London florist Hazel Gardiner Design talks wow-factor wedding flowers

Credit: Jessica Williams Photography

Q What new ideas and styles should I look for to give my big-day flowers the wow factor?

We love creating oversized installations, finding inspiration from magazine editorials and catwalk set design. Suspended clouds are proving popular using either fresh flowers or dried varieties alongside faded palm leaves. If working with a smaller budget, foliage bunches hung upside down above long tables give great impact.

Think beyond your tables for areas to dress; we seek out every opportunity to bring florals in, such as walls and stairways. Large mantelpieces are wonderful areas to bring to life with asymmetrical designs full of movement, height and texture. Playing with scale is part of our signature style, working with structures such as moon gates, arches, frames and grid walls to create monumental backdrops.

For outdoor weddings, we like to adorn natural structures such as tree trunks and canopies to give an editorial feel. Impact doesn't have to mean bigger. With a clever use of colour and materials such as paper flowers and silk stems, we can bring a dynamic feel to any room. When it comes to colour, a punchy palette of baby pink and dusky orange can make a real statement alongside ombré designs.

Hazel Gardiner | Hazel Gardiner Design | www.hazelgardinerdesign.com