Learning to dance and a rather large number of tulips

Today I've managed to take a little bit of time out.  We take breaks at funny times us florists.

Most would consider a break to be sitting down with a cup of hot chocolate whilst doing the crossword, time out to walk the dog or wandering round the Trafford Centre.  But as I've run out of hot chocolate, can never achieve much on the Times crossword, don't have a dog and I view clothes shopping as a chore that must be got through in order to reap the benefits (much like weeding your patio I suppose) I took a couple of hours off to go and learn a new foxtrot and revise the quickstep and the waltz.  I do this in readiness for my exams.

Exams - yes exams.  Mad - yes mad.  But we all like a little challenge I suppose?

We all love it when Len says 'Severrrrn' don't we?  Fingers crossed.

On the way back it occured to me that I'd not blogged the wedding of the tulips.  This was a treat indeed.  Siobhan was a fab bride.  So much fun.  She wore red converse under the posh frock.  Very, very cool.  She's a teacher of English and used to send me letters.  On her quote I used elaborate language.  She gave me top marks.

I miss her.

Here's the day of tulips taken by me, a photographer that never will be.

Enjoy!

Laura x

1950's wedding dresses invite you to the fayre with bunting and colour

There was no way that we were going to a wedding fayre in April without bunting.  Not on your nelly.  I made it myself.  I was pretty proud of it really.  It's now on proud display in a cake shop in Manchester.  They took a shine to it, I thought it was a shame to put it in a box for storage.  It's theirs now.

As usual, there was no 6ft trestle table on our stand.  They really should only ever be used for white elephant stalls at village WI events.  I love those.  Treasure troves for purchasing vessels that make for quirky vases.  Egg cups are a recent favourite.

The stand was focussed on three things.  A stunning 1950's inspired dress from the incredibly gorgeous Charlotte Balbier collection, a serious injection of colour and a macaroon tower from the English Rose Bakery.  I am most definately partial to a macaroon or two. 

I met some lovely brides on the day - can't wait to do their weddings.  One is having a mass of sweet peas, heavenly. 

On board for this little day trip of colourful wonders was the English Rose Bakery, Louise Ellen Designs, Charlotte Balbier, Silver Sixpence and my own personal collection of shoes - not for sale I'm afraid.

Hope you enjoy the pictures, even if they do feature me with a poppy in my hair.

Laura x

The most colourful of bouquets.  Perfect companion to a Pimms I say.

A close up of a Charlotte Balbier accessory.  It's my favourite.  I may wear it next time.

The stunning Sweet Pea dress by Charlotte Balbier.  Love the cinched in waist.  I had a lady enquire about whether she thought you could Lindy Hop in it.  Don't see why not. 

Wild and wonderful.  No cheese wedge orderly carnations and chrysanthymum to be seen.  Thank goodness.  PS yes, that whopper in the centre is a single rose. It's a biggun - you've got to be big and blousy for the 50's vintage vibe.

The mood board with stationery created by Louise Ellen Designs.  Her hubbie to be came up with the table name.  He's rather clever.  Does and excellent jive.  I think it's his favourite.  We call him 'The King' of jive.  I'm sure he'd like that.

The stand in all it's colourful glory. 

Me, with a poppy in my hair putting the final touches to the stand.

The jaunty angles are improving.  Even if photography is not my strong point, I like to think I have a go.  Now, that's a good attitude, wouldn't you say?

Blossom branches, limonium, stocks, roses and loads of other blooms in here.  Anyone else think the light looks a bit like a full moon?

The anenome's were a hit with a little girl who gave an audibly cheeky giggle, picked it up and started running off with a large grin on her face.  Happy customer I say.  Was incredibly funny.

I let her Mum run after her.  I had four inch heels on.  Good call wouldn't you say?

Pretty In Pink (and teal - but teal flowers don't exist, so pink it is) for a sunny spring wedding

Over the weekend it was pretty chilly.  Well, it was sunny on Friday and then it got chilly.  After we delivered the weekends weddings we wandered down to the West Didsbury Markets.  We ate our way round it.  Cheese.  A biscuit.  A hot sausage.  We bought a bright green member of the brassica family.  We're going to have it tomorrow with a gammon steak.

Here is a blog entry on one of our weddings.  We'll save the other ones for another day. Huge congratulations to Lindsay and Jonathon. We were going to take some other pictures of tulips, we didn't - explanation below.*

It's quite a long entry as Ailsa in the cake shop has now shown me a magical button on my camera that makes close up looks better.  I'm a florist, not a photographer - this button really was a revelation and I was most excited to share the knowledge with the Mr.  He already knew about it.  Never mind.

Anyway, here's some photos of the most scented wedding of the year so far.  Stocks, sweet peas - my new favourite for the moment, freesia, ranunculus,nerinne, gloriosa, panicum and eucalyptus.

Enjoy!

Laura x

Panicum in close up.  It looks like fireworks here.  I do love fireworks.  Not in bridal work though.  Fireworks on a wedding day could either be beautiful, or taken another way, could be a bit Jerry Springer.

Nerinne.  Fab flower. Much under rated.  I adore it.  I think I may thread some of it onto wires and wear it in my hair tomorrow.

The scented ones are top centre, top left, bottom left.  The ones that people confuse with peonies are bottom right.

Today in the close up section.  Oh I do love that button on the camera.  Ranunculus.  So very pretty. So pretty indeed.

Fancy shot.  Close up of nerinne with freesia to the background.  Clever.

A freesia.  They were not keen on the cold.  They, like me needed a hot water bottle in the studio. 

 The stunning bridal bouquet with trailing gloriosa.  I need to think about my backdrops.  I may well have found the button, but my picture simply doesn't do this justice.  The brides draw dropped when she saw it.  "I love it, I love it, I love it!" followed shortly afterwards. 

 Gloriosa and nerinne buttonhole.  The grasses look smashing here. 

A bridesmaids bouquet of scented delight.  All wrapped up with pretty teal ribbon.  So pretty.  The teal would look rather lovely in the living room.  That may take alot of persuasion.

*The other photos were going to be of tulips - but I gave them to Darcey.  I am well informed that they are doing very well on her bedroom windowsill.   On another note, Sophie - aged 2 and a bit from Manchester (I checked with the bride when I saw her on Saturday at The Midland Hotel)  and you'll be pleased to hear that the yellow rose you took a fancy to is yours, she said that you can have it.  Please feel free to collect from the studio when you're done at nursery for the day.