White and Green Early Spring Wedding at Willie Smiths

The colour palette for this early September wedding was pared back with the brief requiring lots of foliage and whites.   

We grow a couple of white proteas here at Swallows Nest Farm.  Donna is a gorgeous winter and spring flowering protea that has a fresh white colouring with soft pink centre.  I used this protea as the main flower for the bouquets.  

Adding to the white Protea Donna, there was plenty of Thryptomene, which as a bonus has a gorgeous fresh fragrance.  Foliage included Tasmanian Myrtle Beech, Risdon Peppermint and the silky Leucadendron Silver Tree.  

Berzelia is a gorgeous "flower" that has a long picking season.  Early in September, it has small lime green balls which add great texture.  It was a great addition to these leafy bouquets.  I also used some white Hebe.  

For the brides bouquet, masses of Risdon Peppermint foliage and Myrtle Beech as well as Thryptomene.  Protea Donna, some white spray roses, Hebe, white Hypericum Berries, and creamy Leucadendron Maui Sunset which are almost white at this time of the year, with a tinge of blush on the tips.

There is also some Berzelia in the mix, and some beautiful Serruria Blushing Bride. 

For the flower girls, some little baskets full of fresh greens, whites, and creams.

I love the Maui Sunset Leucadendrons in early spring.  They're such a clear, creamy white colour.  The colour change that the seasons bring for Leucadeondrons is definitely one of their appealing qualities. 

The flower girls wore simple floral circlets made from Thryptomene and Coastal Beardheath, a locally occurring native.

I love the details in these simple crowns.  The simplicity really seems to enhance the natural beauty of the flowers.  

For the bridesmaids, we made some half-crowns which were worn like Alice bands with the ribbon tied up under the hair.  

I used sprigs of Myrtle Beech, Thryptomene and Beardheath.  

For the bride's crown, I added some white Hypericum berries as a point of difference.  

I love the little tightly packed buds on the Coastal Beardheath which add texture as well as a blush of pink.

For the groom and his attendants, roses with the Maui Sunset leucadendrons, Thryptomene, Berzelia, Peppermint Gum and Myrtle Beech.

For decorating the venue, the bride had some oversized helium balloons which had 2 m foliage garlands to tie them down.  The myrtle foliage was great for these.  

These arrangements with a little more colour where for sitting on top of wine barrels.  

And for a fun photo booth prop, I made this large hanging foliage heart.  

This was such a fun job!  Around 85cm tall, it was made on a custom base of steel to which I attached masses of myrtle.  It would have dried well too, making it a nice memento.  

This was a fun wedding to be involved in.  I hope the bride and groom enjoyed their day and the memories are still fresh for years to come.  

September Wedding at Glen Albyn Estate

Sophie Sullivan Photography

September, and the official beginning of spring!  Its a great time for a wedding and there are certainly plenty of native flowers available to use.  This September wedding was held at Glen Albyn Estate south of Hobart.    

Glen Albyn Estate

Glen Albyn Estate is perched on the top of an escarpment with views forever.  Its a great spot.

For this wedding, leafy and wild, with pinks soft tones was the brief.    For the bride, a mix of protea varieties - white Donna, Pink Cream and Satin Mink with the black fringing.  I used thryptomene and Pimelea Nivea, both dainty white native flowers  Wattle in bud provided some lush texture, along with some Berzlia.  

I also used some blue Sea Holly, and soft pink leucadendrons called Silvan Red, which lighten in colour significantly towards the end of winter and beginning of spring.  There are also some early golden Dryandra and gumnuts added.  

The bridesmaids had less colour but plenty of the same foliage and texture plants.  

The central proteas are Protea Donna, a lovely white protea with a soft pink central mass.  I also used Leucadedron Silver Tree - I love its brilliant shine and silky feel.  

I love the mix of textures you get with natives  The zig-zag leaves of those golden Dryandra flowers, with the little Berzelia berries and the budded wattle is a great mix, with the dainty whites and Sea Holly in there too.   

For the grooms boutonniere, I used gum nuts, teamed with Sea Holly, Thryptomene and Berzelia.  The foliage used was Risdon Peppermint and the zig-zag Dryandra leaves.  

Lots of lovely bouts all in a row!

Carrying on with the leafy theme, I made 15 metres of leafy garlands to dress the tables for the reception.  

Masses of Risdon Peppermint foliage with sprigs of wattle buds interspersed, snaked along the workbench and across the floor of the flower shed.  Soooo much foliage!

More foliage for the three foliage chandeliers that hung from the ceiling.  

These look so effective, hung from the ceiling.  I added in some sprigs of twisted willow to hang down at irregular intervals.  A great way to add atmosphere to a room.

Sophie Sullivan Photography

It was a treat to be involved in this lovely couples special day, and to add a little native flower magic to the occasion.  

Colourful Native Wedding at the Palais Theatre, Franklin

For a February wedding, the brief was "colourful" and "native" with the bride's dress in a dark bottle green.  What fun!  

A beautiful White King Protea formed the centrepiece of the bride's bouquet, making sure there was a real contrast with the dark green of the dress.  The King Protea was surrounded by lots of colour and fabulous foliage.  

Long arching branches of wattle and some native Billy Buttons provided some yellow.  A Scarlet Ribbons pincushion and some stunning rich red flowering gum added red.  

Just look at that dazzling colour!  Corymbia Ficifolia is a summer gem.

There was a yellow and red Mardi Gras Ribbons Pincushion too.  

Blue was added with sea holly and globe thistles.  For foliage, there was some lush Risdon Peppermint with lovely arching branches, and some native Coral Fern.  

For the floral crown I used more Risdon Peppermint, wattle, and some flowering gum buds.  

The grooms boutonniere carried on with the primary colours of red flowering gum, blue sea holly and yellow billy balls, with the addition of Ridson Peppermint foliage and some Corymbia Ficifolia leaves.  

The reception was held at the Palais Theatre, Franklin which is a gorgeous old art deco stlye theatre.  The bride and groom were decorating the venue themselves and wanted to spread some rich colour around.  They had hired a collection of gorgeous vintage amber glass bottles and jars from Style-My-Day and I filled them with lot of colour and texture.  

For some larger vases, there were more pincushions, masses of flowering gum, wattle, Billy Balls and some more of that gorgeous Risdon Peppermint foliage. 

I really enjoyed playing with these amazing rich colours.  

It really was a pleasure to be involved in this unique celebration.  I wish the bride and groom as colourful and beautiful life together as their wedding day was!