We’re delighted to welcome Ingrid of Lafonia Flower Company as our guest blogger this week. Ingrid is a talented floral designer known for her passion for sustainability and her unique, organic approach to floral design. We're thrilled to share her insights and inspire you on your journey to saying "I do" in style!

Summary

In this guest blog, Ingrid shares her expertise on achieving stunning wedding flowers. She discusses the importance of early engagement with couples, offers tips for cohesive floral designs, and provides insights into her sustainable approach. Ingrid also shares her favourite flowers and describes her organic, wild look. Whether you're seeking budget-friendly tips or eco-conscious inspiration, this blog offers valuable insights to elevate your wedding florals.

How do you work with couples?

Our communications are mostly by email and telephone calls. I like to try and get a feel for the overall look of the wedding from talking through the couples ideas and asking for any images to help build a picture. From that I then send a quotation and if the couple are happy I request a deposit payment. Balance payments and final changes to the order are made one month prior to the wedding day.

At what stage of the planning process should couples engage with a florist and why?

Once the venue has been booked its beneficial to chat to a florist as this is when you start thinking about how you are going to decorate and dress the venue. Florists are naturally creative people and can have some great input at this point. Even just an initial chat to discuss ideas and colour schemes which you can then build on. It can be especially useful if the florist knows the venue well.

How do you help couples create a cohesive look?

In my discussions with couples I build a picture of what they would like the wedding to look like, we discuss what other decor is being used, colour schemes, the feel of the day, what outfits have been chosen etc. From this I can then plan the flowers to fit. Some couples won't know exactly what they would like but having a chat about their wedding it becomes really clear what would work and helps give them clarity too. It also really helps them move forward with the rest of the planning having a clearer picture in mind.

What are your 5 top tips to achieving wow factor flowers that won’t break the bank?

Choose seasonal and British every time! They will fit the time of year and feel so much more right than anything out of season.
Make your flowers work hard. Plan them to work throughout the day, flowers from the ceremony can be moved to decorate the reception/evening do. Discuss with your florist how this can work for your wedding.
If you have lots of bridesmaids, use their bouquets in vases as part of your reception decor. They can still take them away at the end of the evening but they are often surplus to requirements after the photos are done so why not put them on display?
Keep it simple. Sometimes having a few key arrangements can be much more effective than lots of less significant ones. It can also surprisingly work out cheaper.
Add height. If you are able to have flowers or an installation up high then it can be a great way to add the wow factor. It is visually interesting to have focal points at different heights and can really help make a room look complete.

What can couple’s expect from you on the day of the wedding?

I will normally arrive several hours before the ceremony is due to start to set up any installations and decorate the venue. Buttonholes are distributed, I'm always happy to help attach them if needed. The brides and bridesmaids bouquets are delivered to wherever they are getting ready for the ceremony. It's nice to do this once the photographer has arrived as they often like to get this shot.

Do you have a favourite flower that you like to use and why?

I have so many favourite flowers it would be unfair to choose! I think for me the things I love to use the most are grasses, seed heads and unusual foliage and fillers to add movement and texture. I like to add depth and interest in my arrangements and this also helps bring together a more natural and wild look whilst framing the focal flowers and showing them off.

How would you describe your ‘look’ and the way in which you work?

As mentioned previously I tend to lean towards a wild and organic look but for me it's all about being sustainable from beginning to end. I grow most of my own flowers, those I don't grow I source from other Cornish and British growers. I don't use any pesticides or chemicals at all and instead adopt a no dig approach to growing to keep my soil healthy and try to ensure there is a natural ecosystem at work. When doing installation work I use a base of chickenwire and moss which is often re used several times. This not only means I don't use floral foam but it also helps to create more free and natural looking arrangements. My flowers are a reflection of the season we are in and I love to try and keep them as free form and natural looking as possible.