A long weekend adventure

My significant other and I are heading out of town this long weekend to attend our first ever engagement party.

We kind of think this is a big deal. We view this engagement like it's the starting whistle to an era that sees more and more of our peers entering into the matrimony club.

Maybe the second half of our 20s will see us at weddings every other weekend? Maybe not all of our friends are the marrying type? Perhaps some will elope?

It's an exciting season in our life.

K xx

Photo by Erin Black
Flowers by Kate Hipwell, Moss & Vine

Necessities

You know you're a florist when the amount of cut flowers in your home surpasses the number of vases you have to put them in. It is doubly true when you've exhausted your drinking glass collection and start to consider empty wine bottles. I am also guilty of looking at my kitchen sink, filled with water and flowers, and thinking why can't they just stay in there until they die?

There are floristry tools that are optional, and there are floristry tools that are so fundamental that they are almost more important than the flowers themselves. Vases. What good is a bunch of roses without the perfect vase to put them in? So it was a great relief to me when my man posed the question, what do you buy your florist partner where you would have otherwise bought flowers? and came up with the answer, vase. He has stated that for every Valentine's Day instead of the traditional bouquet of red flowers I will receive a vase. The above vase was my Christmas present. A stunning Vera Wang for Wedgwood crystal vase.

K xx

On the topic of Gypsophila

Gypsophila, otherwise popularly known as Baby's Breath or even Gyp, has re-emerged in recent years as a popular flower. Adding to it's popularity is it's newly developed brother flower, 'Million Stars'.

It was overused in the Eighties. Paired with Red Roses, it was a filler flower, used sparingly, resulting in a cliched bouquet. Emotionless. Dare I say, tacky. Apologies to the brides who carried Red Roses and Baby's Breath.

If you're a 2014 bride with a penchant for Baby's Breath however, you are in luck. You will not be accused of appearing tacky, cliched or unimaginative any time soon. Baby's Breath is being used in wonderful new and inventive ways. One design trend that is particularly popular and showcases Gyp at it's very best is using it en masse. A full bouquet of fluffy white flowers, a cute little rustic buttonhole finished with twine, a great big striking pomander hanging from the ceiling, or my personal favourite the halo of Baby's Breath.

It results in a pretty, delicate, feminine and oh-so-romantic head piece either for a bride or flower girl. In lieu of a veil, a Baby's Breath halo acts as a pretty accessory for more modern or edgy brides who wish to do away with some of the more rigid traditions of the bridal 'uniform'. En masse, Gyp is stunning and is elevated into focal flower status, never to be dismissed simply as a filler flower again.

Would you consider this once humble flower as part of your wedding day styling? Or is it still too old fashioned for your liking? I must admit I went into floristry expecting to loathe Baby's Breath. I didn't believe Gyp could be presented to me in a way that would make it appealing. As I began to trawl through wedding styling books, magazines, and blogs my mind was changed. Irrevocably. It is so versatile, fulfilling many a styling brief. Rustic, romantic, modern, white. I'm grateful to the previously underrated Gypsophila. Long may it remain popular.

K xx

These images are part of the photo shoot by photographer Erin Black, contact her at erin.a.black@gmail.com
The beautiful model is singer songwriter Sarah Bird , check her out at sarahbirdmusic.com
Flowers by Moss & Vine