At Stockton House we work with some amazing suppliers who help provide everything a couple needs for their big day – from flowers to photos, the cake to the outfits…
Today we speak to Julie Bates at Peony Faux Flowers
What do you do?
We create sustainable flowers for weddings, events and retailers.
You can hire whatever type of flower you desire, even if it is not in season when the wedding is taking place because they are faux, and we arrange them into arches, urns, garlands, table displays and much more.
We also offer fresh flowers and often the couple choose to have a mixture of both fresh and faux flowers, we can provide whatever is requested.
If a couple has a budget, we’ll work to it, they can collect instead of having them delivered, repurpose the flowers on the day themselves or by the venue staff, we can work with them however they desire.
Couples have the option to buy the flowers too, which is helpful for those getting married abroad.
How do you do it?
We create each stem by hand and each piece is arranged by hand too.
They are made from different fabrics which makes them not only look real, but it gives them movement like fresh flowers and coloring like fresh too, so utterly botanically perfect.
We create them so they are real touch too, feel as though they would in real life, with a special coating which is very different for a lambs leaf, lilly of the valley, hydrangea, and tulip. A eucalyptus has a different feel to a peony and we make sure they feel the natural way when we make them.
Every wedding is unique for what the couple would like, roses, peonies, birds of paradise, we make a different display each time.
What got you into this?
Our company was set up by my mum Margaret Ashbourne and we’ve been doing it for many years.
We used to grow the flowers on our estate, the Ruckley Estate just outside Shifnal, and then dry them out. About 2000 we went into faux flowers and wanted to make sure they were as realistic as possible for movement, lighting, touch, everything – we know so much about flowers and how they are meant to look.
We’ve since grown and grown and sell the flowers on QVC shopping channel globally.
Faux flowers have grown in popularity for weddings for those who are environmentally conscious as they are sustainable, but they are also cheaper because you can have the same look for less and have flowers that might not be available all year round if they are fresh.
In addition, you can repurpose the flowers throughout the day, have them down the aisle then move them into the wedding breakfast room.
What do you enjoy the most about providing flowers for weddings?
I love the result, watching the bride walk down the aisle.
We go beyond what is required for every wedding because we want to see that happiness at the end of the day.
We take huge pride in it, every wedding we do is like the first wedding to us.
Just before all guests arrive we fragrance every single stem and it creates a natural nod to real fragrance, people immediately think they are all fresh when they enter – that is a wonderful moment too.
What trends do you think will be important in future years?
A lot of colour.
Couples – often brides – are getting more gutsy than just white and green in bouquets and displays.
We see a lot of magenta or burnt orange, vibrant colours.
Also, a mix of spring flowers and wild flowers is growing in popularity too – this can be tricky to achieve in fresh flowers.
We are also seeing more natural foliage used, more wild looking and loosely arranged displays – with a lot of different foliage and different colour greens in there.
What is your approach to starting an arrangement?
Less is more. It is lovely to have flowers but foliage is more important.
I love to sit with the couple and talk through the day, how they want it to evolve and then give them ideas.
How do you help a couple choose the right flowers for their big day?
A lot of brides have a vision of how they want it and then after an hour consultation with us, planning, they may change their mind as it depends on what type of tables and where and so much more.
We often get brides say they don’t want high table displays but then we suggest they are better for round tables because you can look through them. We take them by the hand and lead them through the day.
A lot of people do not realise they can repurpose the faux display in different rooms as the day goes on, we want them to get the most out of everything they have hired.
What is it you love about working at Stockton House?
We dress Stockton House quite often and we just love it.
It is so beautifully renovated and we think it is the perfect size venue.
There is a wonderful staircase which is heaven to dress and the lighting and colours in the wedding breakfast room is wonderful, all our flowers work so well in there.
The urns always work well because the height of the ceiling is so good.
Amy is bliss to work for as well, that also helps us massively. She is just so accommodating and helpful!
For more information on Peony visit the website https://peony.co.uk/, Instagram or Facebook or call 01952 463 738.
To see the Stockton House brochure click here.
