March Wedding at WIllie Smiths Apple Shed

For this March wedding at Willie Smiths Apple Shed in the Huon Valley, south of Hobart, the brief was "colour".  What fun!  I love to play with colour.

The bridesmaids were wearing Burgundy and the bride requested little pops of yellow, and well as some burgundy to tie in with the dresses.

March means lots of variety with natives.  There are still some late summer blooms but usually, the autumn flush has begun too.  I used red Protea Compacts and and white Protea Nerifolia.  Orange Pincushion leucospermums called Fountain were still flowering after the late summer.  Red Banksia Occidentalis, an autumn flower, had already begun.

I loved adding the pops of blue to mix up the colour palette.  I used blue sea holly, or Eryngiums and flowering Echinops.  Dainty green gumnuts were also added, from a Corymbia Ficifolia  For the pops of yellow, the cheerful native Billy Buttons.  

I loved the eclectic colour mix of these bouquets.  White statis made its way into the bouquets too.  For the burgundy, I added the first of the new seasons Safari Sunset leucos, and some fine burgundy Tall Red leucos.  The foliage used is juvenile Eucalyptus Cordata, a beautiful blue-green gum with a warm spicy fragrance. 

Flowering Brunia Albiflora and dried leucadendron cones completed the mix.  

I just love these soft Nerifolias.  I love the pink/black fringes on the bracts, and the soft creamy centres! 

For the simple cake topper, a combination of the bouquet ingredients.

For the Groom and his men, green gumnuts, foliage, leucos and statis, with the groom standing out with the addition of a Billy Ball.

Photography by Rosie Hastie

Talented local Tasmanian photographer, Rosie Hastie took pictures to remember the day.  I love the atmosphere of this shot - classic, casual and "arty".  Very cool!

Photography by Rosie Hastie

And this photo of the beautiful bride!  Wow!  What a fun wedding to be involved in.  Thanks to the bride and groom for choosing me to be part of their special day.  

(Makeup by Liv Rodgers MUA

Dress by Lover)

November Wedding at Willie Smiths Apple Shed

November is one of my favourite months for native flowers.  Just look at the colours in these bridesmaid's bouquets from a wedding in November 2017!  All the colours!  

The wedding and reception were held at Willie Smiths Apple Shed at Ranelagh in the Huon Valley area south west of Hobart.  Its a great venue, created by repurposing some huge old wooden apple packing sheds which gives it a unique atmosphere.  

The Waratah would have to be the first flower to mention for this wedding - such a beautiful native with a stunning colour and texture that makes a bouquet really special.  I used the larger New South Wales Waratah (Telopea Speciosissima) as well as the Tasmanian Waratah (Telopea Truncata) which is smaller but more intensely coloured.  

Each of the bouquets also had the beautiful velvety red and pink combo of the Protea Compacta variety that we grow here at Swallows Nest Farm.  

I also used some Protea Satin Mink, a light pink protea with black fringing.  

Other gorgeous spring flowering natives included the hot pink Boronia which smells amazing.  Soft fluffy purple flowers from a native Melaleuca were also added.  I love adding Berzelia to my bouquets too.  Berzelia is a gorgeous "flower" that resembles lots of little pea-like berries in clusters.  The berries grow over the cooler months and by November, they're at their largest and have started to lighten in colour.  Eventually they "flower", becoming covered in tiny white flowers which give them a fluffy appearance. They're so gorgeous!

Other ingredients were the Dryandra Formosa (recently reclassified as a Banksia) which has a gorgeous shiny old gold colour and beautiful finely zig-zagged foliage.  Leucadendrons used are Safari Sunset and the gorgeous spring colour of Lemon Spice which is creamy coloured with a pink tinge.  I also used some lovely blue sea holly or Eryngium. 

The foliage used throughout this wedding was Tasmanian Myrtle Beech.  I love the glossy green leaves and the structure of it.  

For the groom, I used a gorgeous golden Dryandra Formosa teamed up with a Leucadendron Lemon Spice, some hot pink Boronia, sea holly and myrtle foliage.  

I love making boutonnieres.  Such sweet little mini bouquets!

For decorating the venue, we used lots of little jars and bottles filled with bright colour.  More myrtle foliage teamed with waratahs, Tasmanian waratahs, proteas of different varieties, dryandra, boronia, and leucadendrons.  

The venue really suits the long-table set up.  

I love the pinks and reds against the dark tables - it really makes them glow.  

Natasha from Lily May Cake Designs always does an impeccable wedding cake! I love getting to work with such talented people. 

Acoma Photography

November provides some amazing natives which are a delight to use for weddings.  I really enjoyed putting these special flowers together.