The wedding open day at OWP last weekend had a very good turnout despite the rubbish weather and football on the tv! We spoke to a lot of brides and are getting together a variety of ideas for their weddings during 2010 and into next year too.

We dressed the venue with a mix of table displays in shades of pink – from old antique parchment coloured  Roses through to palest pink Astrantia. We had tall flute vases and slender lily vases both topped with generous balls of mixed flowers such as Stock, Amnesia Roses, Astrantia and Lisianthus. We also had some interesting low displays with white super parrot Tulips in black lampshades, dark burgundy Baccara roses and striking puffs of acid green Guelder Rose sitting on delicate glass cake stands.

Seriously though, one of our regular venues, the fabulous One Whitehall Place has more weddings booked up and couples on waiting lists for availability than last year. We’ve also seen an increase across the board for weddings on Fridays and Sundays

Our latest wedding on Saturday 13th February was actually in the stunning surroundings of the Gladstone Library at One Whitehall Place. The colour theme was Cadbury purple with ivory accents, lots of candles and scented jasmine to welcome the guests into the Whitehall Suite for the ceremony

This weekend, 19th-21st February, thousands of 2010-2011 brides will be heading to the National Wedding Show at Olympia http://www.nationalweddingshow.co.uk/buy-tickets to find ideas to make their wedding special

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