make the bride and bridesmaids’ bouquets so very beautiful and unusual.

Click to enlarge!

For this wedding the table arrangements were kept very simple and used flowers that echoed the tones of the bride’s bouquet:

Click to enlarge!

And I’m sure there was some lucky person there to catch the wedding bouquet!

If you would like to contact us regarding flowers for a wedding, please email our team through weddings@arenaflowers.com or call us on 0800 0350 581 (Int: +44 20 8993 5400).

The beautiful photos of Celine and Rob’s wedding were taken by Patrick Butler-Madden. All rights reserved.

Update: We have now added a proper page for our designer wedding flowers and wedding floristry services, which we will be building out with lots more images shortly.

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