Euphoric blog - London Florist for Wedding Flowers & Bridal Bouquets

I Said Christmas Is Coming!

2010-11-12T15:19:00.011Z

....and the cat is waiting to play with that garland!
The Euphoric studio is gearing up for the festive season with plenty of seasonal bits and pieces. This is the one time of year when we think how lovely it would be to have a shop, filled with Christmas gorgeousness, spilling out onto the street and tempting passers by with the scent of pine and spice.
Fortunately for us though, our studio opens directly on to the street, so if your passing, why not come and see us and let us do all your Christmas decorating for you? Trees, garlands, door wreaths, table arrangements, we do the lot! The baubles are being assembled and the orange slices wired in readiness, so don't leave it too late because the December wall planner is going up next week and, things are looking very busy already.

Come and say hello and let us make this a Euphoric Christmas for you!

Euphoric in Wedding Flowers Magazine

2010-11-09T16:13:00.005Z

When Wedding Flowers Magazine wants a quote, who am I to say no?! Take a look at the expert advice section of the December/January issue to see my favourite flower.

Fit For A Princess

2010-11-02T15:51:00.007Z

Sugar and spice and all things pink and white, that's what little girls dream of! How to transform the ballroom at The Langham into something fit for a princess. Fill it with cloud- like arrangements of palest pink and white hydrangeas and roses, add some sparkle and hey presto!

Spooktacular!

2010-11-02T15:41:00.002Z

Can you guess what we've been up to?! Yes, the Euphoric studio went pumpkintastic for Halloween last week, when we transformed an office for a spooktacular party. Can't wait to show you the official shots!

Rich Autumn Wedding

2010-11-02T14:59:00.011Z

Now that the trees are glowing with some of the best autumn colour we've seen in recent years, its the perfect time to share with you a recent wedding we did at The Dairy at Waddesdon Manor. This has to be one of our favourite venues, with an idyllic setting, so what better way to dress it than in this season's most desirable flower.....hydrangea!
The ceremony took place in the conservatory, where we garlanded the gorgeous classical urn in rich autumn hues. For the reception, tall flute vases of black calla lilies and hydrangea created dramatic style in the West Hall
Miniature urns of hyrdangea looked sweet on the registrar's table and, even the goldfish tank (genuine roman of course!) didn't escape our attention.

Rest rooms can often be over looked at weddings, but Waddesdon's are some of the nicest around and here we added finishing touches with flower filled cube vases and scented candles.
For a tasty treat, who could resist these beautiful candy jars? Perfect favours!

Christmas Is Coming!

2010-10-21T10:37:00.007+01:00

We're already taking orders for Christmas, in fact we had our first one two months ago! Soon we'll be surrounded with bundles of pine, bags of pine cones and plenty of dried fruit. Christmas is always a busy time for us and we love making door wreaths, garlands and decorations for our clients.
If you'd like a Euphoric Christmas, then ask us how we can transform your home this festive season. Prices start from £40.00 for our beautiful wreaths and, we'll even come and decorate your tree as well!

Autumn Glory

2010-10-17T19:03:00.009+01:00

I admit it, this is my favourite time of year. Maybe its because I'm an autumn baby, but I adore the change of the seasons and the glorious colours that are just so beautiful. So, what more appropriate way to celebrate the season than with this glowing offering for a front door?
Forget any idea of a wreath being funereal, this beauty is bursting with life that will welcome your guests in glowing style!
Packed with rich autumn hydrangea, orange roses, red pom-pom dahlias and firey gloriosa lilies, this colour palette glows like the warmest of fires. Pass the crumpets!

It's Not What You Use, It's The Way That You Use It!

2010-09-15T11:05:00.007+01:00

Until recently yellow was a colour that we were hardly ever asked for; in fact if you mentioned it to some people they'd head for the hills! This season however, that's all changed with clients wanting a change from soft pastel colours which have been so popular lately.
This recent wedding showed just how good yellow can look if you need to transform a dull venue. A combination of high and low table arrangements gives interest across a very large room and, a decorated arch used as a focal point looks impressive.
Fruit filled vases seems to be a growing trend and always makes a talking point.
Finally if you must use chair covers, please make sure they fit the chairs!

The Wedding of Anna and Russ

2010-09-03T14:40:00.004+01:00

Anna & Russ‘ beautiful wedding at Fulham Palace is featured in the October/November issue of Wedding Flowers, out now. I have to say that the flower arrangements, by Euphoric Flowers, were definitely some of the prettiest I’ve ever seen. Looking at pictures from this wedding now makes me nostalgic about the start of the summer, how did it go past us so quickly??To say we that we are happy would be an understatement! We've only just found out that one of our favourite weddings this year has been featured in Wedding Flowers Magazine. These glorious images were captured by the amazingly talented Marianne Taylor and, her comments at the top of this post sum up why we what we do, because we love what we do!

Featured Wedding

2010-09-01T08:47:00.003+01:00

Hot off the press, the September/October issue of Wedding Venues & Services Magazine has featured one of our beautiful summer weddings. Check out the feature on Sally and Dominics' celebration on pages 152 & 153.

Why Do We Bother?

2010-08-25T11:46:00.005+01:00

I truly love my job, I can't imagine not being a florist. I am one of those nauseating people that you sometime meet at parties and who say things like "I have the best job in the world"!! However, today I want to bang my head against a brick wall. Why do I want to do this? I've just read Deborah Joseph's article in the Guardian Online that's why!
It's not the article itself that has irritated me so much, even though I do think it is the journalistic equivalent of candyfloss; rather than the many comments written in response. Virtually every one seems to condemn the wedding industry for being money grabbing and exploitative. Judging by the response, the article has really struck a nerve with readers, who now seem only too happy to let loose a stream of vitriol against the whole business and, in some cases the institution of marriage itself. Its all VERY one sided and there is obviously an appalling lack of knowledge about what we do, so why is this?
For a bride and groom the whole business of getting married is an absolute minefield. You hope that you're only going to do it once, you're completely out of your comfort zone and you don't know where to start. I'm having my civil partnership next year: we're only having 25 guests and I'm marrying a wedding planner and it's still stressful!! I cannot imagine having a do with 150 guests, I don't KNOW 150 people and, being the centre of that much attention would have me heading for the hills. But, whether you have a "fairy tale" wedding in a castle for 200 or lunch for 20 in a pub it can still be a miserable experience. I've been to a very lavish wedding which was badly thought through (a standing reception for 300 with no chance of being able to sit down is no fun) and an intimate lunch for 6, where the happy couple decided to skip dessert in order to catch their honeymoon flight! Whatever you do to celebrate your wedding, your wedding is what you make it. Spending £1000 or £100,000 is entirely a matter of choice, doesn't guarantee success and, being blamed for being extravagant is hardly something new. In fact it actually smacks of jealousy more than anything else. Why is spending several thousand pounds on a wedding dress such a bad thing? I'd spend that much on a bespoke suit if I could!

In reality, we should be celebrating an industry which is worth more than £5 billion a year to the UK economy, provides employment for thousands of people and, unusually is supported mostly by small businesses. Unfortunately for those small businesses, there seems to be a shocking lack of support from within the industry itself. An industry which seems to be more concerned with promoting it's high paying advertisers than the little people who are the back-bone of the wedding world. We have found out the hard way that, trying to promote your business to the people that matter and being met with a "who are you"? attitude can make you want to give up. Unless you've the capital to promote yourself as the next big thing, no one wants to know. It takes hard slog to survive in weddings and, if that isn't bad enough, a recent comment by the editor of a wedding magazine who said that, as soon as venues and suppliers hear the word wedding, they add a nought to the quote, is like a slap in the face. Of all the accusations laid against us, this is the one which angers me more than any other.

Sometimes we feel that trying to make the general public understand that what we do has a commercial value, is like wading through treacle! How do you make someone understand that your work IS worth what you charge? The term "rip-off merchants" seems to be a very popular term when referring to the wedding business. Those reputable suppliers in the business should perhaps come up with a term to describe the "bridezillas" who sometimes make our jobs so difficult. The ones who give you a budget and then slash it by two thirds. The ones that demand a full design brief with their quote and, who then tell you that a friend of the family is going to do the flowers, based on our ideas and our quote. The ones who want to pay cash because they don't want to pay the VAT! The ones who think that just because you have a mobile, they can call you at ll o'clock at night!

Reading so many negative comments in response to Deborah Joseph's article saddened me deeply. However, we know that we always do the very best for our clients and always will. Let me leave you with this, from the parents of a recent bride.

"I don't think that your incredible design for my daughter's wedding has quite sunk in - even now. You did a fabulous job at translating their ideas and wishes into a reality which was absolutely stunning. We cannot thank you enough for making such a terrific contribution to an unforgettable event".

More Blue Hydrangea

2010-08-25T08:19:00.012+01:00

Hot on the heels of last week's hydrangea blog, here's another offering that we did for Natalia and Alex on a VERY hot in July. The wedding took place in the Mappin Pavilion at London Zoo and on such a glorious day, the soft blue colour scheme worked perfectly.
Natalia carried a bouquet of white calla lilies with florets of pale blue hydrangea, whilst her bridesmaids carried posies of hydrangea, scabious and flowering mint.
For the ceremony, elegant vases of hyrangeas and delphiniums flanked the registrar's table.
While the drinks reception took place on the terrace outside the pavilion, the room was transformed for the wedding breakfast. For the flowers, conntemporary met country with sleek fishbowl vases containing informal arrangements of swirled scabious and lisianthus. Perfect summer flowers on a perfect summer day.

New York Style

2010-08-20T10:59:00.007+01:00

A couple of weeks ago we were back to back with weddings and, this one was a real show stopper! This was high style for a very savvy pair of New Yorkers. White and green was the order of the day but NOT in the usual sense! The green came in the form of 1800 limes (that's 300lbs!!!) but all the lifting and shifting was worth it.

Once we get the proper shots from Lloyd Dobbie we'll show you the day in all it's glory. In the meantime take a look at Lloyds blog for a taster.

English Blue

2010-08-20T07:13:00.012+01:00

Blue is an enduringly popular colour for summer weddings. Let's face it, it's a popular colour throughout the year; but if it's blue you want and hydrangea you want, then August is the perfect month. Last week we were at The Dairy at Waddesdon Manor for the wedding of Natalie and Mark and, we were able to take full advantage of the most amazing english hydrangea, which we had sent up to us from a grower in Devon. Waddesdon really is the most perfect setting for a wedding and, it's hard to believe that the dairy was once home to probably the most pampered herd of cows in the country!
The ceremony took place in the beautiful Winter Garden, where we fulled the enormous urn with delphiniums, palm leaves and hydrangeas. As the bride carried a bouquet of white calla lilies, the buttonholes complemented her with an added touch of hydrangea.

The wedding breakfast took place in the West Hall and, in such a long room we alternated high and low table arrangements of hydrangeas and calla lilies to create interest and impact.

Natalie's attention to detail was spot on and, her choice of an elegantly simple wedding cake, finished with navy blue ribbon was perfect. What more could we do, except a little more hydrangea?!

Sunshine Yellow Wedding

2010-08-19T12:48:00.010+01:00

Yellow is a colour we are hardly EVER asked to do for a wedding! In fact in the last five years, we've only used it as an accent colour so this burst of citrus is a real treat! When we were at college, we were always told about using yellow in a dark church because it is an advancing colour. Well for this recent wedding, there was no dark church, just the beautiful lakeside setting of Stoke Place in Buckinghamshire.
We were delighted to be working with Amanda Sherlock from Giles Sherlock Event Design who co-ordinated the wedding with her usual style a flair and, who gave the event a distinctly american twist, for the elegant outdoor ceremony.
When it came to designing the table arangements for the wedding breakfast, we were guided by the presentation of the food itself. As keen foodies, the bride and groom chose a real feast of flavours and cultures in their cuisine. Large sharing platters were brought out for each of the many courses, so whatever we did flowerwise had to accomodate these.
We came up with the idea of contained arrangements which would act as a base for the serving platters, without the need to remove the flowers at each course. Mini chrysanthemum balls, neat rows of roses and textural achillea nestled opposite cubes of whole lemons and floating candles.
The very sculptural ceremony arrangements of achillea and hydrangea were re-used behind the top table and the windowsills glowed with the light from storm lanterns in shades of ivory, vanilla and buttermilk. Sunshine on a sunny day!

A Taste Of Things To Come!

2010-07-22T16:25:00.002+01:00

It's been a mad couple of months at Euphoric. Moving to a new studio, wonderful weddings, a spot of filming and plenty of planning for up-coming jobs. Unfortunately, all this has meant that our blogging has had to take a bit of a back seat lately. So to whet your appetites, here's a little taster of the most amazing wedding we did a couple of weeks ago....let us know what you think!

We're All Going To The Zoo!

2010-06-09T08:27:00.009+01:00

Last Saturday, which also happened to be one of the hottest days of the year, we were at London Zoo for a gorgeous summer wedding. On such a hot day, it was lovely to be working with some of our favourite summer flowers - peonies, hydrangea and delphinium in cool shades of white, cream and palest green.

The ceremony took place in the Mappin Pavillion, where a pair of simple and elegant white vase arrangements flanked the registrar's table. To emphasise the aisle, we decorated the chairs with single white peonies and delicate ivy trails.

Following the ceremony, the very elegant wedding party had drinks on the terrace, and by this time the Zoo had closed so everything was wonderfully peaceful. The evening reception took place in the Prince Albert Suite, where the white and green theme continued with stylish arrangements of roses, hydrangea and peonies on tall champagne flute vases. The look was completed with tealights in sliver, mercuried holders.

With such a hot day, there is always the danger that delicate summer flowers could wilt but, we were delighted that everything looked so beautiful. A real testament to the quality of our wonderful suppliers at Covent Garden Market. Of course the proof is always in the pudding, so we can't wait to see the images of the day captured by the wonderful Lloyd Dobbie.

More Spring Blossom

2010-06-08T14:42:00.006+01:00

A few weeks ago, we featured the beautiful wedding of Anna and Russ at Fulham Palace. This was a gorgeous event and, we thought that we'd taken some rather good pictures. That was of course, until we saw the utterly stunning images of photographer Marianne Taylor, which completely blew us away! Marianne featured the wedding on her blog and received rave reviews for her work, and rightly so!! Now that we have the official shots, we couldn't resist sharing them with you and, as we love them so much we'll probably be turning some into postcards!

Classic White and Green - Always a Dream.

2010-05-12T15:52:00.009+01:00

Following straight on from our previous cherry blossom extravaganza, we were soon off to The Walled Garden, in the ruins of Cowdray Park in West Sussex for the wedding of Gemma and Ben. Using a classic palette of white and green, this lovely design reflected the bride's love of elegant informality for the day. White roses, snapdragons, sweet peas and ivy dressed wrought iron candle stands, candelabra and chair backs for the ceremony and reception in the Castle Room.

Bunches of snapdragons made pretty chair decorations for the ceremony.

The rustic candelabra on the tables suited the neutral decor of the Castle Room perfectly for the intimate recpetion and reflected the wonderful garden for which this lovely venue is known.

Vintage Spring Wedding

2010-05-12T14:56:00.013+01:00

Every year we want to do a wedding with masses of double pink cherry blossom. Some years, it's too cold or too warm and we're either too early or too late! A couple of weeks ago however, we were spot on when we supplied the flowers for the wedding of Anna and Russ at Fulham Palace in West london.

Soft pink roses, muscari, florets of guelder and stocks made very pretty buttonholes.

The theme was "Vintage Tea Party" and cherry blossom was a must have! With some of our favourite spring and early summer flowers also being used including, lily of the valley, sweet peas, muscari, freesias, foxgloves, stocks, delphiniums and guelder, the result looked good enough to eat!

For the afternoon reception we created a different look for each table, using mis-matched vases, glassware and vintage cups and saucers. Childhood memories of our grandmothers' crockery and those little pressed glass vases from dressing table sets came flooding back.

With so many flowers in the room, we thought it all looked perfect but, as you can see the front of the palace is covered with wisteria, which was the icing on the cake.....oh, and there was plenty of that too!

The Price Is Right....Or Not, Sometimes!!!

2010-04-14T08:32:00.007+01:00

" Flowers don't cost much do they"? "I'm getting married in August and I want tulips". "I want a classic elegant look with a minimal contemporary twist"!! These are just some of the things that brides have said to us in the quest for their perfect wedding flowers. In fact over the years, we've heard so many weird and wonderful anecdotes that we could write a book! All these sayings however, have one thing in common.....expectation. Every couple that we meet has an expectation of what they want their wedding flowers to be, however vague or off the wall. So today, we thought we'd share with you an insider look at just what goes into creating those amazing arrangements and beautiful bouquets and, why we charge what we charge.

Unless you've just won the lottery or just don't care what you spend, everyone has a budget. Only once have we ever had a client who said those magic words, "I don't care what it costs". It was a dream moment but, we carried on as if it were a daily occurrence! Increasingly though, we're finding that the demand for the "wow" doesn't follow through with the budget. We've always advocated allowing around 10% of your overall spend for flowers. This is a realistic figure and will of course depend on how important flowers are to you for your wedding. Annoyingly though, some wedding magazines and websites publish wildly unrealistic figures for flowers which, is confusing for the client and makes our job as florists harder. Why should a potential bride believe us quoting £1500 for reception flowers, when a magazine says she can have them for £500?This is where it gets tricky and we have to deal with the idea of perception. What do people THINK flowers cost? Without wishing to sound sorry for ourselves, in general the public think we have a pretty easy time of it. It's not a real job is it? You play around with flowers all day, it must be lovely. It is lovely....it's also hard work! Very early morning market trips, unsociable hours, standing all day, buckets and buckets of cold water, a lot of lifting and sore backs are just some of the perks, yet we love what we do. Unfortunately, most of the above goes unseen and clients only get to see the end result on the big day, without any knowledge of what goes into producing their event. What most people also don't realise is most flowers are imported from Holland, where they are sold in euros. Not good for the weak pound and, with ever increasing fuel costs the price of transportation keeps rising too. We here at Euphoric believe we give an excellent standard of service to our clients. We price our work realistically and are very open about additional costs such as delivery, clearance and hire charges. We put together design boards, make mock-ups of our designs (once a booking is confirmed) and make extensive site visits, travelling hundreds of miles in some cases. This is all part of our service and we're delighted to do it, but time is money and has to be accounted for. Choose the florist for your wedding not just because they're offering the best price, but because you have absolute confidence in their ability to create the wedding you want, artistically, professionally and ethically. Remember, we all like a bargain but you also get what you pay for!

Euphoric's 5th Birthday Party

2010-03-26T12:48:00.005Z

It's official, we are five!! So, what better to celebrate than with a party? Last week we did just that when we invited friends and colleagues who have supported us so much over the last five years, to join us for a celebration at our studio. Clients, Wedding Planners, Photographers, luminaries from the world of Hair, Make-Up and PR and those closest to us enjoyed a wonderful evening of kir royale, canapes and a lot of laughing, and all by candle light!

Our good friend Lloyd Dobbie was on hand to capture the evening with his lovely images and it was great to see our work space transformed from its usual appearance in to something magical for the evening. A chance for us to have fun and feel proud of what we've acheived over the last five years. The celebratory cup cakes went down a treat and, whilst everyone was singing Happy Birthday to us, we felt a sense of enormous pride at having lasted this long, with so much more to come. Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate what has been our pride and joy for the last five years. XX

Romantic Tulip Wedding

2010-02-24T15:48:00.011Z

Overseen by an angel, what could be more lovely on a cold winter day than tulips? For Kate and Wills' wedding on Saturday, rich red "Pallade" tulips accented with petrol blue viburnum berries set the tone for their beautiful wedding at Hampton Court House. Just a stone's throw from the palace and overlooking Bushey Park, this graceful 18th century venue was the setting for the civil ceremony and reception.

Kate and Will exchanged their vows beneath the magnificent ceiling in the entrance hall, with log fires and candlelight adding to the romantic atmosphere before their reception in the ballroom of this historic mansion.

A classical urn of tulips, birch and ivy trails gave a rustic elegance beside an antique mirror.

For dinner nature inspired the informal look of the tables, with vibrant tulips appearing to grow from mossy rings and complementing the chairs green velvet seat pads perfectly. Guests with a sweet tooth were treated to two wedding cakes, with a very popular "cheese" cake adding the finishing touch.

Spring at The Designer Wedding Show

2010-02-24T15:24:00.004Z

Spring came to Battersea Park a couple of weeks ago, when we were asked by Waddesdon Manor to supply the flowers for their stand at The Designer Wedding Show. Following on from the success of last year's show, this time we couldn't resist using gorgeous french tulips in shades of pink, cream and apricot which were the perfect antidote to the chilly weather outside.

Many thanks to wedding photographer Lloyd Dobbie for allowing us to use these pictures.

A Derbyshire Adventure

2010-02-09T15:21:00.011Z

Last September we shared with you the story of one of our favourite jobs to date, a fabulous party in the depths of the stunning Derbyshire countryside. We had some pretty good pictures then, but now they're even better. Taken by the brilliantly talented Christian Keenan, we think they really do make our flowers look amazing.....we hope you agree!

A Touch of Spring

2010-01-27T17:01:00.012Z

What better way to start the New Year than with a splash of colour! Last week we supplied the flowers for a corporate lunch at London Zoo and, of course it had to be tulips. After such a long cold spell, this multi-coloured mass of happy spring flowers brightened up our studio so much, we just had to take some pictures! Different colours in coloured perspex cubes, that guests were able to take away with them made for a very cheerful lunch indeed.

Euphoric's Little Helper

2009-12-23T15:41:00.007Z

The last few weeks have been full of Christmas decorating here at Euphoric, so we thought we'd show you one of our favourite jobs of the season. We were asked to supply a door wreath and dress a spiral staircase with 27 feet of pine garlanding and, have to say that we were pretty pleased with the result! Whole oranges and slices, cinammon sticks, cones and gold ribbon made for a very festive house and, we even had a little helper.This is Mimi who decided she just had to get in on the act and even posed for a picture....well almost. Happy Christmas!

Winter Wedding

2009-12-23T14:57:00.009Z

Last Saturday was the perfect winter weather for our last wedding of 2009. Warren House on Kingston Hill was our destination for the marriage of Katy and Richard and, with glorious sunshine and snow on the ground, we created beautiful arrangements with a hint of Christmas sparkle!Guests were greeted at the front door by a glittered birch heart, dressed with deep purple satin before the ceremony, which took place in the stunning ballroom.Urns filled with aromatic douglas pine, eucalyptus, purple lisianthus and glittered birch flanked the registrar's table. For the reception, we carried the purple theme through with very seasonal table rings of pine, berried ivy and mistletoe, whilst storm lanterns with candles added soft romantic light.

Finally, as it was a winter wedding and there was mistletoe on the tables, we just had to have a kissing bough to welcome in the festive season!

Christmas is coming!

2009-12-16T07:18:00.006Z

It's that wonderful time of year when the Euphoric studio is full of scented pine. Cinnamon, orange slices and pine cones make for a heady aroma on these frosty December days, when we're preparing decorations for the Christmas season (a few mince pies and some carols help us along the way!) We love filling our clients' homes with our creations, so take a look at some of our recent work, which we hope you like.

Wedding Flowers Magazine

2009-11-12T16:44:00.003Z

Last year we featured the beautiful autumnal wedding of Noor and Alan on the blog. We are delighted to announce that it has now been featured in the latest edition of Wedding Flowers Magazine. Enjoy!

Bride Ideas and Frock-Ups

2009-10-28T07:55:00.004Z

A couple of weeks ago, we were asked to provide the flowers for a book launch. Not just any old book launch, but Bride Ideas and Frock-Ups. This fabulous new book by Sim Cannetty Clarke, Susannah Frieze and Amanda Lockhart is packed with the most stunning wedding photography, handy hints and fascinating bridal lore. Held at Westbourne Grove Church in Notting Hill, the party was a glamorous and fun filled evening attended by wedding and event planners including, Kathryn Lloyd, Amanda Sherlock and Lester Gethings. Society It girl, Tara Palmer Tomkinson, who wrote the forward to the book mingled with guests and brides featured in the book graced the event in their wedding gowns. One of our favourite quotes from the book. "Marry rich. Buy him a pacemaker. Then stand behind him and say Boo!" Joan Rivers.

Halloween Chic

2009-10-28T07:12:00.003Z

This weekend, there are sure to be plenty of Halloween parties taking place. Pumpkin carving, crackling fires and spooky fun! Don't forget though about your front door! If you want to have the smartest door in the street, then take a look at our beautiful wreath of mini pumpkins, chinese lanterns and ghostly spanish moss. Perfect for a chilly autumn night. Happy Halloween!

Wedding Flowers at Wilton's Part 2

2009-09-30T13:45:00.009+01:00

A few weeks ago, we posted some our photos from the beautiful vintage style wedding of Katherine and Elliott at Wilton's Music Hall. We've just received some of their professional shots which were taken by Simone Germaine, so enjoy more of this beautiful wedding!

Euphoric Triumph over Disaster!!

2009-09-16T12:46:00.009+01:00

Euphoric went on the road last weekend, all the way to Derbyshire..and all the way back! Not a wedding this time, but a very glamorous 50th birthday party on top of a hill in the glorious Peak District. The venue was a 30 metre long marquee, with glass walls on either side overlooking the stunning Hope Valley. On one side of the marquee was a decked terrace complete with picket fence for the drinks reception. The brief was for sophisticated opulence, so we chose tall white trumpet vases lavishly filled with white phalaenopsis orchids which sat on slate grey crushed silk tablecloths, whilst white glass cubes packed with white chincherinchee decorated the bar and occasional tables. Perspex Philippe Starck chairs completed the glamorous look.

Our well organised plans went somewhat awry before we had even left London! Having had a flat tyre, we then reversed into a rather posh car as we left the studio! Finally we got on the road, and after a 6 hour journey up the M1, we arrived at our home for the weekend, The Poachers Arms in Hope.

The day of the party started well, with preparations under way, before we discovered that 9 of our 15 vases were black instead of white!! Frantic phonecalls followed, and replacements arrived just in time to save the day!

Luckily, we were in the calm hands of Amanda Sherlock of Giles Sherlock Event Design whose planning of the entire event was quite breathtaking. Her professionalism and attention to detail, was faultless and it was a joy to work with her again.

The whole event was catered by Simon Cromack and his team from Eventuate and, as you can see from the menu, dinner was a sumptuous affair!

During the day, we found time to create a little video, which will follow this..we hope you enjoy!

Vintage Wedding Flowers

2009-09-09T15:44:00.008+01:00

Last weekend we ventured East for the wedding of Katherine and Elliott. The wedding ceremony was held at the Chapel of St Peter Ad Vincula within the walls of the Tower of London, followed by a reception at one of London's hidden gems, Wiltons Music Hall. The only surviving grand victorian music hall in the world, Wiltons is on the list of the most endangered buildings in the country and is literally crumbling away. So we were delighted to be able to work at this most historic of venues. Gorgeous lollipop bay trees flanked the main stairs which were garlanded with ivy trails and fairy lights and this theme continued into the main auditorium creating a wonderful twinkly atmosphere.In keeping with the surroundings, the wedding flowers had a distinctly vintage feel, with distressed terracotta pots, scented herbs and soft antique pink roses decorating the tables downstairs. Lavish urns filled with chocolate brown cotinus, pink larkspur, aromatic waxflower, roses and trailing ivy, were placed in the gallery upstairs for the drinks reception. Once again, our thanks go out to Lester Gethings from Number 10 Wedding Design & Management who worked tirelessly throughout the day to help us create such a memorable event. The bride's father is a patron of Wiltons, and I am sure we are not alone in wanting to promote and save this wonderful building for all to enjoy.

Rose and Herb Wedding Flowers

2009-08-28T14:29:00.008+01:00

There seems to be a real demand for garden roses this year, so we were delighted when Sally and Dominic asked us to supply their wedding flowers last week at Stoke Place in Buckinghamshire. This beautiful georgian venue was hired exclusively for the weekend, with Sally and Dominic wanting a relaxed house party atmosphere for the event. Garden roses in soft pastel colours, with hydrangeas and herbs in galvanised pots made perfect table arangements.A towering macaroon wedding cake, in flavours of rose and pistachio from Laduree added sophisticated glamour.Sally carried a trailing bouquet of ice cream coloured roses, decorated with pearls and diamante, and the whole day was co-ordinated by Kelly Chandler from The Bespoke Wedding Company.

More Scented Summer Wedding

2009-08-27T14:55:00.010+01:00

On our last post we showed you some of the beautiful photography by our good friend Lloyd Dobbie, of wedding flowers at Great Fosters. Lloyd has now sent more lovely images to us, which we are delighted to share with you. Enjoy!

Scented Summer Wedding

2009-08-11T12:20:00.005+01:00

We wanted to share with you all a few of the pictures that our good friend, photographer Lloyd Dobbie took at the recent wedding of Rachel and Mark. Gloriously scented David Austin roses were the order of the day for this very romantic occasion, where both the church in Chiswick and the reception venue of Great Fosters near Windsor were a rose lovers paradise!The wonderfully atmospheric tithe barn was filled with scent and candlelight and the whole day was beautifully co-ordinated by wedding planner Kelly Chandler of The Bespoke Wedding Company. We don't have all the pictures yet, but we'll keep you posted as soon as we do!

Pretty in Pink (and Orange!)

2009-07-10T13:16:00.007+01:00

Not many of you may know that we can also turn our hand to planting from time to time! Yesterday, was perfect planting weather for a roof top terrace in leafy Notting Hill. So, armed with sandwiches and coffee we climbed eight flights of stairs to refurbish this lovely urban roof space which we originally designed a couple of years ago. To complement the vivid orange planters which we had custom made for our client, we planted hot pink scented pelargoniums, guaranteed to flower all summer long on this very sunny and exposed roof top. Gorgeous rosemary

and a miniature herb garden finished the mediterranean theme.

Why not try sexy succulent plants as we have here, they require little, if any watering, and will reward you with weird and wonderful flowers whatever the weather!

Wedding Flowers

2009-07-08T10:07:00.008+01:00

Here are the pictures of a beautiful summer wedding we worked on from last year, featured in the latest Wedding Flowers Magazine, together with a dramatic red photo shoot.

Wedding Flowers Magazine

2009-07-04T14:42:00.003+01:00

We are delighted to announce that Euphoric has been featured not just once, but twice in the latest issue of Wedding Flowers Magazine. The beautiful summer wedding of Julie and Dan, which took place last May and, a two page spread in the flower gallery. Do take a look and enjoy!

Fairytale Castle

2009-07-03T11:30:00.014+01:00

The wedding of Robyn and Billy at Highclere Castle last week was a truly transatlantic affair. With the couple based in America, this week long celebration was superbly planned by one of our favourite wedding planners, Lester Gethings from No.10 Wedding Design & Management, who co-ordinated a truly spectacular event. Flowers were an extremely important element of this wedding and, it was a pleasure to work with such a vibrant colour palette of purple, red, orange and zesty lime green. As the bride said, 'I want the colours to really pop!!'
The saloon of Lord and Lady Carnarvon's home took centre stage for the wedding ceremony, where the bride and groom exchanged their vows in front of the magnificent stone fireplace, flanked with lavish urns of purple delphinium, rich red peonies, magenta 'sumatra' scented lilies and deep violet hydrangea. The bride made her entrance down the grand staircase also flanked with urn arrangements, and carried a very glamorous trailing bouquet of dark pink phalaenopsis orchids, whilst her bridesmaids, wearing full length aubergine silk gowns, carried posies of velvety 'grand prix' roses.
The drinks reception was held on the south lawn of the castle with breathtaking views across the estate. Here on the occasional tables we placed mini moss topiary trees in antique pots tied with sumptuous purple ribbon. Following champagne and canapes, the guests entered the richly decorated library for the wedding breakfast.Against a backdrop of exquisite purple table linen and shimmering crystal, tall and lavish arrangements on mirror plates adorned the centre of each table, accessorised with mercuried silver votives.The gorgeous four tiered wedding cake by Peggy Porschen which we decorated with heads of deep pink phalaenopsis orchids was pin spot to highlight the iced champagne bubbles on each tier.We would have loved to have stayed to enjoy the evening entertainment which included a jazz band, singing waiters and fireworks at midnight, but we were thoroughly exhausted and drove back down the M4 feeling weary, but confident we had another Euphoric Triumph!!!!!

Black, White and Silver Wedding

2009-07-03T09:21:00.009+01:00

On a somewhat overcast day a couple of weeks ago, we were at the wonderfully peaceful Eastlands Estate in West Sussex for the wedding of Jason and Tina. The moody skies were a striking foil for the couples dramatic colour scheme of black, white and silver, which we created using white lilies and gladioli, glittered black willow and silver accent decoration. Tina carried a bouquet of deepest 'black' calla lilies, whilst her bridesmaids complemented her with wired posies of white oriental lilies, embellished with crystal decoration. The wedding ceremony took place on the terrace of the main house, where a pair of urns filled entirely with white gladioli framed the main entrance.For the wedding reception which took place in the newly decorated Starlight suite, tall flute vases of white lilies and glittered black willow dressed with silver butterflies graced each table. This theme also carried through to the wedding cake, which was decorated with exquisite miniature glittered butterflies.

Chelsea Gold !

2009-05-20T11:18:00.003+01:00

We are so thrilled for our good friend Jane Brockbank, who along with Angus Thompson has won a Gold medal at The Chelsea Flower Show this year. Their beautiful garden 'Nature Ascending' is a very deserved winner and a great inspiration to us mere florists!! Victoria studied Garden Design with Jane way back in 1999 and whilst she struggled with her planting plans, Jane was always the one to watch. We are very proud of her and send her all our best wishes.

Mayfair in May

2009-05-13T11:01:00.010+01:00

On a perfect May morning, our destination was the beautiful Grosvenor Chapel in Mayfair for the wedding of Hannah and Luke. Hannah had chosen a soft vintage palette of palest pink and cream with touches of sage green for this smart town wedding. Following the ceremony, the entire wedding party strolled the short distance to Dartmouth House for the wedding reception which was held in the Long Drawing Room of this grand London mansion.A lavish urn arrangement at the top of the magnificent staircase was filled with a mass of scented early summer blooms including lilies, roses, stocks and delicate soloman's seal. This set the tone for the table decorations of alternating high and low arrangements. We returned at midnight to find the bride and groom, who were the last to leave, walking hand in hand into the distance. We think they had a good time!!

Rhapsody in Blue

2009-04-25T13:25:00.007+01:00

Back in February we blogged about the Flowers we supplied for one of the stands at The Designer Wedding Show; The Dairy at Waddesdon Manor. We were delighted then to be asked to create the arrangements for a party last week at Waddesdon, hosted by Lord Rothschild. The Dairy originally housed Waddesdon's prize winning cows but is now the perfect venue for a party or wedding. With a terrace magically positioned next to a beautiful lake, this really is the most perfect place to get married. For last weeks party, which included a drinks reception and formal dinner, blue was the order of the day. We filled the enormous classical urn in the conservatory with hydrangeas, delphiniums, molucella, palms and ivy trails and surounded the base with it's very own garland. Window sills were dressed with cube vases filled with an assortment of blue flowers including, hydrangeas, anemones and Cornish blue bells. For a finishing touch we added storm lanterns to give atmosphere as the sun went down on what was a glorious spring day.

Black and White Wedding

2009-03-28T15:45:00.015Z

It's a wet and windy day out there so we were glad of a short journey to the gorgeous Gore Hotel in Queens Gate, South Kensington for the wedding of Chris and Sara. Chris is one of the director's of lifestyle management company Sincura and, as one of their chosen suppliers we were delighted to be asked to provide flowers for this wedding reception in the Tapestry Room of the hotel. A crisp black and white theme was the order of the day and pure white Calla lilies and black birch twigs suited this city wedding perfectly.

With a lavish display on the fireplace which dominates the room, the scene was set for an intimate dinner.

Preston Bailey

2009-02-24T14:31:00.002Z

Following on from our Fawsley Hall blog, whilst there we met the lovely Amanda Lucas, Weddings Supervisor from Sandals who has just sent us this wonderful signed copy of Fantasy Weddings by floral supremo Preston Bailey. Good things do come in the post, not just bills and this gorgeous book is packed with jaw dropping and inspirational ideas which are, as the title says fantasy. Although theatrical in the extreme, elements of Preston's work can be taken and adapted to suit every event. The sky's the limit! Thank you Amanda.

History and Romance

2009-02-24T12:30:00.006Z

Almost a year to the day, we made a return visit to Fawsley Hall last week, as guest speakers for The Association of Bridal Consultants, who had arranged a wonderful day of networking and presentations at this historic country house in the beautiful Northamptonshire countryside. We recently blogged about the wedding of Isobelle and Steve which took place at Fawsley last year, so it was good to be back at a venue that is now firmly one of our favourites. As ever the whole event was superbly arranged by Amanda Sherlock from the ABC, who works tirelessly to promote professionalism within the wedding industry, so being asked by her to do a presentation was a real pleasure.Welcomed by the Fawsley Hall team, we were given a history of the house, and it it is hard to believe that little more than 30 years ago the house was a ruin and in danger of being demolished. There was even a tree growing in the roofless Great Hall! We were then given a tour of the house and it's facilities, which includes a new spa opening in April. If you fancy a real treat you can even stay in the room that Queen Elizabeth occupied when she visited in 1575.After lunch the afternoon was given over to presentations, firstly by Sandals who told us about their wonderful Luxury Included resort holidays and Wedding Moon packages (complete with butler service if you want it!) Then it was our turn to take our audience through "A Year of Flowers". This was our chance to share our knowledge of what flowers are best available in each season with a room full of wedding planners, who are a major part of our business.

The afternoon was rounded off with tea, lots of cake and networking with industry professional including wedding planners, Lester Gethings from No.10 Wedding Design & Management, Siobhan Craven Robins and Zoe Lingard, together with make up artist Lina Cameron. Fantastic entertainment was provided by magician Jamie Raven, who made rings disappear and reappear in implausible places and £20 notes turn into £50's!!
We must thank everyone at Fawsley for their hospitality and are very jealous of Amanda Sherlock who got to stay the night!

Designer Wedding Show

2009-02-17T13:11:00.005Z

We always look forward to the DWS, and were delighted to be asked to supply flowers for Waddesdon Manor who were exhibiting at the show for the first time. Their stand was in a fantastic position opposite the catwalk, and a fabulous opportunity for us to showcase our work. To complement the wonderful images on the stand, we filled classical urns with magnolia branches and ice cream coloured lisianthus, completed with rings of tactile carpet moss. In this job, we get asked to do all sorts of things, and the moss proved so popular that we returned with a moss skirting board to give a finishing touch to the stand!Always a popular show, it was great to see some old and new friends, and catch up with all the gossip from the wedding industry! We look forward to the next show in the Autumn.

New Venue Discovery

2009-02-17T12:11:00.002Z

We are always on the look out for new venues to work at, and this lovely house is practically on our doorstep! We discovered Warren House in Kingston upon Thames when a bride of ours (see Ham and Noodles blog) stayed here the night before her wedding. Set in 4 acres of beautiful landscaped gardens, this Victorian Mansion caters for weddings on an exclusive use basis with 45 bedrooms which is wonderful for a venue so close to Central London. On a lovely sunny afternoon, we were shown around the house by Katherine King, the events co-ordinator, who was extremely welcoming and showed us everything the house has to offer. Warren House will accommodate up to 20 weddings each year and we would certainly recommend you take a look.

Indian Palace

2009-02-17T11:27:00.007Z

The day before London disappeared under a blanket of snow, we were at One Great George Street for the wedding of Simon and Jag. The theme was 'Indian Palace' and began with a civil ceremony in the Smeaton Room, where church candles, tealights and scented jasmine trails decorated the mantelpieces. In complete contrast, an elaborate Indian ceremony took place in the afternoon in the same room which was transformed by the addition of a Mandap which we garlanded with deepest pink carnations.
For the evening reception, the Great Hall was the perfect setting for this glamorous event where tables surrounded with gilt chairs were dressed with deep purple cloths and crystal candelabra supplied by Alternative Occasions, which we completed with lavish rings of purple lisianthus and lilac roses. Gold and silver tealights completed the sumptuous look.The wedding was superbly co-ordinated by Amanda Sherlock of Giles Sherlock Event Design and all credit should go to her for all her hard work and for looking after us so wonderfully.

Jamelia Says I Blue!!

2009-02-05T13:31:00.006Z

As corny as it sounds, that WAS the headline in one of the tabloid newspapers last year when we supplied the flowers for singer Jamelia's marriage to footballer Darren Byfield. Photographs are few and far between, but much was made of the fact that Jamelia chose blue roses for her wedding bouquet. Most of the press said that she had chosen them as a tribute to Darren's team colours, but it was the bride herself who asked us if we could get blue roses because she liked them and, when we said we could it was blue all the way.

We were delighted then to be asked by You & Your Wedding magazine, to recreate Jamelia's bouquet for an A List inspiration feature for the current March/April issue. Of course there is no such thing as a true blue rose, so we used white roses which had been dyed, which is not as strange as it may sound because many flowers can be dyed to match your chosen colour scheme.....even four colours at once! For Jamelia, every rose was wired so that the stem of the bouquet was very slender to hold, bound with organza ribbon and finished with diamante pins. The bouquet itself was also highlighted throughout with diamante jewels to complement the brides accessories. A bold colour choice but a beautiful one, so if you're considering something a little different for you wedding flowers, then go for it!!

Simply the best!

2009-01-15T13:44:00.011Z

Sometimes a wedding can be so beautiful that even we feel really moved by it. This happened almost a year ago, when we provided flowers for a wonderful couple, Isobelle and Steve, who won us in a competition! The setting was the exquisite Fawsley Hall in Northamptonshire and their chosen colours were rich wine reds and clarets, perfect for a bitterly cold day in February. Isobelle particularly loved amaryllis and hellebores, and her wish was our command! The bride's trailing bouquet complemented her beautiful silk sash and was a glorious combination of scented jasmine trails, roses ,tulips and hellebores.

The titian haired bridesmaids wore beautiful long, soft caramel satin dresses and carried posies of hellebores and scented rosemary, finished with organza ribbon.

As couples go, its hard to beat clients like Isobelle and Steve, who truly deserved a setting as lovely as Fawsley Hall.

The wedding breakfast took place in the beautifully restored Knightley Court, the former 18th century stable block which has been exquisitely furnished. In this gracious setting, guests entered the hall which we had decorated with moss lined vases of velvety red amaryllis surrounded by flickering tealights. Tables for the reception were dressed with alternating high and low arrangements of roses, tulips and rich winter foliages to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

We are deeply grateful to Mason Photography for bringing our work to life in such a glorious fashion. When we saw these photographs for the first time, we felt genuinely emotional. It truly makes all the hard work worth while.

Don't forget your Sandals!!

2009-01-14T19:27:00.009Z

It's always good to start the New Year by making new contacts and, last week we did just that when we were invited by Amanda Sherlock from The Association of Bridal Consultants to a wonderfully hosted networking evening by Sandals. Now you wouldn't automatically associate floristry with one of the premiere holiday companies in the world, but for us it was particularly inspiring to learn that Preston Bailey one of the worlds most respected floral and event designers, has joined forces to create a collection of stunning floral themes for couples planning their weddings with Sandals.

For anyone who thought that having a destination wedding meant having to forego the flowers of your dreams, Preston Bailey has brought his magic touch to the caribbean!

Christmas Wedding

2008-12-23T10:37:00.034Z

Welcome to our last blog for 2008. We said last week that this would be a Christmas one; and that was certainly the theme for this wedding, which took place at the walled garden at Cowdray in West Sussex last Saturday. Pine, holly, larch and fragrant myrtle were the order of the day for this festive celebration. Tables were dressed with rings of rich seasonal foliages and berries which also made beautiful gifts for guests afterwards.
Windowsills were dressed with pine, holly and candles for winter warmth and a white chocolate helter skelter cake added that touch of snow! We wish you all a very happy and peaceful Christmas and look forward to sharing more of our work with you in the New Year.

Gorgeous things come in little packages!!

2008-12-18T15:00:00.008Z

Santa arrived early at South Park Studios today when our friend Amanda Sherlock of Giles Sherlock Event Design came bearing gifts in the form of these gorgeous little boxes of edible cookie decorations made by Peggy Porschen. She had even gone to the trouble of having them personalised with our names. Now that's what we call attention to detail!!

Chic City Wedding

2008-12-12T15:29:00.024Z

As so many couples choose to marry and celebrate their weddings in the same venue; it was a real treat for us to supply the flowers for both church and reception last week, at the wedding of Stephanie and Richard. The marriage took place at Corpus Christi church in Covent Garden, a church so discreet on the outside that you could easily walk past without noticing this hidden gem, tucked just off the Strand. For this winter ceremony we decorated the church with seasonal flowers, foliages and berries, warmed with candlelight and festive wreaths which lined the aisle.

Following the service, the guests made their way to the ultra chic Haymarket Hotel for the evening celebration, which was co-ordinated by wedding planner Zoe Lingard The wedding breakfast was held in the hotel's stunning Shooting Gallery, where the tables were dressed with candelabra surrounded by stylised rings of pure white lisianthus for a modern twist on a perennial favouite.

Next week it's a Christmas one!

Nautical but Nice!

2008-11-11T13:34:00.003Z

You might think that we only do weddings, but we do get the odd corporate do! This event was sponsored by Jersey Tourism for the British Guild of Travel Writers Awards Dinner at the Marriott Hotel in Grosvenor Square. So we themed the table arrangements in suitably nautical fashion. Fishbowl vases filled with sand, exotic seashells, blue sea holly and miniature aloe vera plants like small sea creatures, adorned 40 tables in the main ballroom of the hotel. For the drinks reception in an adjoining bar, we continued the theme, with stylised vase arrangements of white roses and sea holly, which complemented the modern surroundings of this Central London location.

Strictly Come in a Collar and Tie!!

2008-10-28T11:29:00.011Z

Last week we entered the rarified world of gentlemens' clubs and grand London townhouses, for the civil partnership of Sarah and Lisa at the Athenaeum and Chandos House. An intimate rehearsal dinner was held in the Picture Room of the club overlooking Pall Mall and, in order to comply with the club's strict dress code, I had to wear a collar and tie and smart trousers, whilst Victoria had to wear a smart skirt.....very practical when you're a florist!!

To complement the picture room's dark green and burgundy colour scheme, we used flowers in rich autumn hues. Rings of velvety red "grand prix" roses, burgundy dahlias and garden hydrangea surrounded silver candelabra, creating an inviting setting for the evening.

For the ceremony itself, the exquisite Chandos House was the perfect setting. We transferred the flowers from the previous nights event and added an extravagant urn to give that extra Wow factor!

Pronovias

2008-10-17T13:17:00.007+01:00

At the Designer Wedding show last week, we were delighted to be asked by internationally renowned bridal wear company Pronovias to supply the flowers for the trunk shows at their London showroom. What a treat to be surrounded by such beautiful wedding gowns...it made Victoria want to get married all over again!!

Taking inspiration from the company's gorgeous new portfolio, we topped sleek black vases with ice creamy coloured mounds of hydrangea - perfect for the sleek interior of the store. They looked good enough to eat!!

Dream Wedding

2008-10-15T15:28:00.015+01:00

Once in a while you get a client who says those magic words, "I want flowers everywhere". So we did just that, two weeks ago for the recent wedding of Noor and Alan at the Enstone Manor estate in Oxfordshire. Using 1,300 white roses, casablanca lilies and a palette of gorgeous seasonal flowers and foliages, we filled every room in the house. From the smallest bathroom to the great hall, we created a floral feast for the senses for the three day event. Managed exclusively by Jalapeno Enstone is set in 200 acres of stunning countryside with every facility you could wish for during your stay. Unfortunately we didnt get to see much of this, as we were holed up in the equestrian barn for two days!! However, Jalapeno's director Charles Howard looked after us superbly with bacon croissants and full butler service! (or so it seemed!). Once again, the wedding planner for this event is our fave, Kelly Chandler of The Bespoke Wedding Company who pulled out all the stops as usual for this truly stunning event. This was the second time we have worked with Kelly at Enstone, having previously teamed up at the end of May for a peony packed extravaganza!!

For all those who think floristry is a glamorous profession, try getting up at 3.45am, collecting a van load of flowers from New Covent Garden Market, scoffing a fried egg sandwich, and driving up the M40 in thick fog to arrive in a freezing cold barn! And we hadn't even started work yet! To give you a rough idea, this was the order of play for Day 1: Prepare and arrange vases of flowers for every room in the house (including 11 bedrooms and bathrooms!) before the guests arrive at 2pm. Prepare flowers for the evening dinner party, and begin preparation for the wedding ceremony and reception the following day! Leave, absolutely exhausted and drive down a series of dark country lanes trying to find your hotel!
We loved every minute of it!! Day 2: Leave hotel too early for breakfast and start all over again. Lucky for us, we had the services of the lovely Lester from

No.10 Wedding Design whose skills we couldn't have managed without.

The transformation of the house for the wedding ceremony and reception was magical with yet more roses and lilies filling the great hall. The bride looked stunning in an Elie Saab gown from Pronovias and the whole event was captured by photographer Pippa Mackenzie Our one regret was not being able to stay and join the party!

Purple Passion

2008-10-09T16:42:00.010+01:00

Every so often, a bride will be brave and ask for something other than white! On a perfect Indian Summer day in September, we drove down to Eastlands Estate in West Sussex for the wedding of Kate and Andrew in a van full of purple! We were thrilled to work with such a bold colour scheme which turned out to be one of our favourite and most enjoyable jobs this year. In glorious sunshine, the couple were married on the terrace which we decorated with classical urns filled with stunning purple delphinium and hydrangea. Five glamorous bridesmaids carried posies of deepest purple lisianthus, and for the flowergirl, we created a gorgeous pomander of purple hydrangea and cream spray roses with a crystal beaded handle for a touch of baby bling!! The Starlight Suite was transformed for the wedding breakfast with tall flute vases of purple delphinium and silkgrass for dramatic effect.

Ham and Noodles

2008-10-09T16:04:00.003+01:00

This wedding literally landed on our doorstep one day when the bride knocked on our door asking us if we had a kettle! A strange request, particularly as she needed hot water to add to her pot noodle! To cut a long story short, the lady in question was working next door to our studio. As her noodles were in soak, we chatted about flowers and it turned out that she was getting married in two weeks time and had not decided on a florist. We quickly convinced her to use us!

The venue was Ham Polo Club near Richmond, Surrey, and to complement the wonderful living grapevine inside the permanent marquee, we used garden hydrangea and antique pink roses for a vintage feel. A further coincidence was that the lovely Lloyd Dobbie a friend of Euphoric, was the photographer, so the bride was in safe hands! If she hadn't decided on noodles for lunch, we would never have got the job!!

Another English Classic!

2008-08-15T11:33:00.025+01:00

On what turned out to be a gloriously sunny day a few weeks ago, we set off for the wedding of Rachel and
James at the elegant
Stoke Park Club
With glorious views across the surrounding parkland, guests enjoyed a champagne reception on the terrace, before the wedding breakfast in the regency Wyatt room. Our classic champagne flute vases filled with hydrangeas, roses and scented freesias ( a favourite of the bride ) in soft pinks and creams set the tone for this most elegant of formal receptions. A touch of whimsy was added by decorating the beautiful silver gilt "epergnes" with hydrangeas and roses, so that they almost looked like gorgeous edible arrangements!
We were very grateful to be assisted by Lester from No.10 Wedding Design whose creative styling was invaluable!

Classic Summer Wedding

2008-08-12T11:42:00.027+01:00

Last Saturday we were at the home of
The English Speaking Union, Dartmouth House in Mayfair for the wedding of Vici and Sherard. In this gloriously grand London mansion, we created a classic look using english summer flowers in soft pinks, blues and lilacs.

Wedding planners par excellence, The Bespoke Wedding Companywww.thebespokeweddingco.com/ managed the day faultlessly, ensuring that every detail was taken care of and, by the look on everyone's faces at the end of the evening, I think a good time was had by all!

The wedding breakfast took place in the beautiful Long and Small drawing rooms and here, under richly decorated ceilings and crystal chandeliers, we alternated high and low arrangements of hydrangea, scabious and lisianthus for a perfect romantic look. Soft candlelight in frosted votives warmed the room on what was a typical english summer day.....wet! You always know you've done a good job, when you return at the end of the evening to clear the venue and see the guests leaving with the flowers! When you overhear someone saying how beautiful they are and when the very happy looking bride takes the time to come and thank you....it doesn't matter that its midnight and you've been up since 5a.m, its what we call an ET...a Euphoric Triumph!!!

Life, Love and Caesar Salad

2008-07-30T12:45:00.010+01:00

The wonderful thing about being in this business is, that you get to meet so many great people. Yesterday we took one of our favourite photographers, Lloyd Dobbie http://www.lloyddobbie.com/ out to lunch at our local Fulham eaterie, Joe's Brasserie. We first met him last December when we worked on the same wedding in the picturesque village of Bodicote near Oxford. His beautiful photographs captured the mood of the wedding perfectly, even though it was freezing and the bride wore a strapless dress!! He even managed to capture Victoria and me in all our working glory....it's a glamorous life!!!

Over caesar salad and sticky toffee pudding (with ice cream!) Lloyd encouraged us in our blogging, as we are so new to the whole concept. We look forward to working with him again soon.

A Secret Garden

2008-07-27T15:20:00.026+01:00

If you've ever dreamt of being in a garden that seems to be set apart from the rest of the world. Where the only sound you hear is the soft humming of bees on vast beds of lavender and the soft crunch of gravel underfoot. Where a tabby cat with no name follows silkily behind you as you stroll along paths that seem to have been there for centuries, then you must be in The Walled Garden at Cowdray. http://www.walledgardencowdray.co.uk/ Only three years old, this paradise has been created within the elizabethan walls next to the ruins of Cowdray Castle. This gorgeous venue in West Sussex is fast becoming the place to hold any event, from a wedding for 400 to an intimate party for 50.

We discovered The Walled Garden recently and were delighted to provide the flowers for a summer lunch party, held in the beautifully restrained Castle Room. Taking the garden as our theme, we used the best of seasonal english flowers including, scabious, jasmine, clematis, veronica and hydrangea to create delightfully informal table arrangements.

A Euphoric Year!

2008-07-16T16:48:00.009+01:00

Welcome to the world of Euphoric! a place we love and have watched grow for the last three and a half years. Join us and see what we get up to in the wonderful world of flowers!

It's been a really good year for us so far with some amazing weddings and events which we'll share with you all soon, but we started the year with a move, from our beloved old studio in leafy Holland Park to our new one in Fulham (which is still leafy!) We outgrew our old space and made the move across town to our great new one only 15 minutes from New Covent Garden Market, close to all the floral action.

We were finalists for the second year running at the Wrapit Wedding Industry Awards in February (3rd year lucky!) http://www.wrapitawards.co.uk/ and have continued our foray into the world of public speaking that we started last year, this time as guest speakers for The Association of Bridal Consultantshttp://www.bridalassn.com/ at the fabulous Berkeley Hotel in Knightsbridge. http://www.the-berkeley.co.uk/ giving a room full of wedding planners an insight into what it's like to work with a wedding planner from a florist's point of view.

We've made plenty of new contacts in the wedding industry, including venues, planners and photographers - watch this space for more news! For now though check out a new wedding planner we love, Lester Gethings at No.10 Wedding Design & Management http://www.noten.co.uk/ We think he'll go far.