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For Reading-based Heather Reilly’s love for floristry started at 14 years of age after a week’s work experience at a local florist. She loved it from the moment she walked through the door and knew this is what she was destined to do.
Now, as online interest in spring wedding flowers increases across both Google and Pinterest, proving that “florals for spring” continue to be groundbreaking in their own way, the owner of multi-award-winning Sonning Flowerstells experts at the UK’s number one wedding planning app,Hitched, which flowers nearlyweds should be thinking about for their spring weddings.
Heather’s Hidden Gems
“I think spring is such a joyful time of year,” says Heather. “The days are finally lighter and it is so lovely to see all the spring bulbs beginning to bloom!
“Locally grown spring flowers can often get overlooked by couples when they’re planning their wedding florals, but they are gorgeous! There are so many beautiful new varieties which are appearing. Some of my personal favourites are double tulips, anemones, ranunculus, daffodils, muscari and blossom.”
As Pinterest users take to the platform looking for bright wedding flowers 60% more than last month, here are six of the most colourful flowers hitting wedding bouquets this spring.
Double Tulips
This icon of spring is 90% more popular than this time last year, according to Pinterest Trends, with 70% more searches for the colourful flower in the last month alone. However, what makes double tulips different to other tulips is that they produce row after row of petals rather than just the six individual petals tulips are known for, making this variety much larger and plumper than the general tulip.
Anemones
From vibrant purples and deep reds to classic white and pretty pink, the range of variations on this dainty garden classic means there’s bound to be an anemone perfect for any colour theme. The flower’s soft petals are often so thin they’re almost translucent, making the colour pop even more when the sun hits them.
Ranunculus
While the Ranunculus might be another great garden classic, there’s nothing old-fashioned about this stunning flower. Also known as buttercups, these beautiful blooms are rose-like in their appearance, with layer after layer of tightly packed petals. They are a bright and bold addition to any wedding bouquet.
Daffodils
The national flower of Wales is another very iconic sign of spring, though they sadly only last a very short time in the wild, so you need to be quick to ensure this addition to a wedding bouquet. While there are more than 30 variations of this spring flower, you’ll typically only find them in shades of yellow and white.
Muscari
Also known as Grape Hyacinth, these blueish purple flowers are as synonymous with springtime as daffodils and tulips are. The tight and tall clusters of plump cobalt blue bells can oftentimes be confused with lavender, but their shorter stalks and grape juice fragrance are what set them apart.
Blossom
The inevitable tree blossoms come in a range of shapes and sizes, so there’s bound to be one to suit every bridal bouquet. Most people will immediately think of the fat pink cherry blossoms that explode at the start of spring every year, but there are so many different trees that start to bloom at the start of spring. There’s the bright yellow of the dangling Laburnum, the ombre hues of the Magnolia tree’s iconic blooms, and even the deep magenta of the Crabapple tree to think about.
Heather also shares her top tips for couples when it comes to choosing their wedding flowers, saying it’s important to take inspiration from the season you are getting married in.
“Lots of people book their date 18 months in advance, which means when you get to the one year countdown, the flowers that were around one year ago will be available for your wedding. Take inspiration, take photos, and chat to your florist about their recommendations for your style and colour palette.
“After the big day, I always suggest to couples that they give them away in some way for guests to enjoy (table centres, for example), and if they can, to get some preserved to keep forever. Preserving nowadays is phenomenal! We have many couples that preserve their bouquets and it’s such a lovely keepsake.”
Tips for preserving flowers
It’s a truly sad moment the day your wedding flowers begin to wilt, turn brown and fade away. Those beautiful reminders of your big day will be destined for the compost heap and all that’s left are your photos. Unless, that is, you choose to preserve yourwedding flowers.
Laura McGrath, from wedding flower preservation service Nogard Creations explains that “preserving your wedding flowers is a fabulous way to keep the memories of your special day. After spending so much time and thinking about choosing your bouquet as well as the financial cost, it seems such a shame to just throw them away after a week.”
There are lots of options for how to preserve your wedding flowers, some of which will keep them looking as fresh as the day you first saw them! “By preserving your bouquet into an ornament, jewellery or keepsake, you can continue to enjoy the beauty of your wedding flowers for years to come,” says Laura.
For high-quality results, Laura recommends thinking ahead when it comes to preserving your wedding flowers.
Here are some steps for couples to consider before and during their wedding day to keep their wedding flowers looking their best prior to preservation.
- Request that yourwedding florist use no spray preservatives on your bouquet, as they can cause browning when pressed
- Keep your wedding flowers out of direct sunlight and change the water frequently until you can fully preserve them
- Skip thewedding traditionof a bouquet toss or swap it for a ‘dummy’ bouquet instead to prevent your blooms getting damaged and broken
- Do your research before you choose your supplier. “As with any craft, there are some artists using cheaper and lower-quality materials. It is always worth asking the artist what brand of resin they use to check the quality of the brand. Check the reviews for your chosen preservation artist carefully on multiple platforms,” recommends Laura
- Planning to preserve your flowers yourself? Laura suggests you practise a lot beforehand. “Some of the first pieces we made were terrible and the last thing you would want is to lose irreplaceable flowers.
