Bright and Beautiful Home-Grown Wedding
Three weeks ago, I had the absolute joy of doing the flowers for my sister Chloe’s wedding. It was one of those days that felt like sunshine from start to finish; full of colour, laughter and completely reflective of Chloe and Andy’s personalities.
From the very beginning, Chloe and Andy were hands-on with their floral choices. They knew they wanted something bright, bold and beautiful – a celebration of summer in full bloom. Together, they picked varieties that spoke to them, including cheerful sunflowers like ‘Desert Sun’ and ‘Valentine’, and a trio of dahlias that stole the show: ‘Wine Eyed Jill’, ‘Nicholas’ and ‘Palmaras’. Together they created a palette that was vibrant, joyful and full of warmth.
As well as the classic bouquets and buttonholes that are traditional, as the wedding was outdoors, Chloe and Andy wanted to add big splashes of colour to decorate their ceremony and the tipi-style tent for the reception. For my own wedding, I had planted up wine barrels and farm troughs, so we re-used these, planting them up with the aforementioned dahlias, as well as alstroemeria, gladioli and alchemilla mollis. There was a rather nervous wait for the flowers to bloom because the prolonged hot and dry weather slowed down quite a few of the varieties.
One of my favourite moments was the flower shower the day before the wedding. Chloe’s closest friends and family members gathered to help put together her blooms, and the atmosphere was pure joy. There’s something so special about watching people come together to create something beautiful for someone they love. Buckets of flowers, glasses of fizz and a lot of laughter – it was everything a flower shower should be. What made it even more special was how the bouquets echoed the colours within the bridesmaids’ dresses. It wasn’t a strict match, but a gentle harmony – soft peaches, golden yellows and rich pinks dancing together in each arrangement. Each bridesmaid picked her favourite blooms to make up their bouquets so that they all suited their different personalities.
The ceremony took place under the oak trees on our family farm, a setting that already holds so many memories. I couldn’t resist adding a little surprise – jam jar posies hung from shepherds crooks, lining the aisle. It was a quiet little flourish, but one that added a touch of magic to the space. Chloe spotted them straight away, of course, and has told me that it was a special touch she wasn't expecting.
The whole day was relaxed and full of heart. Nothing felt forced or formal – just a celebration of two people who are completely themselves, surrounded by the people who love them most. At one point, Chloe and Andy even popped down to my flower patch for an impromptu photoshoot, and the photos are gorgeous.
Doing the flowers for Chloe and Andy was a total privilege. Seeing my home-grown flowers be a part of their big day was so special.
Photographer: Jodi Hanagan