From a basic colour, you can derive a variety of different shades and tones so you are bound to find one that will be perfect for you. If you want your wedding to be warm, traditional and luxurious, use gold very carefully and in small doses. Combining gold with neutral colours such as ivories, creams and whites gives off a subtle, classy and graciously sophisticated look at a wedding. Or you can add a certain richness by including bolder colours such as deep purples, royal blues, ruby reds and emerald greens, which exude extravagance and regality, without being tacky or hammalu. Gold can also work beautifully not only as the primary colour of a wedding, but also when being used to embellish other colour schemes.

A touch of gold added to earthy colour schemes such as oranges, greens and browns will tone the colours down a little, giving theme a golden glow. Adding gold to certain colours can change the look completely and help colours adapt to different seasons – for example, using gold as the accent colour to deep greens, reds and purples will also give you a festive yet luxurious colour scheme for winter weddings.

Of course, gold does not make an easy bedfellow for all colours: paired with pastel colours such as very pale pinks, pastel yellows, pale greens and lilacs, gold loses its richness, giving a less-than-classy look to a wedding. Just remember warm colours go with gold and cool colours go with silver.

 
In this post, I want to share with you some tips when it comes to creating your own personal touch for your wedding – especially at the venue which is, after all, where you will be spending most of your time!

 
Once you have chosen your suppliers, colour scheme and theme, you can start to focus on all the little details that make it special. For example, if you are going to use a venue with a huge open space with a lot of trees, you can decorate these trees with crystal garlands and small lanterns, creating a magical effect.

 
Another key element to make a huge space more manageable is to encourage your guests to use all the space available.  Bistro tables (high tables) placed strategically around the venue are a natural way to encourage guests to spread out and relax. You can finish each table with an elegant centrepiece or arrangement. For some great examples, visit our gallery section where there is a showcase of centrepieces – from tall glass vase designs, to small bubble vases of fresh tulips – of course everything matched to your colour and theme!
Not to forget the focal point of the venue – the cake!

 
The are a myriad of cake designs from which to choose – from different shapes and sizes, to comples configurations of stands and tiers. One thing is recommended for all, however… The inclusion of fresh floral embellishments.

 
Flower Arts can supply a variety of accessories to compliment our stunning floral arrangements. For more information, visit our gallery or contact us directly.

Inside this post – read the new edition of our e-zine – Flora – by clicking on the magazine!

Some of my favourite flowers available at this time of year include ranunculus, tulips, peonies and roses. These flowers can be used in most types of arrangement and can give a pleasant finish to the overall design. Colours include white, purple, deep red, orange, yellow and pink.

There are also hydrangea, iris and vanda (a type of orchid) that can create nice effects.
One unusual flower that is available in winter is Anigozanthos. This commonly grows in Australia. It has a wonderful soft feel, which makes it useful for adding texture as well as colour to reception arrangements. It is available in yellow, pale pearly pink, lime green or rich dark red.

Amaryllis is a winter flowering plant that looks at its best in table decorations. With its tall stems (up to 75cm) and huge flower heads, these plants are perfect for tall vases and centrepieces, and are available in red, white and white/pink varieties.
Nerine is a delicate flower available in red, pink and white. These make a pretty addition to a winter bride bouquet or centrepiece arrangement if you’re looking for something a little bit different.

To add some warming shades of orange and red, include foliage and berries such as iles, hypericum, holy ivy, quercus, rubus or similar.
At this time of year you can find pussy willow. It’s almost impossible to resist stroking the soft and delicate fur-like buds. Pussy willow is also surprisingly pliable and can be bent into many interesting shapes.