Daily Wedding Inspiration: Wedding Flowers

Remember this simple bouquet?

The riot of colourful roses at the reception venue is a beautiful contrast.




Image Credit: Sugarlove Weddings via Wedding Establishment

Daily Wedding Inspiration: Wedding Flowers

A simple sprig of green hydrangeas is all this bride needed to complement her Monique Lhuillier gown.

Image credit: Sugarlove Weddings via Wedding Establishment

Daily Wedding Inspiration: Wedding Flowers

This bouquet caught by eye for its natural, eclectic beauty.
I also love the idea of having one oversized bloom surrounded by smaller ones.
Photography by Agaton Strom via Once Wed. Flowers by Saipua, New York

Daily Wedding Inspiration: Wedding Flowers

Orange tulips paired with native berries and foliage create a beautiful Autumn bouquet.
Image: Impressions Floral Design

Daily Wedding Inspiration: Wedding Flowers

I couldn't resist including the stylish couple who selected such an a gorgeously different bouquet. Black calla lillies paired with berries- wow! One look at the bride in her short gown, oversized bow and black heels is enough to know she has seriously amazing style and likes to put her own spin on things.

Image credit: Jonas Peterson

Daily Wedding Inspiration: Wedding Flowers

Simply stunning rose bouquet

Image credit: NK Photography

Daily Wedding Inspiration: Wedding Flowers

Something bright and beautiful!
(not to mention the stunning detail on the gown)
Image source: Tealily

Native Australian Flowers

In honour of today being Australia Day, I wanted to share just a few of the beautiful native flowers Australia has. Just a few Flannel Flowers in a bouquet or a vase of Christmas Bush will make give your day a touch of this beautiful country.

Flannel Flowers

In season August- January
Image credit: Poho

Kangaroo Paw

In season September- December
Image of Calla Lilies, Kangaroo Paw, Waxflowers, Safflowers
Image credit: Vango Florist

Christmas Bush

In season November-December

Image via Unknown

Banksia

February-September
Image by Melissa Jill, via Polkadot Bride

Waratah

In season August- October
Image via Polkadot Bride

Some more inspiration...





An elegant bouquet of Natives and Orchids


Natives and Succulents


Image credits: Flowers by Kate

Happy Australia Day

Daily Wedding Inspiration: Wedding Flowers

Brightly coloured roses and ranunculas create a striking tablescape.
Image: Jessica Claire

Laurie Cinotto Floral Creations

When I stumbled across Laurie Cinotto's creations some time back I could hardly believe she had hand crafted them all. Now, the crafty bug seems to have bitten me and I am inspired by Laurie's pretty and natural designs.

Flower Garland

For the how-to see here.

Winter Wreath

For the how-to see here.

Bonbonnierre

Make simple a simple gift of chocolates and lollies all the more special with these pretty wrappings.

Ribbon Bouquet

This is so beautiful, but not one I would attempt at home.
Thankfully Laurie is available for custom ordering and through her site.

rubyandjoy: January Wedding Flowers

Welcome to the second guest post from the gorgeous and effervescent Nicola from rubyandjoy.

Hello my lovelies! Welcome to my second guest post and my second attempt at trying to sound coherent while discussing something that truly excites me. Always a difficulty I assure you!

I trust you’ve all had a wonderfully Merry Christmas and a spectacular New Years. I made my traditional fresh holly wreath for our door that not only looks festive in all its glossy green glory, but also doubles as a dangerous weapon when needing to get rid of door to door salesmen. Brilliant!

January Blooms
So to get down to business, let’s begin with your options if you’re getting married in January of 2011. January is a tricky time of year with the steamy weather which on a whim can swing to torrential downpours. Keep in mind a lot of grower’s holiday in the first few weeks of January which can also diminish availability and abundance. But of course, there are always loads of fresh and gorgeous blooms to choose from, as with any morning at the market.

* Beautiful roses of every type, peach and pink full headed David Austen roses are a favourite, as are the garden roses that smell delicious and come in yellows, creams, all kinds of pinks and deep burgundy.

* Dahlias in their cheerful brights are everywhere and look divine used in all their colours in relaxed table arrangements and bouquets, as do Gloriosa lilies with their scrummy pink green and yellow combo.

* If you’re after a beautiful scent, fragrant frangipanis are about, as are gardenias and tuberose.

* Lotus pods with their long green stems and heavy heads look incredible in structural creations and modern themed weddings.

* Unusual Pineapple lilies look amazing when used in fresh green arrangements. * And of course, we still have the lovely fluffy Hydrangea, finishing up in white but still readily available in blues.

* There’s so much gorgeous foliage around at the moment, big troughs of Pineapple lilies, green celosia, amaranthus and loads of leaves look magnificent!

* Simple bouquets that look like they’ve been picked from your garden always make me happy, and incorporating berries, nuts and seed pods will create a gorgeous texture palette to work from.

Blooms on a Budget
If you’ve purchased your dream Louboutins and are trying to cut costs elsewhere, there are a few things to look at.

* Buttonholes- Many classic weddings of late have said no to all buttonholes, the men preferring to keep their lapels flower free.

* Delivery- Ask around your extended family to see if anyone would be able to pick up the bouquets on the morning of the wedding to avoid a delivery cost and always check to see what is actually included in your venue hire.

* Book centerpieces through the venue- Some venues are starting to offer lovely options for centrepieces and will often offer a discount if you book everything through them, or perhaps even include them in your chosen package.

International Floral Trends
If you’re looking to overseas trends for some new ideas a great idea if you’ve planned a relaxed and festive day is to ask your florist for different buttonholes. Keep them original and unusual and the men folk will be pleased as punch* to tuck a bloom in their buttonhole! More importantly, they’ll look sharp for your wedding day.

My favourite ideas change hourly so it’s very difficult to choose just a few! I’ve also been planning my wedding since I was approximately 7 (will deny vehemently if confronted) so it’s incredible delightful to work in an industry where I get to see the loveliest of lovelies every day, and work with such creative people.

Well my lovelies, I do hope you all have a wonderful week discovering new delights and loves. And always, always remember to keep your eyes shut when getting a lash tint. Pain is not gain when it is in your eye.

Nicola x
rubyandjoy.com.au

*This may be a lie
Image Credits (from top to bottom): rubyandjoy by Cassi Kennedy, rubyandjoy by Global Sanctuary Photography, Brides.com.uk.

rubyandjoy: Summer Flowers

Welcome to the first guest-post by the gorgeous Nicola of Ruby & Joy. Nicola shares her tips for what's in bloom over the Australian Summer.

Hello! I’m so truly excited to be writing a guest post for Amour Amour, I have a celebratory cup of gorgeous geisha tea sitting with me. Yes, we like to go all out at rubyandjoy.

Tips for bouquets on a hot day
If you’re planning on getting married in the Summer months of December to February, it’s fairly safe to say you’re hoping you won’t get a 40+ degree day. Those hot summer days will make more than your groom melt in his suit, your flowers will feel the heat too. To help them last through the day follow these easy tips;
- As soon as your bouquets are deliver ed (and if the stems are free), pop them straight into a centimeter or two of water and leave them there as long as possible before drying them off and heading out into the furnace.
- Be sure to ask the photographer to get a few snaps of the bouquet before the ceremony.
- Then think cool. I’m yet to scientifically prove this helps, but heck. If it takes your mind of the heat, it can only be a good thing.

Summer Blooms
At the moment there are so many gorgeous blooms in season it’s easy to choose something to work with.
* Peonies, with their fluffy and full heads in shades of burgundy, pink and white are available from mid November through to Christmas, and are every bride’s favourite!
* Take advantage of the bushy Hydrangeas while they are in season. The gorgeous blues, purples and whites are a fresh and romantic look
* Beautiful Garden roses and David Austen roses
* Loads of beautiful Succulents, Calla Lilies in pinks, burgundy and white
* Persimmons on branches
* Casablanca lilies, hanging Amaranthus, Kale and great bundles of bushy Oak foliage and gorgeous Loquat berries.
* Gardenias are available in abundance and have a heavenly scent
* Figs on branches look incredible and make a statement, especially if paired with a real contrast like fluffy Peonies.
* Christmas bush is everywhere for those who love the festive season.
* And Celosia, you probably don't know it but ask your florist!

Fluffy Peonies and Calla Lillies

Hydrangeas and figs create a unique combination whilst flowers of a similar colours create a textured and harmonious effect.

Colours & Themes
There are so many colours and themes that look gorgeous at this time of year. My favourite will always be keeping it simple, modern, and going a little crazy with colour. Especially as we come into summer. Bright flowers look fantastic, especially if they clash a little.
As we move into December Dahlias are becoming available, with their bushy blooms and vibrant colours, they’re perfect for a relaxed and bright theme.

Image Credits: Dahlias by Denise Fasanello

Blooms on a budget
If you’re looking to keep the budget to a minimum with your flowers, try asking your florist for smaller bouquets, and keep them simple with one or two types of bloom. You could even work entirely with foliage which looks fresh and fantastic in summer, as well as limiting wilting.
Stay away from orchids and blooms that need to be hand wired such as frangipanis and gardenias as the labour that goes into these bouquets will boost the price.

Green foliage and branches make the white hydrangeas pop creating a decidedly summery look.

Weather worries
Keep in mind that due to the weather being decidedly difficult at this time of year the blooms you request may become unavailable.
If there’s a week of rain or a week of heat, my hair will not behave. But it can also cause major difficulties for the growers, their suppliers, and in turn the florists.
Most florists will be able to substitute with a similar bloom if this happens and your flowers will still look gorgeous. This is why it’s best at your first consultation to not only tell your florist what you love, but what you don’t love, to make sure you love your floral look.

International Floral Trends
In regards to international trends, we’re seeing a much more relaxed style. Lots of different blooms, lots of colours and textures, all arranged in a deconstructed hand held way. This creates a gorgeous wild flower feel, and can be used in every kind of ceremony, from black tie through to casual.

Make sure to keep your colours warm or cool, this will keep it from looking too messy. Be sure to use a gorgeous ribbon which compliments the bouquets.

On your tables, use every kind of vessel you can find, milk bottles, old glass jars, bowls, jugs. Fill them with a profusion of blooms and you’ll have a stunning French vintage theme at your fingertips. If you’re wanting it to remain classic, keep all the blooms white. Otherwise, go crazy with the colour, the more the better!

Image Credit: Max Wanger via A Cup of Jo

I’ve been trying to think of a cool tag line to finish this super informative post with, and so far all I’ve come up with is ‘spilling tea is not only messy but hot too’. So as that’s seems to be the best for now, I shall leave you with this insightful piece of wisdom, and wish you the loveliest week possible!
Nicola x
rubyandjoy.com.au

Images by rubyandjoy (unless otherwise credited)

We Amour: Nicola of Ruby & Joy

Nicola Spies is the sweet, funny and seriously talented girl behind Sydney florist Ruby & Joy. As well as weddings, Nicola's work can be seen in some of Australia's biggest bridal, fashion and home magazines, high-profile events and fashion shoots.

So who better to give us the heads up on getting the perfect floral styling for your wedding!?

1. Where did the inspiration for the name Ruby & Joy come from?
I get asked this question a LOT which I love! Joy is mine and my Nanna's middle name, and my Nanna was a florist. She's been a huge inspiration and support to me and so when I was tossing around names I thought it would be lovely to use it.
But Ruby doesn't come from anywhere unfortunately! I just really loved the sound of them together. But it's been quite suitable as I absolutely love a profusion of red and pink blooms, and use them quite a lot in our advertising, so it's all worked out quite well.

2. What is your favourite flower/floral trend at the moment?
Tricky. For weddings I'm loving two separate ideas. I love keeping the bouquets all in one bloom, but all different. This is especially effective when used in a bright colour, like raspberry red or bright greens.
I also love the country style clustered posies that are relaxed and use a number of different blooms.
My favourite flower changes almost weekly, and always depends on what's new in season. It's always exciting when you spot the first Anemone or Hydrangea at the markets! For now, I'd have to say Peonies. I'm a sucker for the romantic blooms, they're just so beautiful!

3. Not only do you have a thriving business but you also have a gorgeous blog, what inspires you?
Oh my goodness, everything! New books, old books, new little cafes, being outdoors, my ever growing inspiration board, all kinds of magazines, music, other gorgeous blogs, fashion, colours and working on creative projects, new combinations that are unexpected.
Being surrounded by creative friends and a creative industry means you're never short of new ideas. I'm so lucky to work in a vocation where no two jobs are the same so it definitely keeps me on my toes. And being surrounded by beautiful blooms makes me appreciate the small things which always brings me back to earth!

4. Many brides favour soft tones over bright colour for their wedding day, any tips for going bright?
Working in ivory, nudes and blush tones will always look gorgeous for brides, but if you're wanting to go bright there are a few main points that will keep it more fabulous and less frightening.

• Try to keep it simple, perhaps work with a mass of one bloom, for example candy pink peonies, purple hydrangeas, cobolt blue delphiniums, bright green goddess lilies or golden sunflowers.
  
• If you've decided to work with colours but want to soften the bouquets, working in different shades of your chosen colour will lessen the impact of the posies, especially in photos.
  
• And another small tip, if you're wanting to keep the tone of the day clean and gorgeous with hits of colour, keep your bridesmaids frocks a neutral tone which will really make the flowers pop.

5. Three quick tips for brides to be to remember when choosing flowers for their wedding?

1. Work with a theme for your day. If the word theme freaks you out and makes you think 'under the sea', try to choose three words that express how you want your day to be. This is a good starting point and will help with colours and styles immensely.
2. Don't necessarily try to match everything, contrast looks fantastic when done right!
3. Chat to your florist about what you love, but also what you don't love. You need to workwith someone you trust and can develop a relationship with, and giving all the information helps them to produce something you will be absolutely thrilled with.

I am so excited to announce that Nicola will be updating Amour Amour readers each month with floral trends, seasonal flowers as well as answering any burning questions you might have.
Don't be shy, just comment below or email me.

If a month is just too long a wait, you can visit Nicola at her gorgeous blog, Lovely Pretty Cheery Things!

Beautiful Floral And Fruit Centrepieces

It's not just floral centrepieces that can bring a colourful, fresh feel to your wedding, as evidenced by these stunning table centrepieces.

Selected fruits and vegetables, sometimes in conjunction with flowers look wonderful as well as being a unique choice.

This is my favourite; the draped branches and fresh peaches create a beautifully colourful and rustic feel.

Fresh fruit makes a delicious and thoughtful gift for guests, particularly refreshing berries or a pear on a warm Summers day.

Citrus fruits work well in Winter and are also a favourite in my own home as they look fantastic and don't break the budget.

Pay attention to what's in season and you can't go wrong; peaches, pears, cherries, berries look great and if guests get peckish they will be a tasty treat. Artichokes and mini-pumpkins look fantastic and like apples are quite hardy and will last the day.

Image credits (top to bottom): Preston Bailey, Martha Stewart Weddings, unknown, unknown, The Knot, The Knot, Whitemoss, Martha Stewart Weddings, My Wedding Place, Bliss Weddings, Intimate Weddings, Wedding Style Guide, Country Living.