Bar mitzvah at Styal Lodge,Cheshire

Last week we Were luck enough to work at the very gorgeous Styal Lodge. A lovely venue in Styal, Cheshire run by the very lovely Georgina. You Can see their website here

For the table centres we used a mass of tall blue delphiniums with a chunky base of blue hydrangea. These designs were placed on tall black martini vases to give them elegance and height in the room.


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Retail Independents' Day is today

Help your local high street stay vibrant and interesting and shop local. Skillsmart, the organisation behind Retail Independents'Day are encouraging people to buy at least one thing from an independent retailer today.

As a special offer we are offering....

10% OFF everything in store today only

excludes wedding flowers

 



 

Independent's Day 4th July 2011...watch this space

Skillsmart Retail and the National Skills Academy for Retail are teaming up with local retailers across the country on Monday 4th July to celebrate Independents’ Day.


The public will be encouraged to buy at least one item from a local independent retailer and celebrate diversity on the high street. Skillsmart Retail & The National Skills Academy for Retail have teamed up with trade associations such as the NFRN and Association of Town Centre Management, along with national, local and trade press to make sure the campaign is a success.


The purpose of the day is to champion the skills great independent retailers have and show the public that their local shopkeeper is not only a vital service, but someone who wears many hats; they are the accountant, sales assistant, buyer and often everything in-between.



On Monday we will announce what we are doing to celebrate....watch this space!!



Alex and Lisa's West Didsbury 'secret wedding'

As some of you may be aware, last week we were a part of the West Didsbury 'secret wedding'. It all started from a conversation between Alex, the groom and Helen from Didsbury Life. Alex and Lisa are travelling the world for 2 years and are getting married in pretty much every location they visit. Alex wanted their last day here to be special and had heard about the West Didsbury Wedding Event and thought it would be a great way to start their adventure. The reason it is called the 'secret wedding' is because everybody knew about it apart from Lisa, the bride, who only found out on the morning of the 'wedding'.

The only thing was that there was 3 weeks to organise it......

Luckily here in West Didsbury, we like a challenge and lots of local businesses came together to create a day that Alex and Lisa will never forget.

Alex was happy for me to decide which flowers to use as he said he didn't have a clue about flowers! I suggested that as the wedding was along the English vintage theme and that Lisa had chosen (without realising it) Tabitha by Charlotte Balbier dress that we'd use a lot of typical English garden flowers and sourced as locally as possible.  

For Lisa's bouquet we used peonies, sweet william, flowering oregano, astrantia, mint,hydrangea, clematis, spray roses, nigella and lots of lovely foliages. There are lots of scents and textures in her bouquet and are all typical English summer garden  flowers. For Alex's buttonhole we used a large peony with a few sprigs of flowering oregano.

Luckily for us Lisa loved her bouquet which was a big relief! In fact she barely put it down all day and the official photo's by Jonny Draper (which I will post soon) capture her showing her bouquet off quite a lot. Here is a quote from Lisa from their blog.....

Flower Lounge -Sian Wild– who was happy to provide button hole, bouquet and dress the ceremony venue and reception venue! I don't know where to start with the flowers…it was as though you had known me my whole life and had chosen the perfect flowers for my perfect day! Thank you so much for everything, you may have noticed I never put my bouquet down I loved it so much!!! Thank you!

For The Metropolitan where the ceremony took place we used tall floor standing candleabra along with hurricane lamp designs and we dressed the fireplace. To compliment the bridal flowers we used peonies, sweet william, flowering mint, astrantia,oregano, clematis, hydrangea, hanging amaranthus and lots of lovely foliages.

We also decorated several other venues that were hosting the 'reception' including Rhubarb, Pinchjo's, Frankie's Fish Bar and Love 2 Eat Deli

The wedding attracted quite a bit of media coverage including The Manchester Evening News, The South Manchester Reporter, Daily Mail Online and  great blog by Kelly at Boho Events

 

The day could not have happened without the support and services of so many fantastic west Didsbury businesses including

Didsbury Life

West Didsbury Wedding Event

The White Closet

 Silver Sixpence In Her Shoe

Charlotte Balbier

The Metropolitan

Jonny Draper Photography

Pearls and lace films

Kings and Jones

 

Emma Draper Make Up Artist

And The Dish Ran Away With The Spoon

Thyme Out Deli

Frankie's fish bar

Pinchjo's

Reserve Wines

To follow Lisa and Alex on their travels (and weddings) across the world the follow their blog 2People1Life

Spend £45.00 or more and receive a free photo shoot with Sue Westwood-Rutteledge

Spend £45 or over at our shop on Barlow Moor Road, Didsbury and receive a photo session of your choice with Sue Westwood-Ruttledge Photography www.suewestwood-ruttledge.co.uk/, plus a card mounted edited image. The session can be portrait, pets, bump, boudoir...it's completely up to you.

Location:Spend £45.00 or more and receive a free photo shoot with Sue Westwood-Rutteledge

Purple and orange bar mitzvah flowers at LCCC

Over the bank holiday weekend we've been busy bees!

We were asked to do the flowers for Justin's Bar Mitzvah at The Point, Lancashire County Cricket Club.

For the low designs we used a dome of flowers placed on a LSA goldfish bowl with threaded orchids heads within the vase. For the flowers we used purple mokara orchids, orange 'Naranja' roses, orange gerbera and lots of lovely foliage's.

For the tall designs we used tall orange psittacorum with a dome of purple mokara orchids with lots of rolled leaves and exotic foliage's. We used tall slim vases filled with purple water and underwater lights for added effect.



Weekly contract flowers for businesses and home

We provide a weekly contract service for both businesses and your home. With
our innovative approach to design and excellent customer service we can add that
something special to your environment.


Our flowers change constantly with the seasons, keeping the designs fresh and
inspiring. Prices start from £20.00 per week. We are able to work with you on
any events you may have and offer a flower delivery service for your staff and
clients....say ‘welcome’ ‘hello’, ‘well done’, ‘sorry you’re leaving’...

If you would like to discuss flowers for your office or home then contact Sian

Vintage engagement photo shoot with Foley Photography

We were approached by Scott and Amadea at Foley Photography to take part in a Vintage themed engagement shoot for a lucky competition winner. The shoot took place at Airy Fairy Cake Boutique on School Lane, Didsbury and lots of local businesses teamed up to make sure that Simon and Beth got star treatment including Gorgeous Flawless, Urban Angels, Vintage Twee, Airy Fairy Cupcakes, Manchester VW Campervans and many more.

We wish Simon and Beth all the best for their winter wedding at Nunsmere Hall x

Thornton manor Wedding Venue Flowers

Thornton Manor is a gorgeous wedding venue set out on the Wirral.

Louise and Chris got married last year and whilst sorting out some photos on my computer I realised I hadn't blogged this wedding which is a shame as it was a lovely wedding and a real pleasure to do their flowers.

Louise said that she wanted the flowers to look 'scruffy' and 'wild'.

For her bouquet we used ivory peonies, 'Patience' David Austin roses, long, flowing sweet peas, Veronica and lots of lovely foliages.

In the entrance we used tall white larkspur to create height and then a loose, flowing design in a rustic style urn to complement the venue's styling.

We did a large floor standing candleabra on either side of the registrars table and each chair had a flower design on to line the aisle.

Candleabra were used on each table with each design being a little different to the next.

The top table had a selection of hurricane vases and tealights with draped hanging amaranthus, long trailing sweet peas and clusters of flower heads.

I hope you've enjoyed looking at the photos of the wedding as much as we enjoyed doing the flowers.

Easter Opening Hours

Over The Easter bank holiday we will be open the following hours

Good Friday 9-5.30

Easter Satrday 9-5.30

Easter Sunday CLOSED

Bank holiday Monday CLOSED

East Cheshire Hospice Black and White Ball

The East Cheshire Hospice celebrated completion of a major redevelopment project with a
sell-out lavish Ball at Cottons Hotel, Knutsford on Friday, 25th March. With
live music by “The Drifters”, guests included patron, Samia Smith, and BBC Radio
and TV’s, Heather Stott, who was the MC for the evening. Her expert
auctioneering skills helped get the total raised to over £25,000.

We were one of the sponsors for the event. We donated the flowers which of course were along the theme of black and white. We used elgant white calla lilies in black gel-simple yet very effective.

For more information on the East Cheshire Hospice and what they do visit their website

Caring for your hand tied bouquet

The first thing you need to do when you receive the flowers is to find a suitable vase to place them in. The aqua pack packaging will contain water which has provided them with refreshment on their journey, but they will need fresh water ideally. Make sure the vase is the right size for the flowers-not too tall so it squashes them but not too short so the hand tied is not supported.

 

When you have found your vase, next you need to add fresh water. Provided with your flowers, usually sellotaped to the aqua packaging or to the side of the box will be some flower food. This food contains nutrients that will prolong the longevity of your bouquet. Empty the sachet of flower food into the clean water.

 

Next, you will need remove the protective packaging and drain away the water. Remember to do this over a sink to avoid spillages.

 

The flowers will be held together with string tied around the stems which holds the flowers in place. Lay the flowers down on the side board or sink and cut about 3cm off the stems, ensuring you make the incision at a 45-degree angle. This is to remove a layer that has covered the tips of the flowers which make it harder to drink the water

 

In this process it is advisable to place your flowers in water very soon after you have cut the stems, as the cut stems will begin to heal over out of water, and then will be less able to absorb the water when submerged. The flowers are expertly arranged and will not need the tie cutting. Always keep the vase away from fruit, radiators, bright light and drafts to make sure they last as long as possible.

Remember to take care of your flowers. Bacteria quickly formulates in the water; which is harmful to your flowers, so every other day pour away the old water and use fresh clean water. Recut the stems before you return the flowers to their water.

Finally.....enjoy your flowers!

Great John Street Wedding Fair flowers

Last week we were asked to exhibit at the Great John Street Wedding Fair. We do a lot of weddings at the hotel and it's a favourirte of ours to work at so of course we jumped at the chance.

I opted for the vintage look as it works really well with the hotel decor. For the bouquet below we used a variety of different roses including Memory Lane, Dark Hypnose and Sweet Avalanche along with Astrantia and lots of lovely foliages. We completed this bouquet with burgundy ribbon and a vintage style brooch for that extra special touch

To arrange an appointment to discuss your wedding flowers simply email us here 

This gorgeous dress is available from The White Closet

Photographs courtesy of the very lovely and super talented Katy Lunsford

West Didsbury Street Market this Saturday

The Flower Lounge On Tour

This Saturday sees us in a new location. We'll be taking part in West Didsbury Street Market with a whole host of other local businesses.

What to expect....

We'll have a selection of our stock from our shop including beautifully presented plants, flowers and small gift items. we'll also have a few choice plants for the garden such as bay trees and buxus balls to spruce up your home.

Where and when.....

The market will be on Nell Lane near Withington Community Hospital from 9am-4pm

We're really looking forward to a lovely day with a great atmosphere and being a part of the west Didsbury Community.

See you there....

Click here for more details of the West Didsbury street Market