This spectacular summer wedding at the walled garden at Elmore Court near Gloucester was full of warmth, love and coral peonies. I worked closely with UK wedding planner Georgina Alexander Weddings and the couple to plan this wedding in meticulous detail. With fine art florals in a delicious palette of coral, peach, ivory and clementine, this was a dream brief.
The ceremony took place in the Walled Garden and we built a huge broken floral arch and lined the aisle with freestanding meadow flowers. The reception in the Gillyflower was banqueting style and the tables were filled with bud vases and candles in a striking raspberry pink. The top table backdrop was an ombré cascade of flowers - it took a team and many hours to sew the flowers together but great design is always worth the effort.
This stunning day is featured on international wedding Blog "Wedding Chicks"
Love Notes
"Every step of the way, Fi was just incredible to work with. From the fully detailed proposals, to helping guide the colour scheme, the planning was flawless. And on the day I have no words to explain how amazing Fi was. My bouquet was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, plus I spent a large part of the ceremony staring at the ceremony flowers as I was in awe. And the ceremony room……she bought my vision to life and for that I am forever grateful!"
Georgia and Olly, Elmore Court 2024
Crafting Bespoke Bridal Bouquets: Where Vision Blooms
Georgia approached me with a truly captivating vision for her bespoke bridal bouquet – a unique blend of styles that pushed the boundaries of traditional wedding floristry. She dreamt of a crossover design that gracefully embraced the natural elegance and trailing beauty of a cascading bouquet, while simultaneously showcasing the bold, architectural flair of a contemporary reflexed rose stack. Imagine the whimsical romance of Bridgerton intertwined with the edgy, fashion-forward sensibility (often seen on Married at First Sight Australia which I watch purely for work reasons obvs) – a truly distinctive floral design that would stand out.
The undeniable hero flower for this stunning creation was the magnificent peony 'Coral Sunset', its vibrant, shifting hues providing a breathtaking focal point. This was beautifully complemented by meticulously reflexed 'Shimmer' and 'Playa Blanca' roses, adding layers of intricate texture and sophisticated form. Every petal was carefully considered, every stem placed with precision, to create a luxury natural cascade wedding bouquet that was not only visually arresting but deeply personal to Georgia. As a Cotswolds wedding florist, my passion lies in translating these unique inspirations into tangible floral artistry.
Harmonising the Bridal Party: Bridesmaid Bouquets & Groomsmen Florals
To perfectly unify the entire bride tribe's look, the bridesmaids' bouquets echoed the main bridal design's floral mix, though crafted in a timeless and classic hand-tied bouquet style. These wedding party flowers were thoughtfully designed to complement Georgia's bold statement piece, ensuring a cohesive yet distinct aesthetic. The harmonious palette and flower selection created a seamless flow, from Georgia's grand entrance to the collective joy of the bridal party. These girls were immense fun and the love and laughter just oozes from these wonderful pictures by Sophie May.
Flowers for the chaps get a lot of love and attention at Corky and Prince. Olly and I discussed options for his lapel flower and decided to embrace the trend and go for pocket square florals. These looked woonderful on the dapper groomsmen in their elegant morning suits. These clever alternatives to the more traditional boutonniere or buttonhole flowers were meticulously designed to slip effortlessly into the top breast pocket. This detail provided a refined, contemporary flourish, perfectly tying the male contingent into the overarching wedding day florals with understated style. As a luxury wedding florist, attention to these intricate details is paramount, ensuring every element of your wedding flowers speaks to your unique vision.
Walled Garden Summer Wedding Flowers at Gloucestershire's Elmore Court
The enchanting walled garden at Elmore Court held a special allure for Georgia and Oliver, ultimately sealing their decision for this breathtaking Cotswolds wedding venue with their planner. Their exquisite summer celebration was even featured on the renowned US wedding blog "Wedding Chicks," whose editorial perfectly encapsulated the vision:
"The vision for Georgia and Oliver's summer wedding was an elegant, sophisticated, and effortless aesthetic, inspired by the colors of Aperol Spritz. They wanted a country manor house venue with an abundance of color and they wanted it absolutely filled with florals. Fine art floral designs complemented the laid-back luxury aesthetic of the day and invoked a classic English garden feel. "
With this wonderfully descriptive brief, I, as their dedicated Cotswolds wedding florist, set about designing the ceremony florals that would elevate the already stunning garden setting to something truly magical. We opted for an implied floral arch as the breathtaking backdrop for their vows. This ceremony backdrop was a rich tapestry of lush greens, punctuated by vibrant pops of coral peonies and other glorious summer flowers, creating a deeply immersive and romantic atmosphere. Georgia later confessed to me that she was so utterly entranced by the floral arch, she nearly forgot to look at Olly as she walked down the aisle!
Aisle Meadow Florals & Thoughtful Touches
The wedding aisle itself was transformed into a dreamy pathway, artfully lined with freestanding floral designs we call meadows. These knee-high, abundant placements work brilliantly to create the feeling that the couple and their bridal party are floating down a whimsical floral meadow – simply enchanting! Beyond their stunning aesthetic appeal during the ceremony, these versatile aisle meadow florals offered the added benefit of becoming brilliant reception floral decor later in the day, transitioning beautifully to adorn the front of top tables, seating plans, and signage, ensuring every bloom delivered double the impact and beauty.
The entire setup was completed with thoughtful details: multi-coloured ribbons gently caught the Cotswolds breeze, adding movement and soft colour, while elegant fans placed on each seat offered comfort to guests on a warm summer's day. The bridesmaids, with their own beautiful bouquets, made their enchanting entrance through a discreet side gate, making their way down this floral wonderland first, creating a series of truly magical and memorable moments as the day unfolded at Elmore Court.
Aisle Meadow Florals & Thoughtful Touches
The wedding aisle itself was transformed into a dreamy pathway, artfully lined with freestanding floral designs we call meadows. These knee-high, abundant placements work brilliantly to create the feeling that the couple and their bridal party are floating down a whimsical floral meadow – simply enchanting! Beyond their stunning aesthetic appeal during the ceremony, these versatile aisle meadow florals offered the added benefit of becoming brilliant reception floral decor later in the day, transitioning beautifully to adorn the front of top tables, seating plans, and signage, ensuring every bloom delivered double the impact and beauty.
The entire setup was completed with thoughtful details: multi-coloured ribbons gently caught the Cotswolds breeze, adding movement and soft colour, while elegant fans placed on each seat offered comfort to guests on a warm summer's day. The bridesmaids, with their own beautiful bouquets, made their enchanting entrance through a discreet side gate, making their way down this floral wonderland first, creating a series of truly magical and memorable moments as the day unfolded at Elmore Court.
The Team
Wedding Planner/Design/Stylist: @georginaalexanderwed
Photographer: @sophiemayphoto
Venue: @elmorecourt
Floral Design: @corkyandprince
Hair Stylist: @ivythehairstylist
Make Up Artist: @jessicamillsmua
String Trio: @kimi_nichelondonquartet
Band: @guilty_events
Napkins: @theknottednapkinco
Outdoor Furniture: @virginiasvintagehire
Stationery: @lyndaathey
Videography: Ben Slingsby Videography
Evening Food Truck: @cotswoldcaterer
Cake Design: Made by the Bride’s Aunt