When it comes to the most exquisite weddings of the season, hosted in royal residences and sprawling private estates, those in the know turn to one name: Lavender Green Flowers.
With a client list that includes the Duchess of Edinburgh and Pippa Middleton, the esteemed floral atelier has long been the quiet force behind some of the most iconic events on the British social calendar, the famously elegant nuptials and their floral designs setting the standard for wedding glamour.
At the helm is Colin Gray, owner and long-time collaborator of founder and Creative Director Sue Barnes. "Lavender Green started around 35 years ago in a little shop in Maidenhead," Colin tells me. "Sue soon realised weddings were where she could really celebrate the creativity of floral architecture." Today, with a team of 45 designers and florists, a Chelsea shop, and four railway arches in Windsor, they’ve grown into one of the most respected floral companies in the UK.
Beyond weddings, Lavender Green is known for their spectacular displays at the likes of Wimbledon, Royal Ascot, and London’s Victoria & Albert Museum. "When we work at places like the V&A, which we truly love, we have to be in and out from 45 minutes to an hour," says Colin. "But when people are doing lovely lavish weddings on their private estates, we have two or three days to build it. That’s where we can really go to town and create something exceptional."
© Roberta FacchiniAs one of the royal floral suppliers, Lavender Green has formed close working relationships with the family, even recalling being served afternoon tea by a senior member in their private apartments at Windsor Castle. From Duchess Sophie and Prince Edward's wedding in 1999 to the Princess of Wales’s sister Pippa Middleton’s celebrated 2017 nuptials, their designs have graced events seen across the globe.
"You know you’ve got the designs for a celebrity wedding just right when, for the next year or so, brides keep showing you photos of exactly what they’d like - and they turn out to be of your work. This happened repeatedly after Pippa Middleton’s wedding," says Colin.
Eight years on, these are the floral trends defining high-society weddings...
Colour is queen
"We're seeing a lot more colour," Colin says. "It used to be predominantly the whites and greens, but people are being braver with their choices. They want to be slightly bolder."
The classic, understated palette still has its place, but today's couples are embracing brighter, richer tones for a more modern, joyful feel. "That whimsical, natural style with pale tones has been strong for the past few years," he adds, "but colour is really playing a big part now."
© The Springles
© Maja Tsolo PhotographySeasonality is the new luxury
"Historically, luxury meant single colours and bold, large designs. Orchids, hydrangeas, very floral heavy," Colin explains. "But now I think luxury is more synonymous with seasonality and the standard of the flowers going in."
Whether it's an English-grown cosmos on an 80cm stem or a fully-bloomed British peony, it's all about timing. And it's not just about what’s in season, but where it comes from. Lavender Green’s close relationships with British growers allow them to select stems with meaning and memory. "We often send clients photos from the farm where their flowers were picked. It’s the provenance of it, it brings it home."
Scent as a signature
One of the most overlooked elements of wedding florals? Fragrance. "A lot of what people get in from abroad doesn’t have any scent, it’s been grown out of it," Colin says. "So to allow us to use English garden roses and herbs, you’re bringing in a whole extra level to a design. That’s really lovely to see.
"Try incorporating scent by building in varieties such as scented Geranium Leaf, Jasmine or Stephanotis, or seasonal herbs." The result is a sensory experience that lingers long after the last dance.
© Sharon Cudworth PhotographyIt’s all in the tablescape
At today’s most luxurious weddings, flowers are just the beginning. "For those really high-profile, incredible weddings, the flowers are part of it,” says Colin, “but it’s about taking that through to the table as well.
"We’re talking ceramics and vases bespoke made for you, and hand-printed linens, so the detail of the tablescape as a whole is absolutely on point."
He also hints at some less expected elements gaining traction: "We’ve incorporated fruit into a lot of weddings this year, from pomegranates to lemons. It adds a different texture. It can also come down onto the table more easily. It brings that river of colour."
Lesser known flowers to try
Dahlias - "These have been a focal flower this season, replacing more traditional roses and hydrangeas. Working closely with our growers, we have been sourcing both British Dahlias and lovely varieties that we haven’t used before such as American Dawn, Sweet Nathalie and Giovanna."
Premium Roses - "VIP Roses or Parfum Flower Company instead of standard cut roses, with varieties such as Mansfield White Park, Café Latte, Darlington and Springfield Park."
Lilacs - "The team went to see the hard work that goes into growing these stunning flowers in Holland."
Trailing foliage - "Passiflora Vine, Rose Vine or Smilax Vine, as opposed to the more widely used varieties such as Eucalyptus and Soft Ruscus."
Bearded Iris, Nerines or reflexed Tulips - "Adding a blousy dimension to wedding designs, even out of the peak summer season."
