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The DIY festive fun continues! Did you see my white wedding inspiration table on the wedding blog this morning? Click here to check it out.
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Last week, on a cold, bright December morning, I got the chance to play at princesses way Up North on the Northumberland coast, at super special wedding venue Bamburgh Castle. I was there to meet Brides Up North Featured Supplier Vicky of Floral Quarter, a North East wedding florist, for a DIY tutorial in creating the perfect Christmas bouquet. I think that this was the moment that Christmas officially started for me – a frosty drive in the winter sun, a warm and welcoming King’s Hall at Bamburgh Castle with a twinkling Christmas tree, a morning giggling with Vicky and a vibrant red rose and berry bouquet. I was feeling very merry.
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I packed my camera and took copious notes, as I had an inkling that you lovely ladies might be just a teensy bit interested too. So here we go: a step by step guide to creating a beautiful bunch of festive blooms for your winter wedding.
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Over to Vicky of Floral Quarter: Julia and I made a hand tied winter wedding bouquet and the flowers/materials I used were as follows:
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- Red Naomi Roses
- Carnations
- Hypericum Berries
- Leucadendron (Safari Sunset)
- Skimmia
- Sprayed Laurel foliage (Red Robin Photinia is another excellent foliage to use and is readily available in winter)
- Two lengths of twine
- Pearl pins and dark red organza ribbon to decorate
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Start with your centre flower (in this case a Red Naomi Rose), then pick a 2nd flower (such as another Rose or one of the Carnations) and cross over the stem of your centre Rose
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Then, using the same crossing technique, add another type of flower then some foliage, keep twisting the bouquet around, crossing all the time.
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Repeat this process until you have flowers and foliage all around your centre Rose
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Then keep adding an even mix of flowers and foliage around that circle of flowers until your bouquet is complete
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Tie in place with the twine, at the top and a good grip’s length apart, then trim off the excess stems. Remember, be cautious – you can always cut off more later!
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Then decorate with ribbon and pearls as you see fit (diamante pins or pieces of jewellery with a special significance can also be used if preferred)
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Important things to note are to make sure your flowers are evenly distributed, for example with the Leucadendron in this bouquet I’ve evenly spaced the the stems of it around the centre Rose, this balances out the bouquet and avoids grouping of certain flowers on one side. Also, remember your proportions! Proportion is very important when designing and creating a bridal bouquet, which is why I haven’t stipulated that you should use a certain amount of each flower in these instructions. The size of your bouquet should be in proportion with you and your dress otherwise it will look out of place.
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Et voila! Store your finished bouquet upright in a jug of cool water in a cool room – not the fridge or you will end up with brown roses. Wait for as long as possible on your wedding day before removing it from the water, and remember to dry off those stems before holding it against the front of your wedding dress.
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Simply stunning. Huge thanks to Vicky at Floral Quarter and to Bamburgh Castle.
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Say hello to Mrs Claus… I told you I was feeling festive!
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Floral Quarter is now the official florist for Bamburgh Castle, a venue with a 10,000 year history, suptumous staterooms and breath taking views over the coast to the Farne Islands and Lindisfarne. Vicky says: I was looking to become a supplier for a wedding venue in the region, so when I knew Bamburgh Castle were looking for suppliers and launching a new ad campaign I jumped at the chance, I mean, who wouldn’t want to work with such a beautiful venue as this?
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It’s all go for this girl too, as this week she moves into a fabulous little workshop in Newcastle city centre where she will create lots of beautiful flower arrangements and run her online gift and floral supplies shop. If you need any floral equipment to create a bouquet like this one then take a peep at the online shop on the Floral Quarter website. Vicky also provides other services such as Chair Covers, Balloon Displays, Sweetie Buffets, Vase/Birdcage hire, Bay Tree hire and Wishing Tree hire.
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Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog – Images © 2011 Brides Up North
Floral Quarter is a Brides Up North Featured Supplier, but this is not a sponsored post
Contact Brides Up North to submit your business as a Featured Supplier
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