Crossing the divide

Back in February of this year, I was contacted by a bride to be in the States who was getting married in Mayfair. Sibyl and I shared many emails before we actually managed to speak but we were able, by the power of the great wedding vibe, to understand each other and gather together a pretty powerful look for her wedding in June at Dartmouth House

This beautiful mansion in the heart of Mayfair is home to the English Speaking Union but also plays host to many weddings and parties throughout the year. If the weather is fine, it is possible to take advantage of the lovely secluded courtyard but otherwise there are several wonderful, character-filled rooms in which to entertain guests

The dark wood panelled Churchill Room is a fantastic space for the ceremony from which the party can move downstairs to the red-walled Revelstoke Room for drinks before alighting on the delicate features of the two interconnecting first floor Drawing Rooms

These rooms can be used together or separately, decorated in the same pale blue tones, they welcome almost any colour theme – except yellow perhaps. But then I have a problem with yellow in most places!

Following on from the pure white Hydrangea and Peony in the ceremony room, Sibyl wanted a dark red theme to the wedding flowers at the reception and we decided to set the flowers off with a dark red organza runner down the length of the long table

The silver vases worked really well with the gleaming cutlery and the tall silver candelabra were the perfect finishing touch

New photos of old weddings

I’ve just received some photos from a wedding held last August at One Whitehall Place and wanted to share them.

The Bride and Groom chose very bright colourful flowers, mango Calla Lilies, Singapore Orchids and Gloriosa Lilies – which aren’t really lilies at all!

We teamed these exotic hot flowers with some cool white Hydrangea and Delphinium using the latter to frame the registrar’s, and then the top, tables

come and learn

I am very excited to announce that I’m going to be running some floral workshops over the next month or so. There is a fab bakery/tea shop near me in West Hampstead, called Bake-a-Boo and the lovely lady who runs it, Zoe, has kindly opened her doors to a number of creative types who want to pass on some skills

So as well as our floral workshops, details of which to follow soon, there will be short courses on jewellery making, 50s make up and lots of other fun stuff

2009

I’ve been looking back over the past year and realised just how busy we were with weddings, events and parties

We worked  on over 20 weddings alone in 2009, which was way up on the previous year and I can only assume that the couples had made their plans the previous year before the ‘downturn’ kicked in and figured ‘we might as well go for it and have a party to remember!’

In terms of style and colours, there was a great variety but the predominant look was ivory and orange! To be honest, I’ve never been a big fan of citrus colours; whether it was the prevailing gloomy atmosphere or perhaps I’m softening in in old age, but they actually turned out very well

2010

Looking forward to 2010, there is already a colour trend starting. Last weekend saw our first wedding of the season and it was a mix of beautiful purples, lilacs and plums with Anemones, Freesia, Roses and Veronica in silver vases and candelabra throughout. And I can tell you that so far, this colour scheme is going to be a strong favourite this year

There are so many wonderful flowers in this group – purple and plum Anemones, lilac Freesia and Roses, exotic Vanda Orchids in graphic purple and lilac tones plus the amazing large headed purple Hydrangea later in the season