The man with the green thumb, boutique florist Agent F is back with us to talk trends and, Greenery is absolutely perfect! As a specialist in luxury wedding ideas and gorgeous botanicals, Agent F is primed on social media with some of the best inspiration going. Here's his take on getting your wedding bursting with life!
What's the deal with Greenery?
It’s very nearly springtime. In the wake of Hurricane Doris, the days are getting longer, the weather brighter, and the grass greener. The earliest signs of new growth are upon us – hyacinths and daffodils are gingerly poking their heads from the ground and the mighty magnolias are budding overhead.
It’s a tentatively optimistic time of year. Many of you brides-to-be are newly engaged after a romantic Valentines proposal, and will already be planning your forthcoming weddings in earnest. What better time to be doing this than the first forays of spring?
Pantone have unveiled their colour of 2017 to be Greenery, a wonderfully fresh, vibrant, optimistic shade of leaf green. Pantone says;
“Greenery is a fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew. Illustrative of flourishing foliage and the lushness of the great outdoors, the fortifying attributes of Greenery signals consumers to take a deep breath, oxygenate and reinvigorate.
Here I am going to show you some gorgeous ways in which this colour trend can influence your 2017 wedding, from simply incorporating vibrant green foliage into your wedding flowers, to celebrating your new union in a tropical hothouse venue.
The ‘greenery’ trend lends itself particularly well to contemporary-styled weddings although greenery-inspired elements can also be incorporated by brides with more classic leanings. This is one trend which really shows one doesn’t need to have masses of blowsy flowers for a seriously chic wedding flower scheme.
The Bouquet
If you fancy something a little unusual for your bridal bouquet, why not shun traditional roses and peonies in favour of a bouquet bursting with texture and subtle shades of green? Succulents are still a very popular choice for the trend conscious bride. Ferns come in myriad shapes, textures and shades of green and can add texture and interest to your bouquet. Asparagus and sword ferns can be particularly effective at lengthening your bouquet into a cascade shape. Green hypericum berries and rosehips, bells of Ireland (Molucella) and hosta leaves can all add interest to the mix.
Buttonholes
Again, why not dispense with the traditional rose buttonholes and opt for textural interest and subtle scent offered by herbs – rosemary will last throughout the day and can be combined with berries, thistles and even mini succulents for a truly unique look.
Potted plants
Ever since those maple trees graced the knave of Westminster Abbey in 2011, potted trees have been a justifiably popular choice for brides wishing to add elegant, un-fussy drama to their ceremony or reception. Make like the royals and plant the trees out afterwards, either as part of a community garden or woodland regeneration scheme, or you could give them as gifts to members of the bridal party. If you’re not so green fingered, there are plenty of companies out there who will hire you handsome specimen trees and will deliver and collect them before and after your big day, to take the headache out of your woodland fantasy.
Underplanting trees with pretty or scented plants can add an extra dimension.
Reception Tables
It is also possible to achieve this look without actual potted trees for areas where it’s not possible to place large pots. One dramatic, table-friendly option is to line up slender, clear glass vases down the centre of long tables to provide the perfect foundation for a canopy of vibrant green foliage such as beech or Sorbus (White Leaf). Flowering varieties such as bougainvillea can add extra interest and even a delicate scent.
Potted orchids and ferns take centre stage in this lush, ultra-chic indoor/outdoor reception and are complemented by the botanical inspired table runners in varying shades of fresh green
Decorating outdoor trees at your venue
If your venue has outdoor trees in an area you and your guests will be passing through or utilising, why not hang flowers in glass jars and pretty tea lights in wind-resistant lanterns from the branches? You could also wind fairy lights around the branches to ensure your trees twinkle if the breeze does pick up later on in the evening.
Get married in a glasshouse
Probably the grandest way to do ‘greenery’, what better than to get married amongst the foliage? There are some amazing glasshouses and conservatories in London and throughout the UK that are both licensed for civil ceremonies and equipped to play host to your wedding reception.
Barbican Conservatory
The perfect combination of Concrete Brutalist architecture and lush tropical planting, this central London venue is replete with several large Koi ponds and is licensed for ceremonies.
Monkey Island Hotel
This secluded paradise is ten minutes from Windsor and just an hour’s drive from London.
Photo credit: Brides Magazine UK
The Hornimann Museum
Set in South East London, the museum has a spectacular Victorian Conservatory available for Private Hire, although you will have to fill it with flora yourself.
Kew Gardens
Can accommodate you in their Nash Conservatory, which originally stood in the grounds of no less than Buckingham Palace.
Port Eliot Estate in Cornwall
Has an exquisite orangery complete with the most charming sage green trelliswork interior, which is flooded with natural light and looks incredible when filled with plants.
Living Walls
Finally, for an ultra-high impact ceremony backdrop, why not commission a living wall constructed from lush succulents or ferns? You may be lucky enough to find a venue with a ready-made vertical garden. If not, several hire companies will now construct a lush tropical backdrop for your nuptials, and then take it all away again afterwards. This idea also makes an exquisite backdrop for photographs and even for behind your top table.
