This week we have the pleasure of featuring design-led Devon wedding florist, Miranda Hackett Flowers. With an artistic and natural style which is centred around sustainability and seasonality, Miranda’s creations are always pretty spectacular and we’ve loved seeing them around our English country house wedding venue over the years. For more on sustainable practices, wedding floristry FAQs and some thoughts on future flower trends for the coming year from a Devon wedding florist, read on.
Tell Us a Bit About the Style and Ethos as a Devon Wedding Florist…
We are a design-led artisan wedding and event florist. Our style is artistic and natural, with thoughtful consideration given to every flower and stem to achieve space and movement within each design. The shifting seasons and transforming coastal, rural and moorland landscapes surrounding the studio inspire our designs.
As a Devon wedding florist, our ethos is focused on the use of locally grown British flowers, sustainability and seasonality. We use flowers from our cutting garden and our network of British growers, supplemented with international flowers from floral wholesalers if absolutely necessary. We do not use floral foam (oasis) and other non-biodegradeable mechanics. We repurpose used event flowers to give to our local hospice for patients with life-limiting illnesses and also compost everything on our land and recycle packaging. This year we have installed solar panels which we hope will supply 70% of our electricity.
READ MORE: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CREATING A MORE SUSTAINABLE WEDDING DAY
Miranda Hackett Flowers and How it all Began…
About 15 years ago, I was lucky enough to have a career break from my job in the financial sector in the City of London, and my husband and I moved to live in Dublin for a few years. This career break was an exciting opportunity to take some of my interests and passions further. During this time, I completed an Interior Design qualification, an MSc in Environmental Science at Trinity College and worked for a floristry business.
During my first week in Dublin I walked the streets, stopping in at high street florist shops to enquire about any unpaid help opportunities (I had no experience) and felt very downcast until I stumbled upon a small out of the way business run by a lovely couple who’d just started out. She was Ruth Monahan of Appassionata Flowers and had just set up after training at McQueen’s London. Over the following few years I worked at Appassionata Flowers and received on the job training in all aspects of floristry and event work.
On our return to U.K. I started my own flower business which became Miranda Hackett Flowers, based in Berkshire and serving the Home Counties and London. 7 years ago, I moved my business with us to Devon. This was a catalyst for significant business growth and success and we now operate from our flower studio (with a cutting garden) in the heart of rural South Devon on weddings and events across the South West and up to London.
What are Some Wedding Floristry FAQs?
I am not sure of the colour and palette for my wedding yet, can you help and give ideas?
Of course. We can work up some different palette ideas for you to consider and will provide visuals and mood boards. This will help you to hone in on what is important in terms of flowers and styling. As your planning of other elements develops over the months, we will help guide you and provide inspiration and advice based on our years of experience.
Can you provide candles and candleholders for our wedding?
Yes, we have a range of different holders and candlesticks for tablescapes and also hurricane and storm lanterns for floor displays. We also supply the required candles in your chosen colour and height. The pricing and options will be given in your design proposal.
When do you install and deliver the flowers?
Our team will come early on the day of your wedding to create the installation pieces on site and to set up the tablescapes and deliver the bridal flowers. This ensures that everything is at its freshest and looks its best at the right time!
Can you recommend a photographer or other suppliers?
We have worked with many other suppliers over the years and will be pleased to share with you those that we know are professional and outstanding in their fields.
READ MORE: THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF WEDDING SUPPLIERS
Some Thoughts on Future Flower Trends for 2023/24 from a Devon Wedding Florist…
- An increased focus by clients on flower provenance and reducing the impact which their wedding flowers/supplier have on the environment.
- The popularity of flowers over foliage will continue. The days of flower and heavy foliage bridal bouquets and arrangements are over and it’s all about the delicate detail of blooms at different heights within a design, positioned carefully to give a light airy feel. Definitely light, airy and considered rather than heavy, dense and large!
- We are getting asked more and more about detailed tablescapes incorporating particular vessels and flowers with candle combinations and paired palettes, rather than dense overhead hanging features. Couples are focusing more on what their guests will see on the table in front of them, rather than overwhelming hanging features which require particular lighting, scale and disproportionate spend.
Tell Us About Your Work at Pynes House…
The simple light and airy elegance of the architecture and interior design at Pynes House is outstanding and ensures that a clients’ investment in the flowers and styling has significant impact. Also, as a supplier it is very rewarding to work with the helpful, organized and friendly team at Pynes, so that together we produce highly professional results and weddings for our clients.
SEE MORE: THE PYNES HOUSE GALLERY
Some Wedding Planning Advice?
Design details are really important! For example, the shape and form of a flower and its stem and how it is positioned within an arrangement can change the style and feel of a design and its impact. Also, the colour, form and material of a flower vessel is just as important as the styling of the flowers within it. Couples should expect their florist to give considerable time to these detailed elements so that the overall desired style is achieved – we include this high level of consideration as part of the service we offer for wedding and event styling.
We’ve absolutely loved featuring Devon wedding florist, Miranda Hackett Flowers, on the blog this week. For more on Miranda’s design-led wedding floristry or to get in touch, head over to her website here. If you’re after some more wedding planning inspiration, we’ve got plenty more on the blog – have a look at our guide on six impactful children’s wedding readings here, or check out our comprehensive guide to choosing an unplugged wedding ceremony, here. If you’d like to view our Devon wedding venue for yourself, please get in touch to book your private showround.