,Is it too late to wish you all a very Happy New Year.?  

The New Year for me has proved to be a bit of a roller coaster ride, on the way meeting some exceptionally
​talented people.

You might have seen some Instagram posts recently on a rather lovely bridal shoot that took place at
Alpheton Hall Barns, as I was asked by Louise from Bridal Reloved in Water Street, Lavenham - do go and visit if you are looking for a bridal gown - if I could provide some bouquets, arrangements for the barn area, and to dress the ceremony room.  Of course.  Meeting with Nick and his wife at Alpheton Hall Barns, together with Louise, Manda from Hello Romance Photography, Victoria from Victoria Harold Makeup Artist, and hair by Always B Occasion Hair with three lovely ladies modelling.  The results are fantastic..  Go to my Instagram page -  wendy_bfloral  - to see for yourself.

Valentine's Day is now less than a month away.  Red roses are always the most popular flowers by far.  
I was privileged to meet Neill Strain at his Belgravia Boutique Floral shop "Neill Strain Floral Couture" a few years ago.
What a genuine, approachable person he is.  His shop is a wonder.  However his Valentine selection of bouquets and arrangements for 2020 are something else..  Do visit his web site www.neillstrain.com but as a taster his Valentine Heart is spectacular (See below - photo taken from Neill Strain web site)   

From a single red rose, to a dozen roses in a vase with various foliage, a traditional bouquet or a seasonal bouquet there are some choices.  Valentine's Day is on Friday 14th February.  It is always wise to order early so that your florist of choice can order appropriately.  

I do rather love tulips.  Fifty of those in a bouquet are simply quite stunning.  

Happy Valentine's Day.  

Finally, perhaps add a sparkle or two to those flowers.  Visit www.jonathanlambert.co.uk bespoke jewellery designer based in Lavenham.  You will not be disappointed if you are looking for something really very special.

So few weeks to Christmas now and what a busy year it has been.

Some beautiful weddings - from the small and intimate to the grand marquee style and gorgeous barns.  

Bookings are coming fast the furious for 2020 so if you need assistance with wedding flowers please get in touch.

Bespoke bouquets are always popular and I had a flurry of them only a few days ago - naming it the
Winter Warmer it made me smile making it and the recipients loved them too.  Always a joy to receive
an unexpected bouquet of flowers.  

For Christmas if you need a wreath for the front door, a lovely table decoration - hurricane vase with chunky candle surrounded by a circle of scented foliage and flowers - or just some special flowers you want to place in a vase - then please feel free to contact me..

Christmas Wreath Workshops:  I shall be doing these again for 2020 - watch this space for details.

In the meantime, thank you to all my customers for your support throughout the year.  It has been a joy.

​

A very Happy New Year to you and yours.  Why no photographs of flowers?  For me a simple pleasure is to visit the beautiful East Coast.  Walk by the sea on a fresh, crisp clear blue sky kind of day.  Inspirational.

My love of flowers continues. I never tire of receiving a delivery of gorgeous flowers to prepare for an event.  Gorgeous parrot tulips, hyacinths, and those love them or hate them tete a tete.  A bit like Marmite - you either like the smell or
hate it.  

As the Spring flowers start to flood the flower markets I can feel the season gearing up to the first of the weddings, although I did spy a gaggle of best men with their groom between Christmas and NewYear waiting to be collected in what was a rather gorgeous old fashioned coach.  They all looked very smart.  Blue suits, white shirts, copper coloured ties and brown shoes.  I take my hat off to the florist who was providing flowers for that wedding.  Flowers between Christmas and New Year, unless ordered in advance, are like gold dust, as the auction houses are not operating that regularly.  I am sure they had a fabulous day, and an anniversary never to be forgotten that is for sure.

If you became engaged over the Christmas or the New Year, and have begun planning your wedding, maybe this year or the next or indeed at some point in the future, and you are looking for a florist, then it would be lovely to hear from you..  Just a few details is always helpful.  Where you are thinking of getting married.  How many people need flowers in the bridal party.  Church/reception flowers and finally any thank you bouquets for those un-sung hero's of the day.  

Having completed my last wedding of the year three days before Christmas, I was so surprised to receive a lovely note on my Facebook page from the bride a few days after Christmas thanking me for her flowers.  She loved them.  It was my complete pleasure to provide them.  

I look forward to hearing from you, for what ever occasion you need beautiful flowers for in 2019 and beyond.

​Have a great 2019.  

Well folks - here we go on the run up to Christmas.  The television is awash with Christmas Adverts from the big stores. Some of them are so clever now.  Who will save that animal driving that big truck!!

For Christmas this year the wreaths will still be very foliage based, but I am planning on adding a bit of sparkle here and there.  Watch this space.

Christmas Wreath Workshops are available again at the rather cosy and delicious Number Ten in Lady Street, Lavenham.
Three to choose from - all undertaking basing a wreath ring, adding various foliage and then you make choices of what you would like to add and finally a big bow.  Go to the Christmas Wreath Workshop button for further details.

It is a very relaxed atmosphere.  All materials are provided.  A bit of a snip at £49.00  

Your wreath will last over the Christmas period with a gentle spray of water now and again.

For those of you who would like the opportunity to make a Christmas Garland - then please give me a ring.  This will be on a demonstration basis.

I look forward to hearing from you.  Phone 07779 017923 or e-mail me at enquiry@wendybfloraldesigns.co.uk

It has been a most beautiful Summer, with the most gorgeous weather and I have provided some really beautiful flowers for some rather stunning brides.  The above photo being one of my favourites of the year - thank you Fairweather Photography.  Do visit their web site as there are some most amazing photos to be found..

As we are fast approaching the end of October, and thinking of Christmas, but in the meantime there has been another Royal bride on view who, I have to say, had the most beautiful bouquet, which I think in the floristry business we would term as "all wired". This means that all the stems in that bouquet were wired and then formed into a beautiful small tear drop bouquet and the handle made from the wires which were then covered in ribbon and moulded to fit the user..  Charming, light and easy to carry.  Rob Van Helden and his team created some stunning arrangements for the day.  Beautiful autumnal colours.  

I was invited to attend an open evening at Smeetham Hall Barns last Wednesday.  It is a beautiful venue and always a joy to provide Bridget and her team with flowers for the event.  I decided to use some autumnal tones in my arrangements. 

Some rather lovely deep pink hydrangea, astilbe, and succulent velvet black baccarat roses, sitting on top of a very tall vase.  

I met some lovely couples that evening - some only weeks away from their special day, and some looking to 2020.

Hoping to meet more brides and grooms at the beginning of 2019 at the next wedding fayre.  In the meantime enjoy the last of what is turning out to be an Indian Summer.  

Finally if you are interested in attending a workshop for making a traditional Christmas Wreath - get in touch!

What a start to the Summer - such fantastic weather.  It is always good to take some time to refresh ideas and gain inspiration from other.  Chelsea Flower Show was rather fabulous.  The floral tent was truly amazing.  A florists heaven.

There have also been lots of Open Gardens.  Everyone works so hard to get their gardens in order and speak to their visitors with such passion about their designs and planting schemes.  There are some real treasures to be seen.

Visiting Helmingham Hall for the first time on what must have been one of the warmest days so far.  What a beautiful place that is.  Worth a visit.  If you are looking for Wedding Flowers that will be in season for your day then this would be one of the places to go.  Beautiful flowers and luscious foliage.

And of course, The Wedding!  Keenly anticipating what flowers and foliage were going to be used and in all honesty was not disappointed.  Fresh, zingy, clean palette.  Perfectly sized bouquets.  Elegant.  The veil moment!!  Very romantic.

If you are planning flowers for your wedding - last minute this year or in the future this is a great time to visit your local garden centre to see what is in bloom.  Buy a good quality Bridal Magazine.  Choose your dress first.  Bridesmaids second then think about colour of flowers.  However if flowers are your thing - work round them.  Be sure to keep your florist informed of colour choices - a year down the line the original bridesmaid dress choice might have changed.

Wedding Flowers magazine is always good for palette choices.  

​Enjoy the journey.  

Easter will be here this weekend - Good Friday is on the 30th March.  In the scheme of things, quite early
this year.
 
Having had such a mixed bag of weather recently it would be lovely to hope that we will see the temperatures rising
with the arrival of the longer days.

It is always so lovely to see the countryside and gardens springing to life.  As a florist the choices of flowers
and foliage start to expand as the wedding season starts..

With Easter in mind and present giving, then chocolate is always high on the list.  Eggs, chocolate box assortments,
and for the children Peter Rabbit will be high on the agenda this year.  I like to make chocolate Malteser Ice Cream
as it always feels like you are enjoying mini eggs with an ice cream treat!

For flowers, narcissi are still beautiful to see on their own in a vase or jug.  Or how about some lovely foliage with tulips
mixed in.  Gorgeous. 

Have a fabulous Easter Weekend whatever your plans.  

​

Mother's Day is this Sunday 11th March.  If you have booked a rather delicious lunch somewhere, or afternoon tea, or
even a visit to the seaside (let's hope the weather stays calm now!) to celebrate the day - enjoy..

Flowers, are always lovely to receive on Mother's Day.  This year I have decided to produce three arrangements:
a lovely chunky basket filled with flowers and foliage, the rather gorgeous and every popular Spring Delight
bouquet with a florists choice of spring flowers and gorgeous scented foliage, and finally a sweet smelling posy.

So where did Mother's Day come from.  A quote from a BBC website reads as follows:

The first Mother's Day celebrations can be traced back to the ancient Greek Festival dedicated to Rhea, the Mother of the Gods. In England, it was in the 1600s when the phrase "Mothering Sunday" was first coined. In Christianity, Mothering Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Lent.

Today we just celebrate the fact that we have lovely Mum's to spoil for a day.. 

​Whatever you choose to do for your Mum - have a wonderful day.

I just love this photo.  Not one of mine I have to say.  Love the puppy and love the red tulips.  Love is in the air.

With Valentine's Day only a few weeks away, now might be time to start thinking about what you
would like to buy your loved one on this special day.   

I must admit I loved to receive red roses or even just a single red rose.  Chocolates were also a good one.
Hotel Chocolat in Bury St Edmunds has some lovely ideas for presents.  Their blushing hearts look rather
​sweet, but there are plenty more to choose from.

Perfume or some lovely scented body cream is another favourite.  I have to go with Jo Malone here, or indeed
her own brand now Jo Loves.  On the Jo Malone front their Lime and Basil body cream is utterly indulgent.
They also have some rather wonderful fragrances for men too.  Jo Loves has a rather fab product out at the moment which is a Fragrance Paintbrush.  Rather nifty idea and with some gorgeous choices too., White Rose and Lemon leaves sounding beautiful. 

With both Jo Malone and Jo Loves their packaging is superb.
Another company that has some lovely products and and another go to for me is Biscuiteers.
They provide bespoke biscuits that can be personalised - and again arrive in a rather gorgeous box or
​tin - depending how many biscuits you feel like buying.   

Going back to flowers though - I have some lovely bouquets this year - lots to choose from - ranging from traditional
red roses - spring flowers - white roses - lovely scented foliage - all wrapped and packaged with a rather gorgeous
ribbon and card for your personal message..  Go to my Valentine's Day page to see the full range.  

To place an order you can either phone me on: 07779 017923 or 01787 248082 or e-mail me on
enquiry@wendybfloraldesigns..co.uk.  

Happy Valentine's Day to you all.