Autumn – Bring It On   

It’s finally Autumn, my absolute favourite time of year.  When there’s still enough warmth and light to have an afternoon out and about.  But, then the temperature drops and the darkness draws in and it’s time to scurry home and get all Hygge.   For us, that’s cosy indoors with a film on the box and Aunt Bessies in the oven by 6pm.  Proper bliss.  And as for event flowers, the colours and textures are probably the most interesting and dynamic of the whole year. Move over pastels, the primaries are in town!

Summer memories

It was a gorgeous summer which saw us spend a lovely time with the fam in my beloved North East, and where we squeezed in a cheeky, supporting role with the North East’s bestest florist, Bels Flowers (www.belsflowers.com). Following that, we had a dreamy 2 weeks in both the South of France and the Italian Riveria.  And all of a sudden we were back and the to do list no longer said ‘book pedi’ and ‘buy new bikini’ but ‘wash vases and prep event flowers’ .

Highlights

Special highlights over the last couple of months were a super cool, pineapple fuelled city Bar Mitzvah and a beautiful North London wedding.

A Fruity Bar Mitzvah

Early September and the floral sprays were out.  This time in Aqua Blue for super dude Sonny and his Bar MItzvah at The Brewery in Moorgate.  Both silver and gold geometric terrariums were filled with crisp white stones and sprayed mini pineapples.  I must admit I loved the pineapples in their natural pink state and vowed to use them again whenever another event demanded a cutsie floral accessory.  Nevertheless, several hours of spraying later and the graffitied blue and white versions were cutting edge and perfect for this very special coming of age do.

A Beautiful Dusky Pink Wedding

Then we came to the end of September but we were clinging on to the summer vibes.  A dusky pink beauty of a wedding day for which we created so, so many florals.  Leading the palette were a beautiful trio of Amnesia, Menta and the divinely scented O’Hara Rose which were perfectly matched with bundles of soft foliage – panicum grass, berried eucalyptus, mimosa, asparagus fern, senecio, sword fern and more!  Add in snowberries, astilbe, hydrangea and ameranthus and the effect was stunning.  The day was bursting with blooms and beautiful Iris and Blue Bride Rebecca was truly overwhelmed and said that we did the most ‘incredible job and had so many compliments‘.  Can’t wait to see the pro pics!

In the Press

Finally, to kick off October, I was absolutley delighted to be in the second edition of brand new florist magazine, Florist Business.  Featured in the ‘Little Interview’ section, I answered a quick fire questions about my floral experience and thoughts on the industry.  Thanks to Hannah and the team for including me!

Christmas is coming!

That’s it so far.  Now looking forward to our next wonderland of a winter wedding at the beautiful St Stephen’s church in Hampstead. And straight afterwards we’ll be making inspirational Christmas florals, the ultimate in event flowers, including fireplace long and lows and table centre beauties.  Get in touch for details…jenny@irisandblue.com.  xx

HI!

Almost 6 months in to 2017 and what a year so far.  We’ve witnessed events that are both shocking and heart breaking. Often times, it’s been hard to think of the something so transient and fluffy as flowers.  Yet, amongst the dreadful sadness, there are still many causes for hope and wonderful reasons to celebrate.  This is a snapshot of some of the lovely events we have supported with flowers so far this year.

Interior Trends Event

We kicked off the year supporting an event in aid of the wonderful charity Hand In Hand for Syria. In collaboration with top babe and uber Interior Designer Sam Watkins McCrae.  Check out Sam’s work at www.samanthawatkinsmcrae.com.  We dressed her Interior Trends Workshop at the fabulous Crouch End Picture House.  Any excuse to use greenery, we lined the trestle tables with on trend terracotta pots of luscious green ferns. Add in everyone’s Spring fave, vibrant orange Ranunculi in little bottles and the look was complete.  The event raised £350 for the charity and we’re looking forward to the next one in the Autumn.

Mother’s Day

And then it was Mother’s Day.  And there’s no better reason to celebrate and smile. Yes, motherhood – powered by love, fuelled by coffee, sustained by wine!  It’s no joke, it’s a truth universally acknowledged and in this house it’s my daily mantra!  It can be a tough gig this mummying.  But in all seriousness, never before has there been more of a reason to celebrate and commend the endless strength and capabilities of all women the world over.  Super heroines come in all shapes and sizes and Mother’s Day is always the perfect way to honour your very own.

As you know we’re a Floral Design company specialising in large scale events – weddings, parties, corporate dos etc, but for this once a year occasion we offer beautiful bouquets to the peeps of North London to send to their No.1 supporter.

This year our bouquet was a heavenly combination of the seasons finest blooms.  A peaches and cream number of ranunculus, tulips, and roses complimented with luscious greenery and grasses. An explosion of texture and style, everyone said they were truly perfect for their favourite girl!

Bat Mitzvah

And most recently, the coming of age for a special girl.  Ella celebrated her Bat Mitzvah in a gorgeous North London Italian restaurant.  The perfect teenage party, with mandatory photo booth and face painter as well as the prettiest jars of pink, lilac and green blooms.  Ella’s mama, Andrea said, ‘The flowers were beautiful and transformed the restaurant in to looking like a West End venue!. Everyone said how beautiful they were. Thank you.’ What a pleasure.

Interior Plant Styling Service

As well as the fleurs we’ve been dipping our toe in to the world of house plants.  We’ve been banging the foliage drum for quite some time now.  Even before Pantone announced that Greenery was their colour of the year 2017 don’t you know!  In fact I was reminiscing over the staircase décor we did for Verity and Ali’s wedding 2 years ago which featured only Air plants and tropical foliage.  I think it was one of my all time faves.

Foliage is ever present in all of my work. It’s impossible not to notice the resurgence of greens for the indoor.  Nothing completes a room like a beautiful plant. They add colour, warmth and depth to even the most minimal of interiors. And what’s more there are many books now available on how not to kill them!  As such we have begun to offer a bespoke plant delivery service to local North London residences.  We can suggest the most suitable plant for the space, hand select and purchase fresh from the market and deliver to your home.  In addition we can also suggest and buy beautiful plant pots for your plant to live in.  Below are a couple of images of jobs we have done recently.  Please note there is a minimum spend of £75 and a small delivery fee.

Now, settling down to planning the next few gorgeous events.  Highlights include a wedding in Northumberland, a Bar Mitzvah in the city, a late Autumn wedding at Hendon Hall and a Christmas wedding in Hampstead! Can’t wait! xx

In celebration of Rosh Hashanah, and inspired by the foods traditionally associated with Jewish New Year – apple, honey and pomegrante – we created beautiful bouquets bursting with blooms and berries in shades of blush pink and deep berry. Bouquet after bouquet was created and delivered to families celebrating the special day two day occasion, and we were delighted to wish all of our Jewish friends and clients a sweet and peaceful New Year.

Its been a busy summer so blogging has fallen off the bottom of the to do list again, despite my sincere and best intentions at the beginning of 2016 – and now it’s almost the end of the year!  So, a quick whizz around the flower events of this summer…we flower bombed the beautiful wedding of Claire and Sachin at one of Hampstead’s finest venues- St Stephen’s Trust. Cafe Au Lait Dahlia, David Austin Juliet Roses, Quinty Dahlia and Blueberry Roses teamed with dreamy foliage – floaty Asparagus Fern and Panicum Grass, created soft, whimsical florals that Claire and Sachin said they ‘had so many compliments about’!

Fast forward to end of August and our next wedding was a smaller, but no less stylish affair with Oliver Bonas Store Manager, Nick marrying his handsome beau Simon at the Covent Garden Hotel.  Nick and I met when he helped me to source some copper letters for Ali and Tim’s wedding back in February – going above and beyond to track down an A, & and a T, he told me he was getting married in September and lo and behold, two weeks before the big day he asked me to create some cool modern centre pieces coupled with the couple favourite blooms, oriental lilies….see results…they said we hit the nail on the proverbial head!  And hot on the heels, a beautiful 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration in Highgate Village where beautiful glass bowls of yellow and creams decorated the tables for this intimate family affair.

And finally, amongst the gorgeous Spanish Gardens of Kensington Roof Gardens, the hugely anticipated wedding of Scott and Laura took place. Their only request was ‘bright and no pink’ (only Flamingos allowed!)  and so gorgeous Orange Romantica Garden Roses took centre stage in Laura’s stunning bouquet, as well as in the smaller versions for her Maids.  Babe Spray Roses coupled with White Hypericum Berries and Thlaspi Green Bell complimented the Bridal Party Flowers.  A large vase dripping with orange, green and white florals illuminated the ceremony room while on the reception tables super cool copper terrariums filled with garden roses and handpicked British dahlias as well as little bronze pots (sprayed by me!) of succulents and cacti were the perfect centre pieces.

Now looking forward to creating beautiful bouquets for Rosh Hashanah this weekend.

Email me at jenny@irisandblue.com for more details.

And after that…Christmas is coming! x

It was flowers I first fell in love with when this floristry journey began, but with each event my love for foliage just grows and grows.  The textures, shapes and colours seem endless and just add so much depth to each arrangement, I simply can’t imagine trying to create beautiful floristry work without it now.  It’s the foliage sellers at New Covent Garden Market that I visit first, before even going in to the flower market – having to control myself before I blow all my budget on gorgeous greenery!  From feathery ferns – check out Asparagus Fern which is just the most floaty, romantic foliage I’ve ever come across and literally transforms an arrangement from ordinary to extraordinary with a single stem.  And then there’s the tropicals, such as dramatic Monserrat and Palm leaves which create modern boho drama – seen in large cylinder vases alongside cacti and succulents on Instagram’s hottest LA pads!  And back home, pretty delicate Thlaspi Green Bell and Pancium Fountain Grass are much more ‘English Country Garden’ and give a bouquet that freshly picked feel.  I could wax green lyrical all day but instead here’s a few pics of where going Green is the way forward in more ways than one….xx

It was the turn of Sarah and Niall to say ‘I do’ last weekend and they did it in style at Islington Town Hall and then partied the night away at St Bart’s Brewery in Smithfields.  Sarah’s divine Charlotte Olympia shoes were the inspiration for gold to lead the colour palette – the bouquet had a relaxed yet elegant feel, as the gorgeous gold tones of the Combo rose was paired perfectly with sweetly scented O’Hara, while Miss PIggy and Alissa Lisianthus injected pops of colour. Pretty delicate Matricaria (daisies), cream Fresia, blue Muscari and lovely foliage including Thlsapi Green Bell and Pancium Grass gave the bouquet the soft, natural feel Sarah wanted .  At the venue, the mismatched jam jars stood elegantly – delicately arranged with the jewel like tones of the Combo rose and deep purple chrysanthemums as well as my new fave foliage Grevillea – a spiky number to add some punch to the arrangements.  The Groom and his Ushers were super smart with the cutest buttonholes – yellow craspedia balls, blue muscari and green bell tied together with natural twine. Can’t wait to see the pro shots but for now here’s a couple of mine….xx

A gallery of the beautiful event flowers in 2016 so far….for Eva Joy’s baby naming ceremony, the flowers were a testament to her beautiful name – a joy to create and a joy to look at!  A Valentines Wedding at the stunning Dodford Manor for lovely Ali and Tim, where reds and coppers filled this gorgeous country venue. And last weekend, raspberry ripple Mother’s Day bouquets, were happily delivered to Mamas and Grand-Mamas all over North London!

Hola!  A slightly belated Happy New Year!  It’s been a soggy start to 2016 but hope that it’s full of positive vibes and sunny outlooks for one and all!  After my dismal performance of regular blogging  in 2015 I’m (hand on heart) determined to up my game this year. What’s more, I’m not only aiming to keep an online journal of my own flowery work but also curate information and useful advice on all things floral.  With that in mind I’m beginning with a forecast for what will be trending at wedding dos this year…colours, flowers, style and shapes.  And by the looks of it it’s gonna be a goody!  The below does all come with a disclaimer that when it comes to your own big day then it’s what makes your heart sing that counts. And if Pantone 13-1520 doesn’t float your boat, that’s cool with us!  Anyhoo….

Colour

There’s some new kids on the block when it comes to this years palette, as Pantone announce that for the first time there are two – Rose Quartz, a beautifully soft pink and Serenity, a calm peaceful blue.  Together they offer the most delightful combination and are an interesting move away from pinks being paired with peach as we have seen for the last few seasons.  And for something altogether more fun, there are vibrant brights, Fiesta, Buttercup and Limpet Shell offer the opportunity for the modern urban bride to be more playful and less serious – after all the day is all about fun!  As the Executive Director of The Pantone Institute commented…’Colors this season transport us to a happier, sunnier place where we feel free to express a wittier version of our real selves.’  Can’t argue with that, sounds great! (For full Pantone report visit www.pantone.com)

Bouquets

Bouquets have been getting bigger and bigger and continue to do so, both horizontally and vertically. The tight posy is gone for now, as the wild, natural, loose look dominates, for a freshly picked garden aesthetic.  We will also see interesting combinations of exotic flowers such as King and Pincushion Protea as well as exciting succulents such as Tillandsia (Air plants) paired with English garden varieties revived for the modern day bride, such as carnations and chrysanthemums….though there are still some that should be condemned to the garage forecourt forever more in my opinion, (I’m looking at you Gerbera).

Tablescapes

Tablescapes are also evolving, indeed the lone centrepiece is becoming a thing of the past…for now at least.  The circular table set up has been upstaged by the long elegant trestle, decorated with a variety of interesting vessels and non-floral accessories.  We see more and more of the achingly cool on trend terrarium filled with moss, stones and succulents, alongside single stem vases, long tapered candles and low level tea lights.  And if you avert your gaze upwards the decor is also hanging above with florals and foliage swinging freely above tables and dance floors, truly bringing the outside in.

Foliage

Foliage as a filler is no more, gone are the days when a bit of ivy was about as far foliage went.  Greenery was showing signs of stepping in to the limelight last year, with pure foliage displays creating, at once, a natural yet dramatic aesthetic.  The breadth of variety, shape and texture is a florist dream, and as well as being easy on the eye, using lots of foliage is also easy on the pocket.  From exotic palms to asparagus fern the choice seems endless, and I’m looking forward to see how far this trend will go.

It’s all looking pretty damn sexy and I’m so excited about the events of 2016.  We’ve already provided brightly coloured arrangements in bronze churns for a special bridesmaid event and now looking forward to a beautiful Valentines weddng at the stunning countryside venue Dodford Manor.

So if you’re a Bride or a Groom planning your own special day please do get in contact with me.

Jenny on 07985 413 353 or jenny@irisandblue.com ….I’d love to chat florals with you!