Popular Wedding Flower FAQs

With McQueens Flowers Head of Events, Gina Hardy.

As many a newlywed couple will know, wedding flowers are so much more than buttonholes and bridal bouquets. In the right hands, floral design has the power to transform a space, bring a wedding theme to life and tell the story of who you are as a couple.

From floral urns and table centrepieces to statement arches and suspended chandeliers; far beyond just providing the decor – florals can provide the wow factor your guests won’t soon forget.

Anyone at the start of their planning, however, will know that the process can feel incredibly daunting! Fortunately, that’s what we’re here for. If you’re new to the world of wedding flowers and wondering where to begin, read on to discover our most frequently asked questions, along with first-hand answers and advice from our very own Head of Events and all-round weddings expert, Gina Hardy.

1. Can I see samples of your work?

“As a starting point, photographic samples of our work are available to see online or on our Instagram, however we can likely provide more specific imagery upon request. Physical samples of your wedding designs will be provided as part of the design process as we host sample meetings either at our beautiful North Audley Street atelier or in your wedding venue.

This is a great opportunity for you to see the flowers ‘in real life’ and paints a clear picture for your special day. We also use this meeting as an opportunity to view hardware and styling accessories, such as candles and bridal ribbons and would suggest bringing in your linens and tableware so we can have an exciting glimpse of how everything is going to come together on the day.” 

2. How far in advance should I book my florist?

“If you have the time, it’s a great idea to start planning your wedding flowers one year in advance so that you have seasonal flowers available to inspire you, and you’ll also have a good sense of what the natural world will look like at the time of your special day - which will impact your design decisions.

For example, sometimes we see couples planning their Autumn wedding in the Spring, so they are inspired by blossom trees and shades of pink forgetting that when it’s time for their wedding the streets will be lined with golden foliage and berries. If you’re working to a tighter timeline, booking your wedding florist 3-6 months in advance is advisable, however we have made the magic happen in much tighter timeframes before! 

3. How would you describe your style?

 “The wonderful thing about McQueens Flowers is that we are truly a collection of very different creatives that all work with unique styles and inspiration points – meaning there isn’t a set McQueens Flowers style. Instead, our values in producing luxury design and working sustainably and seasonally are the threads that run through all our creatives.

This means when we start working with a couple on design their wedding flowers, we are truly starting with a blank canvas that allows us to be inspired by you as a couple and your special day – rather than sticking to any strict design regulations.

4. How do you pick out a colour palette?

“When thinking of the overall look and feel of your special day, there are certain elements that I would consider to guide you in the curation of your colour palette. These points of consideration would be season, venue/location and the feeling you are hoping to achieve.

For example, if you are getting married in the spring in a contemporary venue and want the day to feel joyful and playful, you may choose to have bright poppy orange and yellow florals with lots of movement and exciting shapes. Whereas, if you were getting married in the winter in a stately Georgian manor and want the day to feel more romantic and opulent you may opt for dark, vampy shades of reds and purple in abundant yet manicured designs.”

5. What types of designs do you do for weddings?

“A standard set up for us would be florals to frame the ceremony, such as a floral archway or urn arrangements, alongside floral centrepieces for the wedding breakfast, and the personal flowers such as bridal bouquets, buttonholes and flower girl posies.

However, the sky really is the limit and we have been privileged to designing a wild array of different style arrangements for our couples’ special days! Some of our favourites have been large hydrangea clouds that hydrangea clouds that hung suspended over guests’ heads, and I would say we are masters at decorating fireplaces!”

6. Which flowers will be in season when I’m getting married?

“This is a great question to ask at your initial consolation, especially if you’re not sure about what flowers you’d like to have – or equally, if you know there are certain varieties that you definitely do want for your wedding. We always recommend using what’s in season and can advise you on the best options for you big day. Once budgets have been agreed, we create a detailed visual proposal filled with suggestions of seasonal flowers that are suitable for your chosen design style and fit in your colour palette.” 

7. Do you provide accessories with the flower décor such as candles and vases?

“Absolutely, we provide all floral hardware such as beautiful vases and plinths, vases, urns, ceramics, and styling accessories including candles and lanterns. This allows us to really fine-tune the look and feel of your designs by curating not just the floral varieties but the vessels and accessories that come with it.”

 Discover more and see some of the incredible flowers our team have created over on the McQueens Flowers Weddings page.