Last month, I spent a day with the By Appointment Only Design Team. The intention of the day was to get to know more about what this talented duo of designers {Tony and Javier} and their team do, and to try my hand for the very first time at creating a bouquet fit for a wedding :) Today I'd like to share my experience with you via this little video.
Now, first things first, I have to say, and this totally isn't in a self-conscious 'I think I look rubbish on video!' kind of thing, however I did feel like rubbish that day. My lovely Grandma Edna had passed away only 3 days prior and I was struggling a little. I almost cancelled my appointment but didn't want to let people down. I was fairly emotional and so it wasn't the best start to the day you understand, but from the moment I stepped into the boutique at 38 Chiltern Street in London, it felt like I'd stepped into this huge big comfort blanket. Tony and Javier went out of their way to make me, and my friend Cat Hepple feel so completely welcome. We giggled through most of the day in fact :)
I just love the boys of By Appointment Only Design and can't recommend them enough; they are gentlemanly, kind, professional and fun to be around, let alone bursting with wonderful creative ideas {a dress displayed in their shop front window, styled entirely out of financial times newspapers kind of creative – amazing!}. Contact the 'BAOD' team without deialy if you are looking to fill your venue with the most beautifully designed statement wedding-day florals.
I hope this little video of my very first ever attempt at creating a bouquet makes you smile – and giggle a little also (check out my huffing and puffing around 2 mins 30 seconds in! hehehe!!}. Details of what you will need to re-create this type of bouquet are provided further down the page.
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Video Copyright (c) 2011, The Dreamcatchers
The image below is of Tony, one half of By Appointment Only Design, showing us through his illustrations book. All commissions are illustrated before they are created so to give the client a feel for what the finished result will look like. Everything is planned to perfection, from small scale to grand.
I would like to thank my lovely friend Cat Hepple for the following photographs and to Adrian Stone of The Dreamcatchers for recording the film above.
Love My Dress Wedding Blog – Photography Copyright (c) 2011, Cat Hepple
How To Create Your Own Rose and Peony Wedding Bouquet
What You will Need:-
1. A mix of flowers {obtain from your local market – any type you like}. We used roses in hues of purple, pink and lilac. We also used peonies, lilac and some foliage
2. A pair of secateurs
3. Some Twine
4. A relaxed attitude. It doesn't matter if it's not 'perfect' – the idea is that through the process of trying, you have fun 🙂
1. Pick a single flower {go for a nice bold rose to start with} and hold upwards in the palm of your hand. Pick another flower and place the stem close to the stem of the first flower. Repeat process so that each flower you add, the stems are being placed around the previous stem and building up in a clockwork direction until you have a small volume of flowers in your hand.
….be sure to mix the type of flower you pick each time to add variation and balance to the bouquet that you are slowly building up.
…and be careful not to apply too much pressure to your grip on the stems. Gently does it…
2. Observe your beautiful bouquet slowly taking shape and building on volume…
4. As the volume builds, twist and turn the bouquet to add additional stems to help achieve balance in both the style and colour of the flowers. Place flowers in between other flowers…
5. When you are happy with the volume of flowers you are holding, grab some twine and begin to tie around towards the neck of the stems. This is easier than it sounds and I struggled. If you have a friend with you, get them to help by passing you the twine.
…or place the stems between your legs to free up both hands so you can secure the twine. But NOT TOO TIGHT. You don't want to suffocate the flowers.
6. Then as illustrated on the video at around 1 min 55 and 3 minutes 20, use a pair of secateurs to cut, carefully, a few inches below the twine.
This is the bouquet that Tony made…
SMELL those beautiful flowers…… 🙂
And this is the bouquet that I made! 🙂
Trust me, if I can do this, anyone can. And it was a whole lot of fun and giggles in the process 🙂
I hope this feature inspires you just a little bit 🙂
♥ What about working with your Bridesmaids to make thei bouquets together – even if you got a professional to do yours/the Brides? It would make a fun 'night before the wedding' and take your mind of worrying about everything else!
♥ What about trying your hand at creating a bouquet to hand to your Mum or the people you want to thank for helping you plan your wedding? Wouldn't the bouquet be so much more meaning full and special if you had created it with your own bare hands? 🙂
To see more from By Appointment Only Design click here. Also see the 'BAOD Blog' – it is packed full of images of recent commissions and ideas – a real visual treat!
To see more flower related items on Love My Dress, click here.
Much love all,
Annabel xXx
♥
