Transform Your Seattle Wedding with Enchanting English Country Garden Florals
If you are, like me, totally obsessed with the lush, overflowing style of an English country garden and want to recreate that look for your wedding florals, you are in luck.
The Pacific Northwest has a similar climate to the UK, and therefore, we can grow many of the same flowers. And though we may lack the huge array of medieval thatched cottages and walled gardens, with a little imagination - you can still create that romantic magic of the English country garden.
Types of Flowers for an English Country Garden Wedding
English country gardens or cottage gardens are known for climbing roses, tall foxgloves, tumbling clematis, and spires of hollyhocks. What is characteristic about these gardens is that they are jam-packed with lots of shapes and colors all jumbled together. These are often set against a backdrop of old stone walls, clipped hedges, or an old house. And while the garden is a riot of color and scent, having some elements surrounding it that are manicured and restrained is crucial. Otherwise, it can look unruly. (Which I do love too! Who doesn’t love a wild and wooly overgrown garden?)
The other major factor in choosing flowers for an English country garden is choosing those with rich scents. I love walking through a space and catching wafts of roses or lilies. They are never oppressive or too much but a memorable layer to the experience. (And scent and emotion are stored as one memory!)
Best Time of Year
As I am a flower farmer and a wedding florist, so I know the early summer (that is, June through mid-July here in the Pacific Northwest) is the perfect time for an English country garden-style wedding. That is when the roses are having their first flush, the foxgloves and delphiniums look regal, and the clematis are in bloom.
Colors for an English Country Garden Wedding
If you were to commit fully, the English often have a mish-mash of bright and soft colors. But you could also go the way of the famous Sissinghurst’s white garden. I like to go with only a broad color scheme - like pale pastels with pops of yellow or pinks from pale to deep raspberry. If you stick to the flowers that are in season - you can’t really go wrong.
Types of Vases
In terms of vessels, large, footed compote-style vases are traditional. There needs to be a generous, overflowing quality to the arrangements that can only be accommodated by large vessels. This is, unfortunately, not a look you can pull off with bud vases. So think big! Big urns for the bar or the mantles. Wide, footed bowls for the tables. Nothing too petite or puny here!
Setting or Venue for an English Country Garden Wedding in the Seattle Area
Since we aren’t actually in England, with its ancient stone walls and castles, I’ve come up with some alternatives. In the Pacific Northwest, we have some beautiful formal gardens like Heronswood, Dunn Gardens, and The Bloedel Reserve. But I also think that this style lends itself as a nice contrast in a city setting with brick or concrete walls as the backdrop. But really, any little park or backyard yard garden will do. Think clipped hedges, edged lawns, mixed borders, or brick walls.
I would veer away from typical evergreen cedar forest settings or beaches, as this is a weird juxtaposition with this style of florals.
If you are dreaming of an English country garden wedding - I’m your girl. My flower farm is filled to the bursting with summer flowers full of romance, and my vintage vase collection is perfect for your needs. I can’t wait to get dreaming with you!