Inside Weddings: Jades Flower Design

This week it’s a pleasure to have the very talented florist Beverley Nichols on the blog.  Beverley runs Jades Flower Design and having worked with Beverley on numerous occasions, I can tell you her work is simply stunning.  Beverley was responsible for the gorgeous florals at Caroline & Guys wedding featured in You & Your wedding earlier in the year.

How long have you been a florist and how did you start?

I have been a florist for 20 years.  I was a secretary for 12 years and then lost my job suddenly and wanted to do something different and really just gave floristry a try and thankfully it was the right move.  I think I always had the need to work in design laying dormant in me I just hadn’t realised until I tried floristry.

How do you find your inspiration?

I find my inspiration from all kinds of sources – interior design, dress design, nature - just a walk in the park can offer up a whole range of ideas.  A lot of my inspirations come from the bride and groom as I really like to design the arrangements (especially the large arrangements tables etc.) to suit the couple.  For instance we did a tea party for a groom who was well known amongst his friends as loving tea.  I did another wedding for a couple where the groom was a landscape gardener so we made each table arrangement completely different and used his particular favourite flowers in each of the designs.   One of the most unusual bouquets I ever did was made completely of vegetables with just five calla lilies.  This was because the bride’s father had been a keen vegetable grower and she wanted to use vegetables as a tribute to him.  It was really touching and everyone knew why she had this bouquet.

What tips would you give to brides when planning their floral arrangements?

I would recommend that brides use flowers that are in season as this not only helps with cost but creates the right “feel” to the wedding.  Very often brides want to use peonies or other summer flowers in the winter and it just doesn’t look quite right.  There are so many beautiful flowers available in each of the seasons that it’s not necessary to try and source out of season flowers.  Another tip I give to brides is not to get too worried about colour schemes.  Brides are always very keen to have flowers that match their bridesmaid’s dresses exactly.  This can look a little bland and it is much better to use shades of the colour.  I think that pretty much any colours can be put together and I work very hard with the bride to achieve an interesting and workable colour scheme to keep within her theme.  Another important tip is to use flowers and designs that will suit the dress and the venue.  There is nothing worse than a large beautiful extravagant room with small designs used on the tables.

What’s the best bit about your job?

The best bit about my job is undoubtedly the reaction when the couple see the reception room for the first time or when the bride sees her bouquet.  I love it when I get a few tears!

What’s the worst bit about your job?

The worst thing about my job is the early mornings or the cold in the winter but other than that it’s a great job – its working with people at their happiest.

Describe the most extravagant floral arrangements you’ve done for a wedding.

One of the most extravagant floral arrangements we have done for a wedding was huge bird cages on top of stands which were used in place of pedestal arrangements.  These were complimented with bird cages standing on tall metal stands and birch trees with lights hanging on the branches for the tables.  The whole look was like a fairy tale.

Have you ever had a really unusual request?

I have just been asked to quote for a firework wedding.  We are going to make table arrangements in the style of fireworks – we are making a fountain of lights and flowers about 8 ft high for some of the tables and Catherine wheels made of flowers for the other tables.  In the centre of the room we are creating a fire with wood and twigs, flowers and lighting.  Each of the tables will be placed around the fire as if seating around the bonfire.

What do you think will be hot this season?

I think the one of the styles for this year is vintage.  This has been popular for a couple of years but there are still a lot of vintage style dresses around and very subtle vintage colours work well with these dresses.  Brides are asking for more traditional style bouquets again so although the hand tied posy is still very popular brides are also asking for shower bouquets again – these had gone out of fashion for a few years.  There seems to be a wider variety of colour schemes around this year.  Pink is still quite popular but also green and gold.  Orchids to seem to be very hot this year.

If you had one wish what would it be?

I would love to work on a wedding which is to be held outside; perhaps in a forest or on a beach where we could create a fairy tale theme.  We could hang lights and flowers in the trees and create a magical design or if on a beach we could create unusual designs including driftwood and shells and other interesting seaside materials.  I know this is not possible in this Country at the moment because of the law but hopefully one day it will.

Thanks Beverley!