Hope & Flora

19/04/2024

New blog ~ Buttonhole flowers: Wondering who wears them and why? Your wedding buttonhole questions answered.

Did you know that in ancient times flowers were worn to ward off evil spirits - and mask bad spells - during special events. Over time (and the advent of regular baths and showers) they became a fashion statement to add colour to attire. Nowadays, they are mostly worn during special events.

Talking of fragrance, one thing from ancient times still remains and that’s the spellbinding scent flowers have in the bucketloads - particularly the sustainable, locally-grown flower varieties that I like to use. Who wouldn’t want these flowers right under your nose!

What are buttonhole flowers?Buttonhole flowers - or boutonnières - are the hardy flowers, greenery and textural blooms that are worn on your special day. Hardy means they don’t mind being out of …

10/04/2024

A handful of the best. By only taking a limited number of bookings a year means you get the most bespoke and personal service from me, and I can show up as my best creative, thoughtful wedding and events florist for you. Quality over quantity always.⁠
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Talking of the best, these spring flowers were lovingly grown in harmony with the environment right here in Cheshire. I source as much as possible from small, hand-scale growers who use organic and sustainable methods, in soil and without pesticides. Top quality ingredients always.⁠⁠⁠⁠
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08/04/2024

J & R were worried about having traditional and impersonal wedding flowers. They wanted natural, joyful and fun to evoke an English secret garden party atmosphere - just perfect in the grounds and tipis of 🌳⁠
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The palette was full of rich summer colours in heady hues of pinks and orange, with pops of playful blue in memory of a loved one. A mix of bold and show-stopping Dahlias, along with the more delicate stems and woodland foliage, complementing forest green dresses. 🍃⁠
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It was lovely getting to know this gorgeous family and a joy to create something really special for them. 🤗⁠
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Find out how I can help bring the best of the season into you beautiful, soulful day by enquiring via the website (link in bio). 🔗⁠
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📷 Photos 2-5 by ⁠⁠⁠

03/04/2024

Buttonhole flowers - or boutonnières if you’re feeling fancy - are made of hardy flowers, greenery and textural blooms. I like to use some dried floral elements too, really lovely to make sure they withstand all the squishy hugs on the day. ⁠🤗⁠
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Finished in luxurious 100% ribbon or natural twine depending on the mood, with stems left exposed. Simple pearl-headed pins attach them to clothing or I can design using a magnet, which can be better for delicate clothing.⁠ 🤍⁠
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Who are buttonhole flowers for on your wedding day? All your best people.⁠ 🥰⁠
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1. Spring buttonhole photographed by ⁠
2. Hellebore⁠ and dried grasses
3. Spring buttonhole photographed by ⁠
4. Helichrysum (strawflower) and Dahlias ⁠
5. Winter wedding buttonhole photographed by ⁠⁠⁠⁠

22/03/2024

The day the two of you say ‘I do’ and dance the night away - or jump in the pool. ⁠😃

L & A at last August captured by .

If living sustainably and making planet-friendly choices is you too, ask about this when chatting to your suppliers. You can then relax and revel in your beautiful blooms knowing that your stellar wedding supplier team have taken every care to look after you and our natural world when creating your special day.⁠⁠

18/03/2024

Tip: Discovering your floral style for your wedding by thinking about your venue and the atmosphere you’re wanting to create:
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⭐️What attracted you to the venue?⁠
⭐️ Mood for the day?⁠
⭐️ Grandeur to impress or more subtle and understated? ⁠

Chatting about your venue with me, I’m listening and getting to understand your floral style. It’s how I make your wedding florals truly unique and bespoke to you!
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Get in touch via the website, feel confident about how to navigate the process, and be inspired to let your floral vision bloom!⁠
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Pictured: A favourite venue, Capesthorne Hall photographed by ⁠⁠⁠
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15/03/2024

New review ~ the brief was for understated and relaxed florals but with wow factor - and lots of candlelight! See the results over on the Journal. ⬇️ With photos by Laura May Photography.

"Sarah created the most amazing flowers for our December winter wedding. She was so easy to work with, really understood our vision for the day and brought it to life. Everything looked stunning and …

13/03/2024

Why get in touch about your 2025 wedding or event today? I work with couples, wedding planners, stylists, as well as supporting other florists, across Cheshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, the North West, and beyond. So it’s never too early to check availability! ⏰

You may not know every little detail yet - but if you have a date and a venue confirmed - I’d recommend contacting your dream suppliers as soon as possible.⁠ 💭

Pictured with August blooms grown in Cheshire 🌿⁠⁠⁠

07/03/2024

Within touching distance. Celebrating the dancing, delicate petals, delicious scent, and intricate textures of flowers grown right here in Cheshire. More info and inspiration about natural floral design for your wedding or event over on the website (link in bio).⁠⁠⁠⁠

06/03/2024

As we unfurl from winter, a timely feast of inspiration over on 5 Star Wedding Directory blog! Read on for a celebration of the elegance of spring and the timeless charm of the French aristocracy.

A visual feast at Hawkstone Hall that celebrates the beauty of love, the elegance of spring, and the timeless charm of the French aristocracy.

05/03/2024

It’s a huge pleasure to be sharing these Rookery Hall Hotel & Spa winter wedding flowers with you created for A & A. Dark and sultry florals in deep purples, ochres, browns, and dark greens, filled the studio in the days leading up to the wedding. ⁠
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To reflect the bride’s Argentinian heritage, Eucalyptus was an important and sentimental element for the couple. Winter’s Hellebore flowers were celebrated through every design. For a closer look and the team behind it, head to the link in bio → Journal.⁠
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Florals: Hope & Flora⁠
Planning & Styling: .weddings
Photography: Alfred&Co. Photography
MUA:
Hair stylist:
Glassware & Silk Runner:
Venue: ⁠⁠⁠
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08/02/2024

A few lately while we’ve been wintering, with some cold days in the studio for the most warm-hearted of weddings. ⁠🤍
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1. Website refresh (see link in bio) incl. spring wedding flowers photographed by
2. Soothing greens 🌿
3. Dark and sultry florals for A & A in the studio. A considered range of flowers from further afield while designing with locally grown flowers waits until spring ☀️
4. A & A’s gorgeous day photographed by at ⁠ with planning by .weddings
5. Pretty frost patterns ⁠
6. Wrapping up on a wall⁠
7. Ramblings around Errwood ⁠
8. Keeping warm⁠
9. The best practical Christmas present ⁠✂️
10. Top table florals for J & A’s special day . Water-filled troughs make planet-friendly floral mechanics. With planning by .nicholas.weddings, image by Laura May Photography 📷 ⁠⁠⁠⁠
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06/02/2024

A sprinkle of your kind words means the world! Reviews really help my business and I’m so grateful for your support. A heartfelt thank you for choosing me as your wedding florist, ⁠
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For more testimonials and to check 2025 availability, head to the website (link in bio).⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

29/11/2023

New blog ~ I'm so happy to be sharing L & A's Dunwood Hall Estate wedding flowers with you in my Journal.

From the moment we met for the floral design consultation, I just knew it would be a stylish wedding day full of warmth and fun, with family and friends at its heart. Captured beautifully by Max Sarasini Photography.

Modern manor house wedding flowers for Leonora and Aled at eclectic Staffordshire wedding venue.

01/11/2023

Happy 1st Wedding Anniversary! Wow, it's been a year (and a couple of days 😉) since F & A tied the knot at in all it’s autumnal glory. ⁠Congratulations you two, lots of love x
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Feeza and her bridesmaids captured by . ⁠⁠⁠
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01/10/2023

FAQ. I don't know the names of flowers. Help?! ⁠
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Some couples I work with love flowers, but don't always know the names of them. Please do not worry if this is you! ⁠
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Big and blousy flowers, delicate and ethereal, or a combination of the both, in your tailor-made proposal I include visuals and names of the seasonal flowers, a colour palette, and a mood board to go alongside design descriptions and other details, such as ribbons and vessels. ⁠
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Concept, planning & photography:
Venue:
Flowers: ⁠
Stylist & Stationer:
Cake:
MUA:
Hair: ⁠
Model: ⁠
Model couple: ⁠
Dresses: .london ⁠
Dress Designers: ⁠
Blue Dress Camille .london ⁠
Dress Mist with Bow Cape from ⁠
Ornate Dress with pearl Cape from ⁠
Floral dress with sleeves from ⁠
Strapless dress with large bow on the back from ⁠
Accessories: Flower hair vine and flower earrings ⁠
Accessories: All crowns and clay flower earrings ⁠
Pink Shoes: ⁠
Blue Shoes: ⁠
Ribbons: ⁠
Suit: Model's Own⁠
Candles: ⁠
Assistant: ⁠⁠⁠⁠

29/09/2023

Dahlias time to shine. Naturally seasonal flowers share the moment in time when you celebrate your love for each other.⁠
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Working in harmony with nature requires a level of flexibility and trust with your florist. It’s how I like to work; importance is placed on your colour palette and mood for the day, which are visualised in my proposals following our designs consultation.⁠
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Unrestricted by a prescribed set of ingredients, the freedom means designs are in response to the couple, the season and the place, with flowers that have been selected and cut to be at their absolute best for the wedding day. ⁠⁠⁠

27/09/2023

This has got to be one of my top tips. For wedding flowers that look natural, and not out of place on your special day, a garden-led approach to floral design is the key.
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Designs that reflect what’s growing outside, in that place, will forever capture the fleeting moment in your love story when the two of you say I do. ⁠
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Planner
Photographer
Styling
Venue
Florist ⁠
Hair & accessories
Makeup Dresses & Veil ⁠
Jewellery ⁠
Suit ⁠
Cake ⁠
Stationery ⁠
Videographer ⁠
Content creator ⁠
Grazing table ⁠
Couple ⁠⁠⁠⁠

25/09/2023

Gardens and meadows can be a riot of colour, so it’s only natural that the floral designs on your wedding day reflect this.

But how do you decide on colours if you feel overwhelmed by all the choice?⁠
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Start by having a think about:⁠
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// What colours are you instinctively drawn to? ⁠

// What interior design styles do you like?⁠

// What is the colour palette that you tend to wear?⁠
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As your wedding florist, I love getting to know you by asking questions like these so I can create your personal and bespoke floral designs. Every proposal I create comes with a colour palette and mood board to capture the essence of you and your special day. ⁠
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For more tips and advice head to my Journal (link in bio).⁠
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Photographed: ageing Tulips amongst a bowl of Cheshire-grown spring flowers.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

21/09/2023

Sharing your favourite moments in all their joyful glory. ⁠
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More from L&A's August wedding by on the grid soon. ⁠

Hair & makeup &
Florals
Venue ⁠⁠⁠
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13/09/2023

Recharged and ready for autumn.

21/07/2023

Pinks as hot and fun as their wedding day last month. J & G 24.06.23

08/07/2023

The response to this editorial shoot has been fantastic and it was a real joy to be on the team to make it happen. To have it featured on Rock My Wedding, one of the best wedding planning resources, was icing on the (wedding) cake. All the links and supplier team details ↓🤍

Luxury, high-end wedding inspiration at Capesthorne Hall featuring an inter-able couple. The response to this editorial shoot has been fantastic and it was a real joy to be on the team to make it …

04/07/2023

The reviews are in! To see more 5-star reviews coming in already from this season's couples is brilliant, love my amazing clients! I'm so grateful for your kind words and support. Thank you for choosing me as your wedding florist.⁠ Sarah x

Photo by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

28/06/2023

F & J's country house wedding at the end of May had all the trimmings - archway, ice cream van, crazy golf. They had the lot!

Congratulations you pair, thanks so much for choosing me as your wedding florist.⁠
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Photos by Photogenick Photography⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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"Perfect flowers for a perfect day! Sarah listened to my ideas and pulled all the stops out for my special day. "I have no knowledge of flowers or greenery so I appreciated her expert guidance and …

10/06/2023

Roses....but what if your wedding is in spring, autumn or winter? A 5-minute read about flower seasons and luxury wedding flowers.

Photo by Charlotte Palazzo Photography at Hawkstone Hall & Gardens

Roses, often the floral embodiment of love, are synonymous with luxury weddings. They are at their most fragrant, beautiful, and blousy best in the summer in the UK. But what if your wedding is in …

10/06/2023

Life lately in the camera roll. Tis’ the season for flowers and weddings!

1. Cheshire-grown flowers for an Italian inspired editorial with
2. Woodland vibes working with
3. Meadow aisle in the studio for J & T
4. Sultry summer florals for F & J
5. Spring wedding bouquet for model couple J & G
6. Work lunch…honestly
7. Matchy matchy on date night
8. Candy colours on the kitchen table
9. Wedding guesting / moves / jacket stealing
10. Day with & getting to know my big camera better.

26/05/2023

I see you weekend! Days of flowering and being a wedding guest ahead. Happy, sunny days x

Photography
Hair & Makeup Artist
Model
Dresses
Flowers
Accessories
Shoes

26/05/2023

In the studio this week so far. Leaning into the blue with fun Nigellas Love-in-a-Mist for a wedding editorial inspired by the Amalfi Coast, with a British twist.

01/05/2023

Camera roll from the past month. Mostly organised chaos (home) and flowers (work)… and a pink bathroom with carpet I’ve got a soft spot for.

1. Cheshire-grown flowers
2. Nice words about hope spotted at
3. Blousy blown tulips in a bowl
4. Sparkly pretty things
5. Studio stars
6. Pink bathroom distractions .estate
7. Racing pigeon having a breather
8. A breather at Bosley Reservoir
9. Cool cat despite the chaos
10. Nice chaos