Or how to avoid your guests crying and sneezing their way through your ceremony...
Flowers are beautiful, everyone knows that, but add the dimension of fragrance and their beauty is trebled. It’s a sense which is often overlooked when choosing wedding flowers, but with strong ties to memory and emotion, what better way to perfume your day!
Certain well -known perfumes combine tried and tested combinations.
If I say Lime - Basil, you will know what I’m talking about!
Why not use these combinations for your wedding?
One of my favourites floral combinations are peonies, lilac and scented garden roses, they are just perfect together. Floral heaven.
Will you will be wearing a distinctive perfume for your wedding?
Does it have floral, musky or citrus notes?
Your flowers should flatter not dominate the overall fragrance.
Floral scented flowers: Garden roses, Stocks, Lilac, Peonies, Sweet peas, Freesia, Lily of the Valley.
Chocolate scented flowers: Chocolate Cosmos atrosanguine
Citrus notes -Lemon verbena, Lemon basil, Lime mint, Orange blossom, cut limes and lemons in table centrepieces
Musky notes: Nicotiana, Clove dianthus, Genista, Musk rose.
So where is the best place to put scented flowers? Your bouquets, bridesmaids and corsages for special guests are a must.
Include them in Arches or Chuppahs that you will be standing under, so you can drink in the atmosphere they will create, or use in the entrance to a venue, to create a wonderful first impression for your guests.
I try not to include perfumed flowers in table centres, as they can clash with food smells. Use herbs for a subtler effect that will blend efficiently.
Some flowers have the tendency to take-over the show.
Lilies, for example, can overpower the senses, cause migraines, trigger hayfever and some of your guests may have associations with lilies that remind them of sadder times.
Best advice: Choose the smaller Asiatic lilies, which have very little scent, rather than the larger full-blown Oriental varieties.
Scent and memory are so closely linked you will need to consider the tone you are setting.
Other flowers can be plain off-putting. Gypsophila used in large quantities emits a nasty smell reminiscent of cats urine, especially in warm weather. Frittilaria can smell like rotting wood. Certain varieties of Hellebores (Christmas roses) can stink out an entire room!
If you love scent, consider taking lessons in aromatherapy or just treat yourself to a session before the Big day, it will certainly calm the nerves. Lavender for example is well-known for calming the soul, include it in your bouquet to take away last minute nerves.
A fragrance-filled flower wish list doesn’t have to break your wedding budget. There are varieties in every range. Of course, if flowers are out of their natural season then prices change dramatically.
Ask your florist for the flowers that are in season, when you are getting married.
Budget range: Freesia, Carnations, Hyacinths, Lavender, Herbs
Medium range: Sweet peas, Lily of the Valley, Lilac, Peonies, Jasmine
Luxury range: Tuberose, Frangipane, Garden roses, Gardenias, Stephanotis, Orange blossom.
Unsure how to choose? Try out a few perfumes at a local store, ask about the floral or citrus notes in the scent and work from there.
Chirpee Flowers will happily advise you on suitable combinations.
Book an initial consultation today to discuss your wedding flowers.
Whatever you choose, I'm sure it will be heavenly scented.
Have a wonderful fragrant day.
Steph & Timx
P.S.
We are currently booking consultations for 2020 and 2021 weddings, and dates are now limited so please get in touch early if you would like an appointment.
01273 951745 or email chirpeeflowers@gmail.com