Unveiling the Secrets Behind the Blooms!
Flowers bring joy to every occasion, from weddings and baby showers to birthdays and even saying goodbye to a loved one. But have you ever wondered what goes into creating those stunning arrangements? Today, we’re pulling back the curtain and chatting with Julie, the talent behind The Enchanted Florist, a Northumberland florist who transforms floral dreams into reality!
Get ready to dive into the world of whimsical blooms and expert tips!
- Wildest flower request ever? Julie once had a bride and groom request fireworks exploding from flower balls during their entrance! Talk about a show-stopping moment. We had to hire a pyrotechnics team to assist with this and get the timing right with remote control. Pretty nerve wracking but it was very impressive!
- Do flowers have personalities? Julie says peonies are the ultimate divas. They’re breathtakingly beautiful, but can be quite temperamental. Sometimes they are closed like bullets and you have to apply all your flowery witchcraft to get them open for a wedding (I often drive around in the car or van with bucket full of them, begging them to open on time. Then on the other hand when they open too soon, their petals blow and they literally fall to pieces. None of this is ideal when it is the most requested bridal flower! Calming flowers are anything scented for me, we use lavender in button holes (to calm the groom), lily of the valley are also very calming and stunningly beautiful!
Wedding Bells and Bouquet Bliss
- Wedding bouquet wisdom from the expert: The secret is to hydrate and feed flowers on the day they arrive to us. We get wedding flowers 48 hours before the wedding and the first 24 hours we condition and hydrate them. Just like us, they need lots of water to be at their best and glow on a special occasion. They can then be handled, left out of water for a little while. The secret is in the care and love that goes into them!
- Julie recommends choosing a florist with a stellar reputation and a passion for weddings. A wedding is a huge honour but also a huge responsibility and you have to have the skill, knowledge and the dedication to be a wedding florist, as well as an unwavering passion! Flowers should always be delivered in a water source, from a button hole to a huge arch installation to ensure its freshness throughout the day.
- When selecting flowers, consider your colour scheme and any blooms that hold sentimental value. It could have been grans favourite flower and she used to grow it in the garden. It could be a favourite scented flower which will forever evoke that amazing memory of your wedding day forever. Remember, flowers should always be delivered in water, and if you can, pop your bouquet back in water throughout the day, especially if you plan on preserving it. For lasting memories, consider pressing your flowers or having them preserved as a picture or even encased in resin!
- And when you can put your bouquet in water throughout your day when you can, especially if you are getting it preserved after.
- To preserve your flowers you can have it pressed or preserved as a picture or even in resin. There are many companies on Instagram who do this. You could also try and press it yourself, but it’s quite a dark art and needs lots of practice to get right before you try your bouquet.
What are some unique flowers that symbolise new beginnings or milestones, perfect for any kind of celebratory arrangement?
- Sunflowers are a happy flower and they symbolise this as well as a long fulfilling life.
- Daisy is for purity, innocence and loyalty
- Camellia is for inner strength and reflection
- Red rose symbolise eternal love
- Lavender for devotion, serenity and calm
- Traditional white rose for purity and innocence
Beyond the bouquets: Funerals with a touch of light
- Beautiful and respectful tributes: Julie creates arrangements that honour your loved one’s memory in a way that’s both beautiful and respectful. Incorporating their favorite colors or flowers can add a personal touch.
- Brightening the day: Sunflowers, freesias, and daffodils can add a touch of cheer, reflecting the joy your loved one brought to the world.
- Uniquely personal touches: Want to make it truly special? Consider incorporating your loved one’s hobbies, favorite sports team colors, or even a special poem into the arrangement.
Blooming celebrations: From baby showers to birthdays
- Playful florals for naming days: Flower crowns for the little one or centerpieces with whimsical blooms can create a magical atmosphere for the celebration.
- Themed birthday extravaganza: Let your imagination run wild! Julie can design superhero-inspired bouquets or flower arrangements with daisy centers shaped like lightning bolts!
- Flowers for every occasion: No matter how big or small the event, Enchanted Flowers by Julie can create something special to make it unforgettable. After all, flowers have a way of making any day brighter!
Secrets and more
- Julie’s hidden gems: My favourite under appreciated flower would be scabious or nigella, simple summer flowers which can easily be grown in gardens and brighten up my day. Nigella and corn flowers can also be picked and they just keep on coming, perfect for any garden and vase for the kitchen. Tulips too make me happy, I feel a new lease of life coming on with any sign of spring!
- Eco-Friendly Florals: Julie prioritises using seasonal and British-grown blooms whenever possible. She also avoids floral foam when possible and uses sustainable techniques such as chicken wire or Agra wool to create stunning, eco-conscious arrangements.
- Biggest Flower Faux Pas? Avoid direct sunlight and radiators for your flowers. Remember, some blooms, like lilies, can be toxic to pets, so it’s best to choose something else if you have furry friends at home.
- Blooms for New Beginnings: Sunflowers symbolize happiness and a long life, while daisies represent purity and loyalty. Other blooms for new beginnings include camellias (inner strength), red roses (eternal love), lavender (devotion and serenity), and white roses (purity and innocence).
Click here to find out more about The Enchanted Florist
Julie covers the Scottish Borders, East Lothian, Northumberland, Cumbria, County Durham and North Yorkshire