FLOWERS 51 Meet the county’s incredible wedding florists Flowers and weddings have gone hand in hand since the Ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians carried posies of fragrant herbs and wore floral garlands at their nuptials to ward off bad luck as well as to symbolise new beginnings, fidelity and fertility. Today, it’s difficult to imagine a wedding without them. Since those early days, they’ve become a staple of venue styling, bringing themes and palettes together and creating an atmosphere of joy and romance. So, if your own big-day blooms have now reached the top of your to-do list, read on as we introduce you to some of the county’s finest floral designers. MEET BELINDA CAMPOPIANO, CHEZ FLEUR www.chezfleur.co.uk | @chezfleur I set up Chez Fleur over 12 years ago, and since then I’ve provided wedding flowers for hundreds of happy couples! Every wedding is unique and the designs for the flowers are always bespoke, which is what I love about wedding floristry. The bridal bouquet in particular is such an important part of the day and I love all stages of the process from the planning meeting when we discuss the design through to the big day when I deliver the bouquet and enjoy a wonderfully special moment when the bride sees it for the first time! What’s your top tip for couples when it comes to planning wedding flowers? Have a good look at bouquets and flowers online but be open to allowing your florist to create something special and bespoke for you. It’s helpful to have a budget to work with as it’s easy to get carried away with all the fabulous flowers and venue designs. Having said that, your florals will be in a great many of the photos so it’s worth investing in a florist who’s experienced and really knows what they’re doing. What’s your favourite flower and why? I’d struggle to make a bouquet without roses. To me they’re the quintessential wedding flower and come in such a huge variety of colours, sizes and textures, they’re just perfect for every wedding! And of course, peonies are gorgeous but their season is very short (May to June), which is a relief as they can be notoriously difficult to work with! © Maverick Photography ONCE AND floral MEET ANDREA BEACH, THE ART BUNCH www.theartbunch.co.uk | @theartbunch I’ve been a full time florist for three years now after a career in theatrical costume. I have a small florist shop in Ticehurst and do wedding flowers across East Sussex. I’ve always been very artistic and creative, which is something that really comes through in my floristry. I love nature and being outdoors and all my designs are inspired by the seasons celebrating the best nature has to offer. What are your 2024 wedding flower trend predictions? I think 2024 will be full of colour! Clashing hues and neon designs with disco balls seem very popular, as well as more dramatic palettes – bolder ideas really make an impact. What’s your favourite flower and why? Mine really varies depending on the season... as we’re heading into spring I’d have to say ranunculus. They’re available in so many stunning colours and can be used as focal flowers but also really complement other blooms within a design. They can be tricky to work with but when they behave they look incredible and open out beautifully. They’re great for adding depth and a vibrant pop of colour. © Andrew Brannan www.jessicabevanphotography.com
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