What’s on your mind…..
Weddings at The Wellbeing Farm
Flowers we have created for different weddings at The Wellbeing Farm, Edgworth, Bolton.
Following on in our series of posts concentrating on individual wedding venues, allowing couples to see what can be done with flowers at their chosen setting, we are taking a look at The Wellbeing Farm.
The Wellbeing Farm is a venue we have decorated many times since it opened.
This venue is rammed full of character, situated on a farm in Edgworth, Bolton. It is unlike any other venue we go to ,its a little bit bonkers, but in the best way possible. They have lots of fun props and even real life Llama’s and sheep. If you are looking for somewhere thats fun, relaxing and a little bit different we couldn’t recommend The Wellbeing Farm highly enough.
To see this venue for yourself head over to their website.
Here are just a few photos of flowers we have created at The Wellbeing Farm over the last few years.
Wreath Workshop Video
Welcome to our 2023 wreath making video, please follow along as you make your wreath, pausing as and when you need too. If you haven’t already ordered your kit please head over to the shop page to purchase everything you need.
October 2023 newsletter
Welcome to the very first newsletter from us at The Flower Farm.
We have been saying for years that we should do a regular email newsletter, but it has always been just one of those things that we didn't get around to. We finally got ourselves organised and here it is! We hope you enjoy it.
September was a busy month for us at The Flower Farm. We worked on some gorgeous weddings in beautiful venues, we held our first Autumn Wreath making workshop, delivered some stunning bouquets and enjoyed some delicious cake!
We really love Wyresdale Park wedding venue. It's a stunning venue packed with rustic charm whilst maintaining an element of elegance. The colour scheme for this wedding was perfect there.
An added bonus of working at Wyresdale is The Apple Store Cafe, where we treated ourselves to some delicious takeaway scones which we thoroughly enjoyed with a cup of tea in front of the Aga whilst reading a couple of lovely thank you notes from our happy couples............Is this the best part of our job?........Maybe!
We have planned to take a day off soon, and enjoy a walk around Nicky Nook and lunch there before it gets too hectic with Christmas.
In September we also held our first Autumn wreath making workshop at The Farm, Burscough. We really enjoyed the event and the ladies attending made the most stunning wreaths for their doors.
Seasonal wreaths have become more and more popular over the last few years and this is a trend we are definitely here for, a wreath is for life, not just for Christmas! It is a perfect way to add a bit of seasonal colour to your door and give a warm welcome to guests.
Autumn wreaths are still available to order from our Website, these will last you right through till you replace it with your Christmas wreath and even beyond.
Of course the workshop wasn't all about the wreaths, we had to include some delicious food! A Prosecco afternoon tea was enjoyed by all.
Thank you to Cathy and the team at The Farm for having us.
Christmas At The Flower Farm
Over the last few weeks we have been working away behind the scenes thinking about and developing our Christmas products for 2023.
We took the decision to have a break from in person workshops this year, but if we miss them too much they might be back next year!
This year we are offering our increasingly popular wreath making kits, so you can create your wreath in the comfort of your own home either as a quiet afternoon to yourself or as a fabulous festive fun event with friends. We include a full instruction video so it's just like having (a slightly more polished version) us with you there.
There are various types of kit available, including the option of a takeaway afternoon tea from The Farm to make your wreath making extra special. You'll find all the details here.
We know that not everyone has the time to make their own wreath and that it isn't everyone's cup of tea so of course we are taking orders for gorgeous hand made wreaths from us too. You can always pass it off as your own work, we promise not to tell!
Over the next couple of weeks we will be spending time searching for ideas and planning the design for our 2023 table centres, so watch this space for details!
We will also be attending the Rufford Artisan Fair on the last Sunday of the month. We loved meeting so many customers in August and are really looking forward to being here again.
After the very strange weather we have been having so far this autumn, this week has seen the first of the frost here at The Flower Farm. It's so pretty, but also a little bit sad for us as we know that is signals the imminent last of the homegrown flowers for the year.
We hope you have enjoyed reading our first newsletter and will continue to follow along on our flowery adventures. If there is anything you'd love to see more of on these emails, please do let us know on alison@theflowerfarm.co.uk and we will do our best to include as much as we can of what you'll love reading.
Sending lots of love
Alison & Clare
xxx
15 things you need to know before ordering your wedding flowers.
This post tries to answer many of the common questions people have in relation to wedding flowers.
Wedding flowers were to start?
We always suggest starting with a mood board, put together some images of flowers and colours you love, maybe investigate seasonality, will the flowers you love be easily available on your wedding date?
Next you need to think about who and what needs flowers. Maybe make a list of definite’s like bouquets, buttonholes and table flowers, and another dream list; if budget allows, of statement pieces, pew ends etc. Really think about your venue and were it needs some flowers, look up previous weddings for inspiration.
Next find a florist you think will be a good fit for you and your style. Get in touch with them and tell them all about your plans and ideas, they should then be able to provide an individually itemised quote so you can then sit down and work out how best to spend your budget.
Do wedding flowers have to match?
Our advice, first and foremost is to go with what you love. It is your day, don’t let anyone else put you off the colours and varieties you like. Flowers that are in season together always seem to look good together, nature knows what it is doing, so as long as you go for the real thing, and seasonal you can’t really go wrong. One thing we highly recommend you don’t do, is mix fresh flowers with artificial, if you have say, a fresh bridal bouquet, but then artificial table flowers they will never match. Even the most expensive silk flowers are not the colours of nature, nor do they move naturally or feel right and certainly don’t have any scent. They really stand out a mile, put next to the real deal.
Do wedding flowers have to be white?
Absolutely not! White is the traditional colour and is classic and elegant, it goes with anything and will never date, but we are big fans of colour, and feel it adds personality and fun to your big day.
Which wedding flowers are the least expensive?
What is in season is the simple answer, they are the best value because they are readily available, grown naturally and are the best quality. Summer weddings on the whole may be more expensive as dates are at a premium, but flower wise it’s the cheapest time to buy them. Seasonal flowers are often short lived so you won’t find them all year round, which make them a popular choice for couples looking for something a little different too. For example, if you are lucky enough to marry at the beginning of June you get Peonies in season, they are by far the most popular bridal flower at the moment, but if you want them in September the price would rocket. Another thing to be conscious of are peak flower buying events, things like Valentine’s Day, Mothers Day, Easter and Christmas all push up the worldwide flower prices as demand outstrips supply at the markets.
Which wedding flowers are in season?
In Spring your options would be beautiful Tulips, Narcissus, Ranunculus, Anemones and all the other Spring bulbs. Followed by the Summer classics, Roses, Larkspur and all the cottage garden favourites like love in a mist, cornflowers and sweet peas. As Autumn beckons we can go for Sunflowers, Hydrangea, Dahlias, Rudbeckia, gorgeous foliage and grasses followed by the winter berries, Christmas foliage and early bulbs with Hellebores.
Why do I need a wedding bouquet?
Traditionally bouquets where carried to disguise the smell of the bride, luckily as bodily odours are no longer an issue they are carried to add character & to show a touch of the bride’s own style. They are also great for having something to keep your hands busy when you’re feeling a little nervous, or to hide your body if you are a little self conscious.
Who gets wedding flowers?
That is entirely up to you, but traditionally the bride, the bridesmaids and any flower girls will have bouquets. Then the Groom, Best man, Ushers, Fathers and sometimes Grandfathers and brothers will each have a buttonhole. Other important ladies like the Mothers of the happy couple, the Grandmothers and any sisters or very special friends will have a corsage either to be worn on their lapel, wrist or handbag. It is very rare that we get asked to make a buttonhole for every guest, our big tip is to keep the flowers to immediate family and best friends otherwise it can quickly get out of hand.
Are wedding flowers worth it?
I know we are probably a bit biased on this one, but hell yes! They are the one thing that makes a venue yours for the day, they are the thing that adds your personality and depicts the vibe you want to portrait. Without fresh flowers, weddings would all be a bit the same. They add the colours, texture, character and scents you love, they create drama and the wow factor, they break up plain spaces and they’re also pretty good for hiding things you rather weren’t on show like cables and wires.
If money is tight and you are looking at ways to save, why not look at doing them yourself, we can provide buckets full of blooms for you to arrange as you like throughout the Summer months. Or if that doesn’t sound like your thing, why don’t you talk to us about ways to get impact without a huge budget.
Are wedding flowers bad for the environment?
Some are, obviously silk / fake flowers are made from plastic, even if reused for several weddings, they are still not biodegradable and will be around in hundreds of years time, they are a plastic shipped from china and have a high carbon footprint.
With fresh flowers at least you know they will always biodegrade, rot down for the earth worms and to regenerate the land. If you're looking for a sustainable wedding, you need to try and use flowers that are in season, as they are likely to not have been grown using heat, or shipped half way around the world. Here at the flower farm we use our own flowers first which have travelled no distance and grown without pesticides, we will also buy from other growers in the UK, and thirdly we buy from the world market, we have purposely chosen not to remove this from our offering as many people have their favourite colours or varieties and it just isn’t possible to provide them year round from UK suppliers. We believe it’s a balancing act of doing the best we can at this time, without limiting customers choice. As in the words of Mr Tesco, every little helps!
How long will wedding flowers last?
Your flowers will certainly last the day which is what you need them to do, they need to be at their absolute peak of perfection for your wedding, fully open and glorious. As with a good strawberry, this means they are at their absolute best just before they die. You shouldn’t expect your flowers to last many days after the wedding unless you have requested things that don’t really open or alter, such as Limonium, Lisianthus or Chrysanthemums.
Can you do your own wedding flowers?
As long as you are a bit creative, don’t mind not having perfect nails (flowers cause havoc to your hands) and think you will have enough time the day before your wedding, them yes you can absolutely make your own flowers. We can provide DIY buckets or a mixture of bouquets and buckets (if you don’t fancy making the bouquets and buttonholes yourself but want to do the rest) and we also run bespoke wedding flower training classes if you fancy getting some practice in first.
When should flowers be delivered or collected for my wedding?
If being delivered flowers are nearly always delivered on the morning of the wedding as venues often aren’t ready to accept them until the actual day.
If you are collecting them, we ideally recommend the day before, but if you can keep them cool there is no reason why they wouldn’t be absolutely fine collected two days before. Obviously when you collect them the flowers will be more tightly closed than they will be on the actual day.
Wedding flowers etiquette?
Wedding flowers etiquette is about providing clients with the highest quality service while respecting their budget, preferences, and timeline. At The Flower Farm, we take pride in providing exceptional service and creating beautiful, memorable floral arrangements.
What are traditional wedding flowers?
Weddings aren’t complete without flowers, and the significance of flowers in weddings dates back to ancient times. Flowers have always been an integral part of wedding ceremonies, and they play a crucial role in adding personality, vibrancy, and beauty to your big day. Some flowers are so traditional in weddings that they’re almost iconic. Here are a few traditional wedding flowers:
Roses symbolise love and passion, they come in lots of different colours and shapes, big blousy garden roses moving through to beautiful multi headed spray roses. These elegant and fragrant flowers are popular wedding flowers for bouquets, centrepieces, and aisle decorations.
Peonies are known for their large size, soft petals, and stunning appearance, peonies signify good fortune, prosperity, and happiness. These romantic blooms come in various shades of pink, coral, ivory, and red but have a short natural season from mid May into June. They are available at the other times but this makes them an expensive choice and quality can also be an issue.
Lilies with their gracious and classic beauty, they are a symbol of purity and innocence. These flowers are available in white, pink, and yellow but are currently out of favour for weddings but will probably have a resurgence soon.
Hydrangeas are gorgeous, show off blooms, they come in various shades of white, pink, blue, and purple. They represent gratitude, understanding, and heartfelt emotions. Hydrangeas are a popular wedding flower for ceremonies and receptions, they don’t like to be dry for too long so aren’t the best choice for bouquets.
Tulips symbolise perfect love, they come in lots of different hues of pink, white, yellow, red, and purple, we grow lots of the big double petalled varieties, that often have a great scent too. These delicate and surreal flowers are popular for springtime weddings.
Gypsophila is often used as a filler or accent flower, it symbolises innocence. The small delicate flowers come in white and add a soft touch to any bouquet. Beware though, in high summer they do not have a pleasant smell!
Whether you prefer to follow the tradition or make your own flower choices, these traditional wedding flowers have been popular for a long time. Choosing the right flowers for your wedding will help to express your feelings and provide a romantic and stunning atmosphere that reflects your personality and style.What are popular wedding flowers?
We see so many things spring in to fashion and by the following year or two they are gone. A prime example of this was Pampas grass, a couple of years ago everyone wanted it, we planted lots, and now it is rarely mentioned and our plants are redundant. Another was the colour blush, although quite timeless, over probably the last 5 years it has been the colour of choice, but its tricky, some people see blush as a pale pink and others as a subtle peach. If you are thinking of having blush please make sure you have a definite swatch of the colour that you can provide to all your suppliers.
One thing that seems to be popular and has been for some years now is the very natural, meadow look, using lots of different varieties arranged almost as they’d grow. Flowers that have movement and aren’t perfectly straight are also a popular choice, as is anything a little bit delicate and unusual like Love in a mist or Cornflowers. People are looking more and more for sustainable plant materials and British grown has increased drastically in popularity. Roses will always be a popular choice, but over the last year or so, we have seen a big increase in couples asking that they aren’t included so maybe they are loosing that top spot?
As to colours, we have seen a big increase in couples asking for a bright mixture, a little bit of everything that is cheerful and fun. Being brave with colour is definitely on trend, as is seasonality, especially when it comes to an Autumn wedding; rich reds, oranges and warm golds with brown and deep burgundy foliage . Over the last few months we have had a lot of mention of Sage green too, as with blush this can have several different preconceptions, so please be sure to have that colour swatch to hand when talking to your suppliers. White and green are the classic choice and never date, so if you want to play it safe they’re your go too’s.
We hope we have covered a lot of your main questions when it comes to wedding flowers, but if you have anything else you would like us to answer please drop us an email at clare@theflowerfarm.co.uk and we will be happy to give you an answer.
Meols Hall, Southport
Flowers we have created for different weddings at Meols Hall, Churchtown, Southport.
Our new series of posts will concentrate on individual wedding venues, hopefully allowing couples to see what can be done with flowers at their chosen setting.
We are starting off with beautiful Meols Hall, Churchtown, Southport. This is a venue we have decorated many, many times and we are so proud to say we are on their recommended supplier list.
This character filled venue is a stunning Tithe Barn situated in the grounds of Meols Hall, Churchtown, Southport. Local craftsmen, using traditional methods have ensured the four hundred year old barn retains all its original features, but also includes a modern, fully equipped kitchen, bar facilities, superb lighting and sound system. Outside there is an unspoilt cobbled courtyard with lots of tables and space for outdoor activities, with the adjoining Coach House being a lovely space to relax in between your ceremony and reception.
To see this venue for yourself head over to their website.
Here are just a few photos of flowers we have created at Meols Hall over the last few years.
It is time to start sowing seeds.
The beginning of March signals the start of our seed sowing. For the next eight weeks we will be busy sowing thousands of flowers. Starting with the slower growing hardy annuals, and as the days lengthen and temperature rises we will move on to the less tough, half hardies.
In total we will sow over 200 trays of seed, with over 70 different types of flowers and in total about 100 different varieties.
By sowing lots of different things, it allows us to keep our offering fresh, no two bouquets will ever be the same throughout the year. Plus it means if we have a disaster with one crop, say a late frost, an invasion of insects, or a greedy rabbit or two takes a liking to something, we will always have something else to turn too. When teamed up with all the bulbs, tubers, biennials, shrubs and perennials we have in excess of 350 different varieties each year, we never get bored of what we have to work with.
We store all our seeds in a sealed box in the fridge, then when ready to sow, we remove them, write out a label, fill a tray with compost, give it a good water, add the seed, and then depending on the individual variety and its requirements we will add a top layer of compost or vermiculite.
The trays are kept in the unheated greenhouse until they begin to germinate. We then prick out any excess seedlings to allow the others the space to grow big and strong.
When the weather outside has warmed the soil enough, (they say if you would sit on the ground with a naked bottom then its the right temperature, we have never tried that by the way) and the days lengthened, we then transplant the seedlings out in to the prepared flower beds. Then we wait, keep a good eye on them, cross our fingers and hope and pray that they grow into some amazing beauties over the coming months, they’ve never failed us yet!
LGBT Couples …..Weddings for everyone
Here is our approach to LGBTQ+ weddings.
Here at The Flower Farm, we love love and firmly believe that absolutely every couple should have access to the most beautiful flowers for their special day. Should yours be a traditional wedding, a civil ceremony, handfasting, a commitment ceremony or any other way you choose to show how much you love each other and share that with your friends and family, we will be there for you to make that day even more beautiful.
We fully support LGBTQ+ rights and equality in marriage, and everyone’s right to carry a bouquet or wear a buttonhole, or a flower crown on their big day (or not) regardless of your sexuality, gender or pronouns. If you’d like it, tell us, and we will make it for you and make it gorgeous without ever a hint of judgment.
Wedding Props We Can Provide
We often get asked what vases, stands etc we have, that can be used with our flowers. Here is our up to date list as of February 2023.
Time To Really Think About Our Business.
Over this current week I have been taking part in @fayecornhill @theweddingbusinessclub and my homework for today, which I thought I would share here, is to really think about what we are and why we do it. I hope it gives you a bit of an insight into our little business.
Autumn Wreaths
Autumn is our favourite season for fabulous textures and rich colours. We have seen a rise in popularity of Autumnal wreaths, every year we sell more and more, showing that a wreath isn’t just for Christmas.
Autumn Wreath Ingredients
Firstly we go and pick our materials, this is often the most time-consuming element of making a wreath. They take so much material, the short clip slows the materials needed for one wreath.
Next we get a mossed ring and soak it so the moss holds moisture to extend the life of the wreath. We also get some scissors and a reel of wire ready to attach the plant materails.
We then construct the wreath by inserting a piece of foliage, leaf, berry etc into the moss, when we have added three of four different pieces, we then secure them into place by wrapping wire around the whole thing a couple of times. We continue this pattern all the way around the wreath.
This close up shot shows how many different varieties of plant material you need to include to create the finished look. The more the better is our general rule of thumb.
The finished piece. A beautiful collection of Autumnal flora to decorate your home.
Your Full Service Wedding
If you are looking to create the day of your dreams, with individually designed floral pieces, completely different from what your friends have had, then our full service offering is just what you’re looking for. If you are wanting gorgeous, romantic fresh flower bouquets, buttonholes, full ceremony and reception dressing then this is the option for you.
First of all, you need to get in touch, as soon as you have a date, venue booked and some ideas for flowers, the best way to do this is by using the contact form on our wedding page. Within a day or two, we will get back to you, to hopefully say we are available, and to book you in for a face to face consultation over zoom, or if that isn’t suitable in person.
Photograph by Jo Rutherford
At the consultation we will listen to your dreams, thoughts, ideas and inspiration for your special day. May be you have some photos or dress samples you want to show us to help bring your ideas to life. We will guide you to the best varieties of flowers available on your date, help with choosing colours, textures and props. We will go through each item of floral design you might need, carefully making notes and sounding out ideas with you. Our consultations are very relaxed and there is definitely no hard sell!
Our consultations usually take up to about an hour. When we are done, and you feel we have got your ideas all finalised, we will go away and type up a bespoke quote just for you. We will email it over to you within a couple of days with every item individually priced.
Then, if you are happy with everything, and want to go ahead and reserve us as your wedding florists we ask for a £50 nonrefundable booking fee to secure the date.
We then ask you to keep in touch, if you think of any changes, let us know as soon as you can, that way we can ensure we are on track to create your perfect day.
About 6 weeks before the wedding we will get in touch, to double check the details. The final balance is then due a month before. After that, leave it all to us, we will work hard to produce everything you have ordered to the best of our ability, and deliver the flowers in plenty of time, to be all set up and gone before your first guest arrives.
Photograph by Leanne Duerden
Common questions -
What is a typical spend on a full service wedding?
Our average bride spends around £1400, but we can work with budgets from £750 upwards. The more expensive being £5000 plus.
Do you deliver and set up?
Yes we do for full service weddings - your quote will explain if there are any costs for this.
Can we use your props?
We have a collection of stands, glassware, lanterns etc which we are very happy to lend out free of charge when flowers are being ordered for them. All we ask is that you return them to us in the same condition as they arrived, within 5 days of the wedding.
Can we alter things after we have booked you?
Yes, you are very welcome to tweak and change colours and flower varieties. We may also be able to change designs and numbers of things but we do need final details at least a month before.
If my budget is small, does that mean you can’t do my flowers?
No, not at all, we pride ourselves in making everyones day special whatever their budget. If you are thinking of spending less than £750 take a look at our a la carte offering, and if you are particularly creative, maybe even our DIY flowers.
What Flowers do I Need For My Wedding?
Photograph by the very talented Sarah Glynn Photography
Often when we chat with our brides, we mention floral items and they comment with “We hadn’t thought of that!”
So you have a bit of a heads up of the most common types of floral arrangements you might want to consider having for your wedding -
Bridal party flowers
Bridal Bouquet - how big would you like it to be? what shape?
Bridesmaids bouquets - what colour dresses are they wearing?
Flower girl flowers - are they having a smaller version of the bridesmaids bouquets, or maybe something different like a flower wand?
Do you want hair flowers - combs (worn at the back or the side of the head), crowns or loose stems for your hair dresser to cut up and use as they wish?
Buttonholes - how many men are you requiring them for - Groom, Bestman, Ushers, Dads, Grandads, Brothers? Does the Groom want his to be the same as the others or slightly larger?
Are any of these for children? - if so we can make them on a special safety pin.
Corsages - these are the ladies version of a buttonhole and can be made to be worn on an outfit (these we create on a magnet fastening, do let us know if anyone has a Pacemaker fitted as we can’t then use them) as a wrist corsage on a pearl bracelet, or we can make them to be attached to their handbag. These are usually for the Mums, Grandma’s or Sisters.
Ceremony flowers
Flowers along the aisle- if so how many rows of pews or chairs will there be? do you want flowers on the ends of every row or every other?
Altar/ceremony table - how big?
Pedestals - either side of the Altar, at the back of Church, either side of the entrance?
Arch - Moon arch, broken arch or fixed to existing venue fittings.
Font - is it in a prominent position? Would some flowers make it pop?
Lych-gate - garland along the top and or bunches tied to the gates?
Many of the above can possibly be reused at the reception afterwards. This is always something we discuss with you as it is a great way to make your budget stretch, especially if you are having your ceremony and reception in the same venue. We definitely encourage you to get the most you can out of your flowers.
Reception Flowers
Table flowers - How many tables will there be? what style of arrangement might you like? Are they long tables or round? Will you need space for platters of food?
Top table - How many guests are sitting on it? How long will it be? Is it straight or oval? Are you looking for a single arrangement, a cluster of floral pieces or garlanding?
Cake flowers - Would you like fresh flowers on your cake, or to decorate around the base?
Welcome board / Seating plan - Could they do with a touch of floral magic?
Gift / Card table - Does it need a vase or two of flowers?
Window sills / empty spaces / ugly spaces that need hiding - Are there any bare spaces that maybe need a floral touch?
Bar tables - do they need a touch of colour, maybe a couple of flowers in a bottle? If so how many tables will their be?
Other places - We suggest browsing the social media of your venue, there will be tons of pictures of previous weddings and you might just spot somewhere another couple has had flowers and love it! It’s a great way to get inspiration for your own wedding.
Others
Thank you bouquets - Usually for the Mums, but perhaps your best friend has helped you with all the planning, or it’s a guests birthday and you want to acknowledge it?
Extra buttonholes - Sometimes if you haven’t got a huge guest list maybe you want to provide every guest with a buttonhole? If so do you want them to match the main buttonholes or have something a little simpler?
Changes to our Flower Delivery for 2022
Each January we carefully go through and review our sales for the previous year. Wedding work and funeral tribute orders are increasing every year, and are definitely the main areas of our business that we need to concentrate our time and efforts on, but unfortunately the same cannot be said for gift bouquets.
During the first lockdown our bouquet sales shot up, as people couldn’t buy flowers in the supermarket and wanted to send something to cheer up a loved one, so we began to offer a wider delivery service.
Although we where very busy, the figures at the end of the year where disappointing for the amount of work and effort we had put in to this service. In 2021 we decided to continue to offer delivery, but have seen order numbers drop as customers have returned to their old buying habits, which has led to us making a loss on bouquet sales. We feel this is mainly due to the wide area we where offering delivery too. It just isn’t financially viable to offer delivery to all those villages anymore so we have decided to limit our delivery option to Burscough, Rufford, Tarleton and Hesketh Bank only, they are our nearest and easiest accessible places, plus the areas we had most orders for.
However all is not lost if you still want our flowers, as we are now offering collection of bouquet orders from our studio.
Please do order them at least 24 hours in advance via our website, where you will find a new box on the order form asking if you wish to have them delivered to Burscough, Rufford, Tarleton or Hesketh Bank; or you would like to come and pick them up from us.
We understand this may be disappointing for some, it is for us too; but at this point in time we have little option. We did consider increasing our delivery price, but for Aughton, further parts of Scarisbrick, Parbold or Croston we would need to be charging at least £11 just to cover the driver and vehicle costs and we don’t feel this is doable. We also considered scraping delivery entirely, but wanted to give it another twelve months to see if this limited delivery area can work.
Why Choose Us As Your Wedding Florist?
Firstly, if you are reading this, it probably means you are engaged, congratulations!!!
We have written this guide to try and help you decide if we are the right florist for you without getting totally overwhelmed. You may also find this information useful when choosing other creative parts of your wedding like the cake or invitations.
Let’s start with what not to do when choosing a florist - We suggest you don’t send out a list of what you want, and ask a selection of florists to give you a price. It is not liking buying an often mass produced item like bridesmaids dresses. It is very difficult to compare flower quotes from different florists, unless you have a complete flower list with stem counts and varieties listed, it is virtually impossible to compare quotes based on price. Where one florist may use 20 expensive, scented, top notch roses in your bouquet, another may be quoting to use just one or two, with 15 cheap/ poorer quality varieties, and hence appear to be better value, but in reality it won’t look how you have envisioned it to do. The item descriptions may appear similar, but the actual content of your bouquet can vary wildly.
We get told by our customers that our prices are not the cheapest, but they are always so glad they went with us as the quality of flowers and design exceeds their expectations.
What we suggest is to go with recommendations, have you been to a wedding and thought I like those flowers! Hopefully we will have been the florist that created them, but if not, find out who did and get in touch.
Head over to their website to get a real feel for their business. Look at their photos, does their style match what you want? Have you fallen in love with their vibe? Find out if they are a qualified florist, or if they have oodles of experience, read their reviews on social media or google. Try and build up a good idea of how the business operates. Don’t worry too much about distance, don’t think you need to use the nearest florist, as most will happily travel for you. We will head out all over the North West and have even ventured over to Yorkshire!
Be a little cautious of newly established businesses, will they still be trading by your wedding date? have they got the skills and experience to pull off the flowers as you imagine them to be? I am not saying to avoid new businesses as they would never get a chance to become established, just be wary of paying large deposits, or the final balance months ahead of your big day. Also if you are considering a one person operation check that they have some back up plan if they become ill or have some sort of emergency on your wedding day, this has never been so important, in light of Covid. We have been established since 2007, we have no shop overheads, we don’t pay to advertise at bridal fairs or anywhere else, we rely on our amazing brides telling others, and we certainly have no plans of changing career, so we won’t be disappearing anytime soon.
Next you need to get in touch with your first choice of florist, we suggest you do this in writing, rather than over the phone, so there can be no crossed wires. Email them, or fill in the contact form on their website. Let them know your wedding date, you don’t want to suddenly find out they haven’t got your date free later down the line.
Let them know as much detail as you can, venue address, time of your wedding, number of bridesmaids, ushers, guests etc, plus a rough idea of your flower budget as this all has an impact on wether they are able to say yes to your enquiry or not.
Next have a good look on the internet, gather together a collection of pictures of florals that you love, from all sorts of sites and social media. Have a good think about your colour choices and varieties (although your florist will be able to guide you on what is available for your chosen date) it is very difficult to have a successful consultation without having a bit of a plan in you mind beforehand.
Once your favourite florist has confirmed they do have availability, book in a consultation as soon as you can, this allows you to a get a better feel for them and see if they get your vibe, and are both thinking of similar styles, colours etc. It is important that you’re both a good fit for each other.
Be very wary of florists who talk but don’t listen. Make sure they have listened to what you want, its your special day and you should be able to have what you want, do not be pushed into having a certain style because its fashionable, or easy to mass produce, don’t let them talk you out of having your favourite flower, that is unless its something out of season then sadly it probably wont be available from anyone. Also don’t be shy of saying what you particularly dislike, or cannot stand and wouldn’t choose in a million years, its just as important as talking about what you love.
A good florist will then put together an itemised quote especially for you, spend some time carefully reading it, as well as their terms and conditions to check you are happy with everything. If you are pleased and your gut says yes, then pay your booking fee as soon as you can, then you know your date is saved and you can relax a little. If you aren’t happy, or something just doesn’t sit well with you, then maybe its time to consider your second choice of florist.
Why Choose Fresh Flowers Over Artificial for your wedding?
Scent - you cannot beat the smell of sweet peas, roses, herbs and many other freshly cut flowers. So many brides comment after their wedding and say that one of their lasting memories of the day will be the scent of their bouquet.
Environment - fresh flowers, especially the ones grown here in Britain have a very low carbon footprint, compared to the mass produced, plastic filled artificial flowers.
Individual - a fresh flower is unique, different from any other, silk flowers are clones of one another, each stem identical leading to designs looking very boring and often mass produced.
Choice - fresh flowers are available in thousands of different varieties and colours, which can be selected to match your dress, venue etc. The scope with artificial is much more limited.
Colour - it is so rare to find an artificial flower that looks the same colour as its real counterpart, natural flowers, contain many pigments from the inner section of a petal to its outer edge, this look is almost impossible to achieve in an artificial bloom.
Cost - to buy fresh flowers is always cheaper than any good quality artificial flower. Rented artificial flowers may work out less expensive, but may have been used for several other weddings before or after yours, and do you want your guests to recognise them? Plus you can give away your fresh flowers at the end of the day.
How long they last - why would you want a plastic flower that lasts for ever, just collecting dust and eventually fading to an even more unnatural colour. Surely something delicate and scented, yet fleeting is much more precious?
Movement - fresh flowers flow and move, allowing the florist to create very naturalistic designs, artificial flowers are rigid and lack that natural sway.
Over the years we have worked with both fresh and artificial, but we no longer offer artificial for the above reasons. In our opinion nothing will ever put a smile on your face like a fresh bloom. :)
Merry Christmas
We would just like to take this opportunity to say a great big Merry Christmas to all our fantastic customers who have ordered flowers from us through out this very difficult year. Loosing almost all of our wedding trade to Covid 19 has been totally heartbreaking, but the support we have had through sales of bouquets, workshops, sympathy tributes and kits has been amazing, we feel very humbled and extremely grateful.
Thank you!
We are delivering Christmas bouquets up until the 23rd of December, we are then closed to spend some time with our families and implement our plans for a bigger and hopefully far better 2021!
Our British Flowers First Policy.
We feel passionate about British products, wether that be for the food you eat, the clothes you wear, or indeed the flowers that add a little joy to your home or those of a loved one.
Throughout the summer months we grow as many of our own homegrown flowers as we can. Beautiful scented varieties, things like garden roses, sweet peas, snapdragons, ammi, larkspur, dahlias, cosmos, cornflowers, ranunculus, anemones ….. the list goes on, we have over 100 different varieties throughout the season.
When the weather changes and the days shorten we buy from other UK growers, those who have a kinder climate or glasshouses to extend the growing season.
When British flowers are limited, especially in the winter months, or when we are asked for a specific variety we don’t grow, we will import, and then we try to buy from Europe first in a bid to keep air miles, and chemicals used in the production of the flowers to a minimum.
A La Carte Wedding Flowers
If you feel a bit overwhelmed and don’t want all the fuss of designing your wedding flowers, attending consultations and finding ideas, then our a la carte selection may be for you. Almost like selecting a meal from a menu, you choose the types of arrangement you like and we will create them! its a streamlined system, just great value wedding flowers.
How does it work-
Get in Touch - Please fill in our contact form on our wedding page mentioning you are interested in the a la carte option.. Within a couple of days we will get back to you, once we have checked we have availability for your date.
After looking at our pdf brochure (which we will email you), reply to us with which arrangements you might like, ensuring your name and wedding date is in the subject line.
Quote - Within a few days of receiving your email, we will send you back a fully itemised quotation for your wedding flowers, based on the details given.
Send Contract and Booking fee - when you have checked through your order and you are happy with it. Please sign the e-contract and send the £50 non refundable booking fee (which is deducted from the total balance). Once these are received your date is reserved on our diary.
Make Minor Changes - About 6 weeks before your big day, we will get back in touch to double check all the details. This is when we finalise the order, so any small changes need to be made at this point.
Final Payment - please pay the final balance a month before your wedding date.
Enjoy Your Flowers! - We know our flowers well, and will always pick the very best we have to offer on your wedding date. They will be freshly picked and expertly arranged just as they are in our full service offering.
We will have your flowers all ready for you to pick up the day before your wedding for 1pm. If you wish to collect at a different time please let us know. Also, please ensure you have plenty of room in your car as it is surprising how much room they can take.
If you wish to discuss the possibility and price of delivery instead, please let us know at the questionnaire stage, as we cannot guarantee we will be available to deliver nearer the date.
Are Wedding Flowers Bad for the Environment?
Sustainability Policy
This is a question, as with many environmental issues that can have lots of different answers and opinions. Here are our thoughts at the The Flower Farm.
We pride ourself on our honesty regarding environmental issues within our business. While we strive to run The Flower Farm as greenly as we can, we are not perfect and have to be realistic. We are always looking for ways to provide our customers with exactly what they want in the most sustainable way possible.
We are working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and the amount of waste we produce to reduce our impact on the environment.
We aim to provide the highest quality flowers, in the varieties you love, whilst giving you the most value for money, in the most sustainable way possible.
Please feel free to discuss the environmental impacts of your flower choices with us if you so wish, if you prefer sustainability, say over choice of varieties, or price, do let us know and we can work with you to create something beautiful and sustainable.
Seasonal flowers
We love seasonal flowers, in our opinion you cannot beat them, they are the best value for money, travel the smallest distances, and just look right for the time of year. We always consider where our flowers come from, and how they are grown to reduce the amount of transportation and air miles. We aim to work with our own, homegrown flowers first and foremost; followed by other British flower growers, and where possible will opt for seasonal and British varieties in our designs before anything else.
However, a lot of flowers used in the floristry industry are imported from other countries, we are always happy to use them, especially during the winter months or if they are specifically requested to get the look you want for your wedding date, for example if you love roses or gypsophila it is often difficult to source British grown ones that are good enough quality to meet our high standards, so we would more often than not import them, always trying to choose a product that has been grown and produced in an ethical and sustainable way.
Reduce and recycle waste
All our green waste is separated from any other rubbish and composted. Any additional cardboard or plastics that can be recycled are.
Our flowers are either picked specifically for your designs, or when ordered in, in the specific required amounts to ensure a minimal storage time so you get to enjoy the flowers at their freshest. This reduces any need for refrigeration and cuts down on the amount of water used to hydrate the flowers.
Minimal use of floral foam
Floral foam provides great support for flower stems and as it is so absorbent, provides a good source of water. However, it is a plastic which does not break down in landfill.
Oasis, the main producer of floral foam has developed a new bio-degradable floral foam which is now our first choice if we need to use foam, however where financially and time efficiently practical, we are opting for alternative methods and more natural materials to form a base for our designs.
Re-use and recycle packaging and mechanics
Our gift bouquets or bridal bouquets are presented in glass jars or vases which can be reused, rather than in boxes.
Rather than using new plastic containers for all our floral designs we consider more eco-friendly alternatives if it fits with your style, such as milk churns, wooden crates or cut-glass vases that have been upcycled.
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Where possible we offer free hire of containers for our weddings rather than sourcing new for every event. The vases and stands we already own are available to use free of charge along side your flower order with us.
Business policies
We use a green electric supplier and don’t use any artificial lights on our homegrown blooms. We also try to avoid the use of pesticides on our homegrown flowers, in fact we haven’t used any at all in the last three years. We also reuse our seed trays and pots each year and use a peat free compost.
All our quotes, contracts and invoices are sent via email to cut down on paper and energy used for printing.
Our delivery routes are planned to make sure we use the most direct route and reduce fuel emissions.
We only offer flowers for weddings within our region, the North West of England, we don’t travel all over the country or into Europe.