Wow, already I feel better just writing the title of this post. Perhaps saying I dislike the whole of Pinterest is a little steep, there are some really great things about it, but equally there are some things I really hate. I figure the great things plus the hating overall balance out to a dislike.

Been in the wedding business, I should probably be raving about this crazy online pin board system. Its like a whole load of inspiration without having to buy a load of wedding magazines which publish the same stuff month after month. You've always got this fresh stream of updates and on demand inspiration at your finger tips. This is the great part about Pinterest - you search for something and sure enough there will be an image capturing what your brain is thinking about. I think its a great starting point tool of wedding planning - but when I say starting point tool that's exactly what I mean!

Combining Pinterest and floristry has its ups and downs. After a rather negative start in the title, let me redeem myself slightly by sharing some of the ups! The main thing I think Pinterest is great for with floristry is allowing us flowery folk to  share a whole load of images of specific flowers we are trying in vain to describe in writing (incidentally have you ever tried to explain in writing the true beauty of a flower and the blend of colours in a bridal bouquet ... you do need pictures and a face to face consultation!)

Flowers are so visual, looking at pictures and getting to know our gorgeous couples brief is exactly what I love to do. Looking at loads of images in our consultations, finding out exactly what they want from their wedding and how we can make it different! Pre Pinterest we'd sit down, cut up loads of images, get colour charts, sit down and create a touchy feely mood board. I know your thinking ... yeah but we can do this with Pinterest now at the touch of a button. And your right, you can buuuut ... and this feels quite scary saying this, and I definitely don't want to offend any of our Pinterest obsessed brides buuuut ... there is a tendency with Pinterest that you get quite similar looking weddings. The "I want that exact bouquet whether its in season or not" approach, rather than the more hands on "what can this florist create for me that's completely bespoke" approach.

Before Pinterest, I can honestly say we never made a similar looking wedding. Each one was totally unique, from the first consultation it was a creative journey for me and the couple I was working with. Pinterest has taken a part of this process away. There is a very definite Pinterest wedding look, We often see the same pins on multiple boards, and I don't know, I just feel its making some wedding floristry less exciting both for the florist and the couple.

Everyone says they want something unique, that reflects there big day - we want to create this too! But having an image you've fallen in love with (that's often designed for a 5 minute photo shoot and not always arranged to a high standard) and all a couple want to do is exactly recreate said bouquet takes that uniqueness away.

Some of my favourite bridal bouquets we've lovingly made are when we've had the creative freedom to combine the flowers that work together. I call it carte blanche arranging - the bride talks to us about all the different decor, we get a feel for the vibe, we talk about flowers and we often look at some images whilst I babble on about particular favourites which I think we should include because they will just look super stunning. The bride trusts us to arrange something gorgeous, and when we go to collect the flowers and see something utterly beautiful at market - we don't hesitate to buy the latest flower to steal our hearts because it will enhance the bouquet and we think "gosh that's so Anna ... shes going to love that" not "oh gosh that would look stunning, but its not in the image we've been asked to recreate"

We live, breathe, eat and sleep flowers - we know what works and what doesn't, and with a little guidance on colour schemes from our couples we can create the most stunning wedding flowers for you. Having that freedom to create is magical, the most amazing things happen when you let a creative do what they adore and I can whole-heartely say you will love the results. Having your heart set on that bouquet in the image, when no 2 bouquets ever look the same, makes us worry, we're constantly assessing the bouquet, looking back at the image, back to the bouquet.

"is it like the image? Oh goodness, its not perfectly like the image.  Argh! that would look amazing, but I'm not sure because its not in the original picture"

Its hard because all we want to do is make the bride beam the biggest of smiles on her wedding day, but sometimes those added extras when your making the bouquet just lift it, they make you smile, make you think, enhance a tone or texture. Sometimes a touch of the unexpected or unplanned can be marvellous and subtle. They don't have to smack you round the chops but they should make whatever is there SHINE!

Pinterest is a great guidance tool, but please use it as that. Let us use every inch of our floral obsession creating bespoke wedding  flowers - with a touch of Pinterest guidance.

As peony season draws to a swift close and we prepare to wave a sad goodbye to our favourite June flower I thought it was the perfect time to share these images of Emily and Jay's big day at Cliveden House wedding venue. Emily was the most gorgeous bride and with peonies featuring heavily in her brief, I knew from the start it was going to look pretty wow.

Emily and Jay tied the knot at the end of June in true style at the wonderful Cliveden House wedding venue. Beautiful sweeping grounds greeted their guests with an entrance to die for and the most delightful ceremony and reception room. I've visited many times growing up, but providing wedding flowers here was truly magical.

Emily held a bouquet of Sarah Bernhardt peonies complimented with a subtle hint of eucalytpus. Perfectly simple and stunningly elegant.

The tables were to look a little more elaborate. We talked about full floral wreaths with white and pink peonies stealing the show. The French Dining room hosted both the ceremony and wedding breakfast - with guilt detailing throughout we needed some shimmer in the flowers ... queue my favourite mercury hurricane lanterns. When lit these beauties give off the most amazing golden glow. Sometimes plain glass just doesn't cut the mustard ... these gave off the most magical glow!

The fireplace was decorated with small posies of white and pink peonies in miniature mercury hurricane lanterns. These perfect posies were then moved to the top table for extra decoration. We added tea light holders for that extra candle sparkle.

So its with a heavy heart we wave goodbye to peonies. So long until next year ... you've been amazing, we've had a blast x

In the height of summer meadow flowers are the order of the day. July to me is all about gorgeous bright summer flowers. When we got Natalie and Guy's brief I knew immediately which direction we should take their wedding flower. They'd chosen to tie the knot at the beautiful barn at Herons Farm - sometimes you just have to listen to the venue, and this venue cries out for the just picked relaxed vibe.

Natalie's bouquet contained some of my all time favourite  flowers - peony, sweet pea, nigella, astrantia, craspedia, ammi majus ... the list goes on! The wildflower wedding look is really achieved with tons of different flowers with loads of texture. Tied with beautiful colourful satin ribbons the bridal bouquet encapsulates all that I adore about July.

Flower crowns for weddings are all the rage ... I have to say I'm a complete flower crown addict, but at the same time I'm not sure I have the jaunty walk or total confidence to carry one off. This delicate number adorned Natalie's head and I have to say this is one floral crown I could happily wear every day. I'm addicted to nigella ... its floaty cloud like appearance, and whilst perhaps I shouldn't admit it, as its the height of fashion in the floral wedding world, I'm not gypsophillias biggest fan but somehow this crown pulls it off.

The maid's carried a miniature version of Natalie's bridal bouquet with grasses, sweet peas and peonies in abundance. I loved how the fountain grass just darted out between the flowers ... and those colours!

Meadow boxes adorned the long tressle tables at Herons Barn, beautifully creating a country mix with larkspur, peony, alchemilla mollis, snapdragons, astrantia, alliums and nigella taking centre stage.

Now we're busy looking forward to next weekends weddings - one with peonies the other with wild white flowers. I cannot wait!