By 
Say it with flowers, as the phrase goes – and when it comes to weddings there’s no better way to express your style and personality than via flora.
And while it might seem like summer is the season of flowers, spring and winter blooms have their own unique appeal. We caught up with three of New Zealand’s most talented florists – Shaye Woolford of On My Hand Styling & Flora, Kelly Karam from Blush and Rosie Holt from Rose Tinted Flowers – to see what’s trending, what they’re loving, and why the chilly season makes for great wedding florals.
Looking to the year ahead – what’s going to be trending in bridal florals?
SHAYE: A lot of our brides are looking to a white and cream base with tones of apricot, rust or copper added in. Paying more attention to the bar has been a firm favourite. And while it’s not always easy in summer considering the type of sun we get, we’ve been asked a lot for florals that can be used more than once throughout the wedding.
KELLY: Bold statements by using less varieties combined together. Letting a couple of blooms be the hero, such as gypsophila and phalaenopsis orchids – where the form of these together is graphic and modern, clean and sophisticated.
ROSIE: There are two trends we’re seeing a lot of. One is clusters of big bold flowers – think clusters of trailing orchid stems, clouds of gypsophila and large roses with reflexed petals. Less of the dainty wildflower style. We’re also continuing to see more dried florals incorporated into weddings. The combination of dried and fresh flowers is becoming increasingly popular with couples.
What are some styles/elements/particular flowers you’re personally loving at the moment?
SHAYE: I’m always a big fan of scented flowers during this time of year – daphne, jasmine, magnolia and freesia are up there for me. I love to put scented florals into my bouquets, and a lot of clients ask me after the wedding what was in their florals – the scent becomes a special memory for them.
KELLY: I’m always a fan of phalaenopsis orchids, they are such an effortless statement used on their own.
ROSIE: Personally, I’m still very much into the wildflower look and feel, so spring is my favourite time of year for flowers. There are beautiful foxgloves, sweet peas and ranunculus among other things, which add whimsy and romance to wedding florals.
What are some lovely things you’ve done at recent weddings?
SHAYE: In March we were lucky enough to work on a job where we created a 7-metre, double-sided floral wall – one side was bright floral accents and one side was pastels. Another time we incorporated apples, artichokes and kale into our arrangements for added texture – they were so interesting visually!
KELLY: A favourite wedding we did actually a few years ago was to style the tables with tall black metal stands adorned in winter blooms and layer the tabletop in candles – it’s such a smart, effective way to dress a space by bringing all the focus to the tables and the centre of the room, which is important as it’s where so much of the evening is spent.
ROSIE: Couples we’ve worked with recently have been more concerned about their florals not taking away from the surroundings, so this season we created florals on the tree that the couple were married under.
What needs to be considered with flora at winter weddings in New Zealand?
SHAYE: I think it’s great to really anchor yourself into the winter vibe, and there are two looks that brides normally go for – delicate and feminine or bold and textural. The summery garden rose and wildflower look doesn’t work as well considering most of it isn’t available and if it is it’s more expensive. There’s a lot of amazing flowers during winter, a classic white wedding is possible. I love the combination of blossom or pieris with white daffodils and anemones. If you aren’t a fan of so much ‘pretty’, you can really pull off a rich and luxurious look using protea, orchid and magnolia.
KELLY: It’s the time of year when flowers are so much easier to handle for a wedding as it’s not hot – so you don’t have to consider the chance the bouquet’s could wilt by 6pm! We’re always precious over summer in terms of their care on the day and how to best preserve them for the day. We love a winter wedding – especially a rich moody palette with tons of candles – it’s super romantic.
ROSIE: Unlike Europe and the States, we haven’t got a huge source of imported flowers, and lots of our small growers only produce flowers during spring and summer, so prepare for a smaller selection of flowers. But in saying that, your florist should be able to advise you on what’s available. Think anemones, ranunculus, different flowering foliage and texture like berries (there’s more than just red nankin berries). It’s a great opportunity to get creative with your florals.
