ELEVATE: WHITE AND GREEN
- Fi Passey
- Aug 1
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 10
How to Design with a Palette That Is Anything But Boring
Many clients opt for a white and green colour story for their wedding - and I totally get it. It's classic, and it can photograph really beautifully. It doesn’t set up any awkward colour clashes with venue decor or guest outfits. It can feel fresh, calm and elevated.
But, can you feel a 'but' coming ...
...it can also feel really flat. Low energy rather than elegance. Uninspiring rather than unforgettable. When couples express a desire for florals that won't feel dated in two decades, my advice, honed from years of styling luxury weddings, is simple: don't design out of fear. Your wedding photos are a snapshot of this moment in time - every detail reflects 'now': your choice of dress, shoes, make-up style, haircut, guest outfits, tableware ... I could go on. Lean into what you genuinely love and what speaks to your sense of style now. The single detail that never goes out of style is the inner radiance of a couple who feel entirely present, celebrating in a space that reflects their true personal style.
Still head-over-heels for white and green? Wonderful! Let’s talk about how to make it feel vibrant, memorable, and unmistakably you.
Foliage should never be an afterthought. From silver-toned eucalyptus and muted olive to deep, glossy emerald leaves, green offers a rich spectrum of tones that provide essential contrast against pure white blooms.
Designer Secret #1: Green is a colour
Foliage should never be an afterthought. From silver-toned eucalyptus and muted olive to deep, glossy emerald leaves, green offers a rich spectrum of tones that provide essential contrast against pure white blooms. Getting the greenery right is a key priority in my floral philosophy and I drive miles and miles each year to track down the right varieties to complete a design.
Example: For this early summer wedding marquee at Cornwell Manor near Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds, we blended different shades of green leaves and flowers to create a series of stunning floral clouds over the central guest tables for the wedding dinner. This choice worked beautifully against the white canvas of the marquee.
Designer Secret #2: Texture, Texture, Texture!
When working with a limited colour spectrum, texture becomes your primary design element. Contrast smooth, sculptural surfaces with soft, delicate petals to build visual richness:
Tulips: The silky, pristine petals of a white tulip offer exceptional clarity. Fringed varieties like 'Honeymoon' are ideal for pin bowls, while green-and-white parrot tulips add dramatic flair.
Calla Lilies: A defining flower of modern luxury, white callas provide clean, architectural lines that anchor contemporary designs.
Hydrangeas: Densely packed with delicate florets, varieties such as 'Royal Highness' add magnificent dome-shaped volume and intricate surface texture.
Roses: Timeless and indulgent, smooth, large-headed varieties such as 'Tibet' and 'Playa Blanca' contrast beautifully alongside the frilled, romantic outer petals of 'Moonstone'.
Delphiniums & Larkspur: Offering dramatic vertical height for ceremony arches and urns, these towering spires feature tubular blooms that provide structure from late spring through autumn.
Ranunculus: For winter and early spring celebrations, the swirling, paper-thin petals of the Asiatic buttercup make a romantic hero bloom for bridal bouquets and buttonholes.
Example: White calla lily bouquet works perfectly with a lace trimmed veil and dress from Sally Bean Couture for this summer wedding at Kin House, Wiltshire.
Example: Fresh and minimal spring bud vase display for a modern interpretation on a white and green classic scheme
Designer Note on Fabrics: Tactile elements extend beyond florals. Sweeping fabrics—whether vintage lace for a romantic aesthetic or sheer chiffon for a contemporary look—add movement when draped across walls, ceilings, or table ends.
Example: Choose chiffon draping for a semi-transparent vibe to this ceremony installation in the iconic Boathouse at Euridge Manor in Wiltshire, UK.
Designer Secret #3: Go Local for Unique Finds
To ensure your floral design avoids looking like a carbon copy of a Pinterest board, ask your floral designer to blend unique, locally grown blooms. Partnering with dedicated local flower growers allows us to source varieties that rarely appear in commercial markets. Delicate annual Mallow, for example, offers a crisp, pristine finish that adds unexpected charm to bespoke arrangements. I've developed deep relationships over the years with brilliant local flower farmers who have an exceptional understanding of what Cotswolds wedding florists need and which flowers perform well under the pressure of the day in demanding environments such as churches and marquees.
Designer Secret 4: Master the Art of Layering
Layering is one of our most valuable techniques, particularly when working within a restrained palette. By layering textures and forms, we create depth and visual dimension:
Vertical Architecture: Introduce tall stems, branches, or elevated structural clusters to draw the eye upward and frame the ceremony space.
Three-Dimensional Depth: Nesting blooms deep within urns, foliage bases, and aisle meadows creates a rich, sculptural effect rather than a flat surface.
Tablescape Rhythm: Varying vessel heights—combining low-profile bowls, slender bud vases, and tall pedestals—creates an immersive, celebratory atmosphere along the dining table.
Holistic Styling: Consider how your florals interact with textiles and tableware. A natural biscuit linen, patterned napkins, hand-painted plates, or subtle coloured glassware will seamlessly harmonise a white and green scheme.
Example: Church doorway design for a Cheltenham summer wedding with tall branches of native hornbeam, beech and oak framing the impressive doorway at the chapel at Cheltenham College.
Example: Wedding guest table-scape with glass urn floral centrepiece and ivory taper candles at different heights in glass and gold candlesticks at Ettington Park, Warwickshire, UK.
Example: Playing with tones of green for a marquee wedding at Cornwell Manor near Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds
Designer Secret #5: Trust the Creative Process
And finally, if you are a risk-averse sort of person (you're welcome here 😉), then take a deep breath and be prepared to let go of a little control. Allow your designer room to innovate. Once you have selected a florist whose signature style, experience, and artistic vision align with yours, grant them creative freedom within the brief.
Example: The freedom to create
For instance, during a recent installation at Frampton Court in Gloucestershire, I wanted to create a soft, fluid transition from bold white oriental lilies to deep green grasses along a historic staircase. The solution was to weave long, cascading "chains" of unopened pale green lily buds into the arrangement. This simple creative pivot introduced a dynamic visual rhythm that could never have been achieved by sticking rigidly to fully opened white blooms alone.
Example: Floral cloud at The Peart Tree at Purton
For S&B's stylish contemporary wedding, we wanted to celebrate the modernity of the Orangery architecture with its glass walls and crittal frames. This suspended floral cloud featured white spires of delphinium flowers with black centres.
