Category Archives: Florists

August52021NOCOMMENTS

DIY Weddings, Florists, Planning, Real Weddings, Uncategorized, Wedding Ceremony

Wedding Bells for Sunshine Coast couple Kate Bradshaw & Ethan Lowe

I felt so sad for Kate Bradshaw and Ethan Lowe when she told me this was their 3^rd time to plan and organise a wedding- thanks to Covid. So, I had to do my utmost to ensure they had a perfectly styled wedding. Kate came to us to help style their wedding at coastal Sunshine Coast wedding venue Pier33 in Mooloolaba.

I called Courtney from Fiesta Flora; a budding local Sunshine Coast florist based right here on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland with me. Court felt the same as me, so we wanted to make sure their wedding was on point.

We met with Kate and Ethan at Pier33 where we may have indulged in some fine cuisine and a cocktail because that’s how we roll! Fiesta Flora and Maple Weddings are 2 of the cruisiest and easy-going suppliers you will meet! We chatted for ages talking colour palettes, revising ideas & styling concepts and of course a suitable layout.

Luxe elegance with a hint of coastal vibes using soft tones is what we were wanting to achieve for this beautiful couple. Fiesta Flora provided an abundance of beautiful florals featuring Rhoslyn Roses, Pink Mondial roses, Playa Blanca Roses, White Clustar Roses, White Phalaenopsis Orchids, White Singapore Orchids, White Dahlias, White Disbuds, Quicksand Roses,Cappuccino Roses, Banksia Integrifolia Foliage, Camellia foliage and White ruscus.

Complimenting the beautiful blooms, we utilized our blush-coloured French linen napkins, our latest table numbers using pearl acrylic and of course candles. Candles always offer romance and sophistication, perfect for the ultimate dining experience.

The ceremony was equally as impressive with these blooms having been relocated to the reception space. Using our very own white triangle arbour which suited Kate and Ethan as Ethan is very tall! It was floral heaven thanks to Fiesta Flora with the coastal views of the jetty and boats as the perfect backdrop.

We were stoked when we saw all our of vision come to life and even happier watching on from the deck above as Kate and Ethan FINALLY said ‘I do’ at Pier33 Mooloolaba.

Its always nice to get some feedback and perspective from couples so having worked with Kate a lot I asked her some questions in which her responses are as follows-

You were living in NSW. What prompted you to get married in QLD?

We are both originally from Queensland, however moved to Sydney in 2019. That is why we originally had planned a Sydney wedding (Palm Beach), our original wedding date was 18th October 2020 but postponed due to covid. Our second date was 24th January 2021 at Palm beach, however, we completely cancelled 4 weeks prior due to the big Northern Beachs outbreak. By this stage, we had moved back to Queensland to be closer to our family. We started looking at venues around Sunny Coast in February and we fell in love with Pier 33 so we booked it.

How has Covid impacted your wedding plans?

It took us three attempts, unfortunately, each time we rescheduled we lost money and guest numbers and to be honest, it really took the fun out of planning it. Coivd made it feel like a hassle and pretty stressful, I don’t think I was excited about the 3rd date until the day before the wedding because I was worried we would have to cancel again.

What was the funnest part of planning your wedding?

Finding a wedding dress. Having the girls there, champagne and dressing up – it was the best

What was the standout from your day?

Our day was perfect, but just having our closest family and friends finally be able to celebrate together was amazing

How did you find and book your vendors?

Mainly Instagram and Google. Some vendors recommended other vendors (thank you Kristy for recommending Court)

What was the most important part to you both in terms of your wedding? Food? Photos? The ceremony? Flowers?

Although I (Kate) wanted everything to be perfect we both always said the three things that we have to have is – a venue that suited our personalities, great music so people will dance and amazing food – we def got all three.

In terms of the styling being beachside at Pier33 you opted for more coastal sheik elegance using soft hues and candles. Did you feel the brief was met and complimented your personalities as well as the venue?

100 % yes.

The styling, flowers and set-up was exactly what we wanted and more. We received so many compliments on how beautiful everything was.

Did you find booking a stylist and florist that work closely together a much easier process to navigate?

Made everything so much easier and reassuring that everything would flow together and be set up properly.

What is the one piece of advice you would offer any couple?

Don’t try and please everyone, remember the day is about you and your partner and how much you love each other.

What was the approx. spend on your wedding?

About $50k – this includes the money we lost from our first 2 dates.

Vendor List

Venue- Pier33

Florals – Fiesta Flora

Styling- Maple Weddings and Events

Photography- Daniel Jay Photography

Cake- Choc2Chilli

Celebrant- Steph the Celebrant

Musician- John Veloso Music

Videographer- R Van Films

Wedding Transport- Black Bow Chauffer

Hair Stylist- Evalyn Parsons

Makeup Artist- Louise Henzell Makeup

Bridal Gown- Karen Willis Holms

Grooms Suit- MJ Bale

Stationery- Love and Paper

January142021NOCOMMENTS

SEO Editor

Florists, Guide

Guide: How to Choose Flowers for a Perfect Australian Wedding

Your diamond is sparkling prettily on your finger, you’ve carefully chosen your venue, and you have said yes to the dress. The wedding of your dreams is in sight. But have you considered what flowers you want to complement your big day?

Wedding flowers are essential for creating a beautiful and memorable Australian wedding. From your Australian wedding bouquet to the centrepieces, and even the button-hole on the groom, your blooms must be beautiful.

But where do you start?

If tulips have you in a twist, and peonies are leaving you pondering, then read on. Our guide for choosing the perfect flowers for your Sunshine Coast wedding is all you need.

Australian Wedding Planning

Whether you are planning a simple wedding Australia bound, or a more elaborate affair, the right florals are imperative. But with so many considerations, from colours and seasons to the best florist and your floral budget, it can be difficult to know where to start.

As your flowers can take up a fair chunk of your budget, it is important to take the time to consider all the options. The flowers and arrangements you choose will play a huge part in your wedding aesthetic, so getting them right is vital.

Our guide is a great place to start for considering your ideal flowers for your dream Sunshine Coast wedding.

Think About the Budget

The average Australian wedding costs around $50,000, with flowers taking up a big chunk of the budget. This seems like a lot, but flowers add so much to a wedding: colour, romance, and synchronicity.

Whether you are looking for a few bouquets or an entire floral arrangement, there are a lot of variations involved in choosing flowers for your Australian wedding.

Here are some of our top tips to consider.

Be Open With Your Florist

Once you have chosen your florist, it is so important to be open with them from the start and to let them know what your budget is. Once they have an understanding of your budget, they will be able to work with you to ensure you get exactly what you want within your means.

Location

The location of both your wedding venue and your florist can play a part in the cost factor.

Will your florist have to travel far to your wedding venue? What about the style of your venue; does it need a lot of decorating? Or can you get away with minimal?

Your Order

Obviously, the number one factor in planning your budget is the size of your order. Centrepieces, buttonholes, corsages, flower walls, bouquets, favours; there is a lot to consider.

Think about the final look you want your wedding to have. Are you interested in making statements, or do you prefer the understated look? These style choices will help when it comes to thinking about your flower order.

Seasonal Considerations

There are so many gorgeous wedding flowers Australian natives can choose from that it can be hard to know where to begin. Understanding which flowers are in season at the time of your big day is something you need to think about before you set your heart on a particular bloom.

Some blooms, such as roses, are available all year long. But most others are only available during certain months.

Here are some of our favourite wedding flowers by season.

Summer

Summer weddings call for light pastel shades and bright, tropical tones to make a sizzling statement:

Snapdragons
Calla lilies
Dahlias
Hydrangeas
Singapore orchids

Make sure you keep your blooms in a cool place to keep them looking their best for your special day.

Autumn

An autumn wedding Australia bound is such a romantic affair. All those warm, rich colours and textures, and the perfect weather and temperature make for a gorgeous wedding day:

Cornflowers
Garden roses
Irises
Gardenias
Tulips
Chrysanthemums

Many of these blooms have a variety of colours to choose from, so opt for tones that will complement your autumnal aesthetic.

Winter

In the winter, why not go bold and dramatic with your florals? Choose from:

Hyacinths
Queen Anne’s lace
Sweet peas
Camellias
Oriental lilies
Ranunculus

Choose blooms that have texture and depth, perfect for making a dramatic statement, just right for a winter wedding.

Spring

Spring weddings call for soft, pretty, and fragrant florals that will add colour, warmth and femininity to your day:

Peonies
Roses
Sweet pea
David Austin roses
Carnations
Delphiniums

Opt for pretty, delicate colours with a couple of bolder shades as a highlight.

Use Australian Native Flowers

For the perfect Sunshine Coast wedding, nothing could be better than using stunning native Australian blooms. Australia has such a beautiful array of native flora. Not only do they look wonderful and pay homage to your home, but they are also a local, cost-effective option.

Some of our most loved Aussie florals to consider for your wedding include frosted fire proteas, rice flowers, Inca golds, eucalyptus tetragonas, king proteas, flannel flowers, everlasting daisies, billy buttons, banksias, kangaroo paws, and waratahs.

Each of these blooms has its own unique qualities, colours, sizes, and textures. Native flowers are rising even more in popularity, thanks to people embracing their surroundings and their environments.

The Only Wedding Guide Australia Needs

Now that you have a better understanding of how to choose flowers for your Australian wedding, there is nothing stopping you from having the floral displays of your dreams.

Remember, your wedding day is your day. So you want to make sure you choose flowers and designs that are special and significant for you and your partner.

If you would like help planning your perfect day, then please do contact us. Together, we will make your perfect day a gorgeous reality.

January232019NOCOMMENTS

Maple Weddings and Events

Florists

Florists | Wedding Flowers

Woods and Bloom

Look I am no florist and couldn’t tell you the difference between a daisy and a peony! Though I am learning each wedding and I must say it’s very fascinating. I might even go and do a course yet!! What I can tell you though is flowers play a role in your wedding or special event no matter what the scale. For some, flowers are an integral part of the makeup and styling of your wedding whereas for some a simple bouquet and some bud vases are enough.

WillowBud

We have been fortunate to work with many amazingly talented florists here on the Sunshine Coast and can assure you that you can’t go wrong with any of them. Being small businesses, they take pride in what they do and are all very passionate about making your day spectacular and providing options to suit your budget.

Heavenly Blooms

The first word that comes to mind when thinking of all these women in small business is PASSION. Each owner and their staff are passionate about what they create and play an important role in your day. I follow all these people on social media and every single post you read you can see the passion and dedication in every arrangement they make. They work with you from start to finish and are proud when they hand over the finished product for you and you guests to enjoy.

The Posy Co

Often people think wedding flowers are expensive and can be put off having an abundance however these women are committed to making your day special and will be able to offer suggestions to suit your budget. Sunshine Coast florists- or any florist in fact, are great at budgeting!! They can reduce the size of certain arrangements or substitute different aspects and inform you of what will be in season at that time. Let’s be real no one likes to have to fork out a hefty amount for anything however don’t forget though like any business these florists have overheads, purchasing of the products, wages and of course their time. They will create a concept with you, and this can take time and can sometimes end up in millions of emails and phone calls which is time away from their families, they are up at 2am to get to markets at 4am to then start working on making up your beautiful flowers for your wedding day. Then they must travel to get them to you and often can mean 2-3 differing spots to ensure everyone has what they need. There are countless hours spent creating and putting together so bear this in mind when you are thinking budget. They all have mortgages to pay too!! Essentially they will be one supplier you will be very thankful to on your one special day.

Poppy Lane Flowers By Design

Each of these Sunshine Coasts florists can visualise your dream and are super creative. They will blend colours, textures, heights and other factors I am sure- like I said I am no florist – to get the composition exactly as you want it. I know some of these women personally and know they don’t sleep at night thinking about all these elements and ensuring your dream does become a reality. They put a lot pressure on themselves as you are literally carrying their work and it’s on display to everyone. Their work will be captured in photos and videos and will last a lifetime. To them perfection is paramount.

Ginger Lily and Rose

Before you start planning your ceremony and reception you really should work on your bouquets and buttonholes. This is what is on display the whole time and will be in many photos on the day. If you know the colour of your bridal party this will help capture the tones and colours that your florist can create with. Some women like a beautiful headpiece. Out with the tiara and veil these days as many women are donning the gorgeous flower crown and making a statement. It’s your day so own it!

Magnolia Grove Flowers

Now that the colours have been chosen the florist will work with you and your stylist, if you have booked one, to design your ceremony and reception. Think ceremony first. For most everyone thinks of the reception as its party time BUT the ceremony is where you and your partner making a life time commitment this is the most important part and where many photos and videos are captured. Some venues do not need a lot in terms of flowers however some venues offer a blank canvas which is where your florist will create and make it all come to life. Perhaps flowers on an arbour if you are using one, on the chairs, along the aisle, on a stand, a pew, a plinth, on your signage and easel.

Blooms of Noosa

Twig and Grace

Now the ceremony is over its time to move onto the reception!! Determining flowers for the reception will be dependent on several factors- is it inside or outside or both, cocktail style or sit down, if its sit down is it alternate drop or shared feasting as this can take up quite a lot of room on tables, rectangle tables, circle tables the list goes on. For me personally I do love a hanging installation. It sets the mood, its elegant, it’s beautiful, it encapsulates your day and all the flowers that have been utilized throughout the day and is a focus point meaning you can avoid large centrepieces for the tables and make more room available for the all-important food and drinks! But again, what do I know I am not a florist and I am sure they are all screaming at me now as hanging installs are not easy and do take some time with ‘rigging’ it all and climbing ladders and scaffold to hang them! But they do look beautiful!!

Mondo Floral Designs

Ok so you get flowers will be at some point be apart of your day whether its small or large scale and now you want to know who I am talking about. The following is a list of the beautifully, creative and spectacularly talented Sunshine Coast florists we have had the privilege of working with at some point. They are in no particular order so be sure to click on their links and check out their websites. Don’t be afraid to send an initial enquiry the price won’t always scare you and these ladies are fantastic at what they do. You only get married once (hopefully!) so create, design and make it beautiful.