What is your most memorable wedding?
Supplying our Arwen moon gate of faux greenery for my friends Michelle and Paul's wedding at Shustoke Farm Barns. I'd been making it for weeks in the run-up to the wedding so no-one had seen it at that point... getting to see Michelle's face as she entered the room in her gorgeous gown and saw it framing the ceremony table was a very special moment for me. And it makes me so happy that many brides since have gone on to fall in love with Arwen and book it for their special days!
Describe your style in 5 adjectives.
Classy, trend-led, super-realistic, impactful, different
What about your business are you most proud of?
That I've become a contender in a very competitive area over the course of a year or so and that other stylists, florists and prop hire companies from across the country have actually got in touch with me to pass on compliments and ask how I do certain things! It helps me think I must be doing something right ;)
What is your No. 1 wedding planning tip for couples?
Decide your budget, and then list the components of your wedding in order of priority so you know what to focus on booking first, and where to splurge vs where to save!
What is your favourite personal touch you have seen at a wedding?
There are so many! I have to admit though, it always brings a little tear to my eye seeing an empty seat in a ceremony reserved for a loved one no longer with us. It's such a touching gesture.
Describe your typical process with a couple.
Generally I will get an email or message saying "I've seen this arch and love it, how much would it be to have it at my wedding?" I'll need some key bits of info such as the venue, date and what time it will need setting up, and then I will let them know how much it would be to have it for the ceremony alone, or to have us move it elsewhere after the ceremony and leave it for the whole day. If the client wants to book us in I'll give them the info to pay a £50 booking deposit, and once that's been sent I'll generate a receipt/booking confirmation and email them a copy. We'll then generally email back and forth if there are any special adjustments they'd like making, such as hanging things from the arch, or adding flowers in a particular colour, and then a week or two before the wedding I'll check in via phone or email just to go over final arrangements and timings again.
What are the decorative trends with brides currently?
Greenery and the rustic look continues to be huge! I find that many brides are loving either classic, boho or rustic/vintage vibes these days so I've designed the arches and decor I have available to tie in with those demands... our Classic and Juliet arches are perfect for classic/traditional church, hotel and stately home weddings, the Boho and Woodland arches are great for marquee, tipi and outdoor celebrations, and the Arwen and Rustic arch are great for barn venues.
What decoration do you think every wedding needs?
I don't think there's a right or wrong answer to this as every wedding is different and it depends on the personalities and style of the happy couple - just be true to you and have what makes YOU happy!