If you are planning an outdoor wedding ceremony, Huntsham Court in Devon is one of the most beautiful settings you can say ‘I Do’! As wedding florists, we regularly work at this stunning country house and so have plenty of experience is dressing all aspects of the venue. Read on to see more of this gorgeous flower filled wedding, full of rich warm pinks & blush tones, with all the seasonal blooms you could wish for. And did I mention the ceremony took place under an ancient oak tree? Stunning!
I want to talk to you today about how to choose the perfect summer flowers for your outdoor wedding and how we dressed this particular ceremony space, one that has never been flowered before! Typically couples get married under the gazebo at Huntsham Court, which is fabulous and allows you to create a statement flower arch around the gazebo, or large urns either side. However, our couple from America really wanted to get married on the grass under this beautiful oak tree, how magical right? The oak tree was of course to be the main backdrop to the ceremony, so we wanted to slightly enhance the area rather than try to compete with the oak tree. Because how can you?! Flower photography: Felicity Billen
How to create a floral meadow aisle for your outdoor ceremony:
Huntsham Court has beautiful old benches that provide the seating during an outdoor ceremony, so once these were in place we created a stunning full meadow floral design, running down the length of the aisle. This is a fabulous way to create impact, yet in a stylish and natural way. Huntsham Court really is a quintessential country house, with beautiful gardens to match. So we wanted the flowers to emulate this and fit in perfectly to the existing environment. Each bench had its own arrangement full of natural foliage, seasonal grasses for height and all the finest flowers that August has to offer. When creating a floral aisle it is crucial to think about adding in as much texture as you can, using foliage in different heights to create that natural look and feel. My opinion, as a wedding florist, is that you want your wedding flowers to appear as though they have just naturally grown right out of where they are sitting! Sounds easy right? And with the right florist it truly is!
Using large vases as a statement for your outdoor wedding:
To mark the end of the aisle and frame the base of the oak tree, providing flowers either side to where our happy couple would stand, we made two large vases. These vases were natural and abundant, overflowing with seasonal flowers and foliage and placed on the floor to provide just the right amount of decor to complement the oak tree. The grasses add so much texture and interest alongside the gorgeous locally grown zinnias and dahlias. Daucus, trailing jasmine, and amaranths ensured the vases were completely natural looking yet in a super stylish and considered way. The great thing about these large vases is that after the ceremony, we repurposed them inside Huntsham Court to dress the wedding breakfast room. The aisle meadow arrangements were also moved into the dining room, creating full displays on the mantelpieces and radiator covers, meaning the whole room was transformed with flowers, creating the most stunning look.
How to choose a late summer wedding colour palette:
Our couple wanted pink to be the central colour of their wedding flowers, and pink will always be a timeless and romantic look for a wedding. However, instead of focusing completely on the lighter, traditional shade of blush… try opting for more of a range of pinks like we did here. From the palest, pure blush right through to deep crimson, this gave so much more depth and interest to the colour palette of ‘pink’. Also, by using the deeper, darker colours you are ensuring your wedding is cohesive with the season you are getting married in. Towards the end of summer, colours become more muted in nature and slightly duller tone like these zinnias. They have a true dusky tone and this is what happens to the flowers after the long hot summer months!
what flowers are in season for an August Wedding?
August is the most amazing month for seasonal flowers and you can have so much variety to choose from. Dahlias are in their prime during august and these beautiful blooms come in the widest array of shapes, colours and sizes. From huge dinner plate dahlias, the size of your head… to the daintiest pom pom varieties. The look and feel of this August bloom is extensive. We used locally grown dahlias here, including these absolutely breathtaking deep plum dahlias. This colour is one I grow every year, because I feel it is so versatile and goes well with all kinds of colour palettes, particularly this pink one as it adds a level of drama and intensity needed for a late summer wedding. Zinnias are another great flower to use in your August wedding. This ‘queen lime red’ variety is stunning and brings that unusual dusky, but rich pink tone, you rarely find in a flower. Hydrangeas are a wonderful late summer bloom and they really come into their own in August. Gone are the garish bright pink, purple and blue shades that traditionally come to mind when you think of hydrangeas, and they are replaced by a far more stylish, muted and softer colour. Making them the most perfect addition to your wedding flowers! The green ones can almost be used as a form of greenery, perfect for covering mechanics and giving depth to arrangements. Do not forget foliage too, as foliage is a crucial part of adding texture to your wedding flowers. This dark plum psychacarpus is stunning in not only its colour, but shape too. Providing much needed sweeping branches to offer unbeatable movement. Grasses are a great addition too, adding dainty, delicate interest to arrangements, alongside these stunning pale pink snowberries.
A wedding florist top 5 August wedding flowers:
Dahlias
Zinnias
Cosmos
Amaranthus
Hydrangeas
How to plan your wedding flowers at Huntsham Court from America?
Lots of my couples I work with are American, yet wanting that quintessential ‘English country garden’ style wedding. I have lots of experience in working with couples who are planning their wedding from America, so I understand how you may feel when planing a wedding from a completely different country. Often American couples may have slightly more queries or questions, which is completely understandable because it is not as easy for you to just ‘pop’ over and visit your venue. That is why it is so important to choose a wedding florist who knows your venue so well, and has worked there many times before. Advice is on hand constantly and I am always at the end of an email, to provide reassurance or answers to questions… no query is too small when it comes to planning the most important day of your life! If you are planning you wedding at Huntsham Court and looking for wedding flowers, I would love to hear all about your exciting plans! For more weddings that I have flowered at Huntsham Court, please do peruse the journal or my portfolio has so many beautiful weddings full of natural, elegant, and of course seasonal blooms.
