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.  

Summer Wedding at Bangor Vineyard Shed

Photo by Smitten Wedding Photography

This beautiful summery wedding was held at Bangor Vineyard Shed in January.  Bangor is a set on a hilltop overlooking the Dunalley area at the gateway to the Tasman Peninsula region.  There are stunning views in all directions.  Dunalley Beach, right next to the highway, is perfect for summer wedding photos.  

The bridesmaid's were in peachy blush tones, so we went for pinks and peach with the bouquets.   For the bride, the central protea was Protea Pink Cream, with its warm soft pink outer bracts and creamy central mass.  It was surrounded by Leucospermums or Pincushions called Fountain. 

The bridesmaids bouquets were smaller versions of the bride's.  

As secondary flowers, I used a very pale pink flowering gum, purple Hebe, blue sea holly and silvery Brunia Albiflora.  

For foliage, I used beautiful Eucalyptus Crenulata, and some native coral fern that gives the bouquets an extra summery feel.  

For the boutonnieres, there was more eucalyptus foliage, flowering gum blossoms and buds, Hebe, sea holly and for the groom, some extra coral fern.  

The dad's wore these little boutonnieres.  

And for the mums, some wrist corsages with the peachy Fountain pincushions.

The ceremony was held at the bottom of the vineyard, overlooking Boomer Bay which is to the east of Dunalley.  The was a floral arch, which we dressed up with a central decoration filled with summery colour and texture.  

Such a great spot to tie the knot!

Looking up towards Bangor Shed from the ceremony were the rows of vines, looking summery and lush.  

For the reception, we made some large urn arrangements, chock full of more Pincushions, Protea Pink Ice, flowering gum, coral fern, Brunia, Hebe, sea holly, and eucalyptus.  

I loved the summery prettiness of these arrangements.

Photo by Smitten Wedding Photography

It's always a privilege to be part of a couple's special day and this wedding was no exception.  I wish them all the happiness!

February Wedding at Battery Point Community Hall

Photo by Nina Hamilton Photography

This February, I had the pleasure of providing flowers for a gorgeous Hobart wedding.  The ceremony was held at the Battery Point Community Hall - an intimate venue with wonderful natural light.   Talented Tasmanian photographer, Nina Hamilton, captured the day.  

The bride loved burgundy, and with neutral coloured bridesmaid's dresses the contrast with the rich burgundy tones worked really well.  

Rich maroon smoke bush foliage, Leucadendron Safari Sunset and the finer leafed Leucadendron Tall Red were the main burgundy ingredients, with a small amount of dark Leptospermum foliage also added.  

Eucalyptus Crenulata is a gorgeous gum foliage that has a silvery bloom , as well as a purple tinge on its new growth.  It was perfect as an addition to the bouquets to add some subtle highlights.

Each bouquet also included rich red Banksia Occidentalis, silvery grey Brunia Albiflora, Protea Pink Ice, and rich orange Leucospermum Cordifolium.  

The men wore simple leafy boutonnieres with an emphasis on the burgundy.  

The groom's boutonniere had a smallish green gumnut with the burgundy foliages and some Eucalyptus Crenulata. 

Battery Point Community Hall is a great central venue.  The arch, signing table and seating were provided by Style-My-Day.  Nina was great to work with and has lots of experience making Hobart weddings look amazing.

For the arch, I used more Leucadendron Tall Red, burgundy Leptospermum, Eucalyptus Crenulata and Smoke Bush.  I added some rich black Elderberries for depth and Brunia for texture.  Then, more orange pincushions, some red pincusions, and more Banksia Occidentalis.  

The rustic signing table was decorated with a collection of jars.  

At the reception venue, there were lots of little jars of colour.

The reception was held at Coal Valley Cider.  

More pincushions, Brunia, Protea and burgundy Leucos with some more Elderberries and gum foliage.  

Lots of the colour pots were made with handles for hanging around the relaxed venue.  

They really brightened things up, and carried on the theme of the wedding.  

The colours really glowed.  

I really loved working with the moody, rich colours for this wedding.  

Photo by Nina Hamilton Photography

And of course, seeing the bride and her girls looking so amazing and relaxed was great too.  Love my job!

Atmospheric Stewarts Bay Wedding in January

Photography by Cassie Sullivan Weddings

Summer weddings in Tasmania don't always mean blue skies and blazing sunshine.  And that's not a bad thing!   Overcast skies can be moody and atmospheric, especially if set against a backdrop of the untouched beauty of the Tasman Peninsula.  The beautiful photos of this January wedding at Stuart Bay Lodge by Cassie Sullivan Weddings illustrate the idea perfectly, showcasing the ruggedness of the Tasman Peninsula landscape as well as the emotion of the day.  

The large red Protea Compacta was the central flower with its soft silvery pink outer bracts and burgundy red central mass. 

Photography by Cassie Sullivan Weddings

The bridesmaids wore dark steel blue and the brief was for neutral tones with plenty of foliage.   

For the four bridesmaids, I used all with the same ingredients as the Bride's bouquet, but on a smaller scale.  

Lots of wonderful Risdon Peppermint eucalyptus foliage tied the bouquets todether.  I also used beautiful Leucadendron Silver Tree foliage and some native fern.  

Creamy white hydrangeas were added as well as some gorgeous white flowering gum.  Each bouquet also had dainty green gumnuts, Hebe, Safari Sunset leucos, and some flowering herbs.  

Brunia albiflora, a wonderful summer "flower" was also used.  

Photography by Cassie Sullivan Weddings

The photos of this wedding were truly gorgeous!  Having a great photographer makes the memories really stay with you. 

For the men, more green gumnuts with flowering gum, peppermint foliage and gum leaves, and more herbal flowers.  

The groom's boutonniere stood out with the addition of some Leucadendron Silver Tree.

The ceremony was held on the grass area overlooking Stewarts Bay.

Photography by Cassie Sullivan Weddings

The shoreline is a great spot for photos.  

The reception was held at Gabriel's On the Bay.  Each guest table had a vase of flowers and plenty of the native foliages too.   

Lots more foliage plus Protea Pink Ice, Safari Sunset leucos, creamy white hydgrangea, Hebe, flowering gum, and Brunia Albiflora.

The couple provided the table numbers which worked really well in the vases.  Such a great idea!

The bridal table was decorated with a long garland.  A painted sign sat in front of the newly weds surrounded by foliage and flowers as part of the garland.

Photography by Cassie Sullivan Weddings

It's always a pleasure to be involved in such a beautiful celebration, but it's even better when you get to see such great photos of the day!