|
|
ROYAL WEDDING FLOWERS (AND FLORISTS)
 |
| Photo courtesy of AP Images |
With just two days to decorate the ceremony site, Westminster Abbey, and reception venue, Buckingham Palace, the team of florists who created the Royal wedding floral arrangements must have felt the pressure. But they carried it off beautifully!
When Catherine Middleton wed Prince William of Wales, florists and flower-lovers everywhere watched for the first glimpse of the bride’s bouquet, which is likely to set a tone for floral design styles for at least the near future.
Perhaps unexpectedly, the bride’s bouquet was a modest teardrop-shape and contained lilies-of-the-valley, sweet Williams, hyacinth florets and sprigs of myrtle according to tradition. (According to Royal Florist Simon Lycett, Queen Victoria is said to have had a sprig of myrtle in her bouquet, and every royal bride has also carried myrtle grown from the sprig in Victoria’s bouquet.)
Lily-of-the-valley was a primary element in the personal flowers, which included beautiful hairpieces composed entirely of the diminutive fragrant blossoms. London-based floral designer Shane Connolly designed all the ceremony florals.
Inside Westminster Abbey, six large field maples and two hornbeams flanked the aisle, and seasonal flowers and foliages, including lilies-of-the-valley, azaleas, lilacs, Viburnums, Rhododendrons, Euphorbias, Stephanotises, Wisterias, Solomon’s seal and beech, were used in several gorgeous arrangements.
 |
| Photo courtesy of AP Images |
Click on these links for more information and photos.
• Daily Mail
• Flowers Arriving
• Flowers at the Abbey
• People magazine
On April 26, 2011, a press release on the official wedding website of Prince William and Catherine revealed that the couple had chosen Mr. Connolly to lead the group of designers, including those already retained at Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace.
In addition, BBC News reported that the Middleton’s family florist, Emma Sampson, who owns Green Parlour florist in Pangbourne, which is near the family’s home in Bucklebury, was asked by Ms. Middleton, now The Duchess of Cambridge, to assist.
Most of the approximately 30,000 cut flowers were cut from Windsor Great Park’s Valley Gardens, where Ms. Sampson and Mr. Connolly were seen browsing and selecting flowers on April 20.
Click here to view Ms. Sampson and Mr. Connolly in Windsor Great Park.
The flowers and plants at Westminster Abbey will remain in place through May 6 for public viewing. Many of the trees will be planted at Highgrove, Prince Charles’ estate, and much of the rest will be donated.
To view the gardens at Highgrove, click here.
To watch the wedding and get a look at the arrangements in Westminster Abbey as well as the bride’s bouquet, click here to visit the The Royal Channel, the British Monarchy’s official YouTube channel.
For more information on Shane Connolly, shown in the above photo clipping blossoms, click here.
To learn more about Emma Sampson and her shop, click here.
Sources: The British Monarchy, NBC, CBS News, BBC News, People Weekly, Daily Mail
|
