I’m all about adding fresh blooms to a wedding day hairstyle, so when I saw this goooorgeous shoot from Verbena Floral Design, well, let’s just say it raised the bar at bit. A pure mix of crazy talented vendors and stunning models and you’ve got one of the prettiest shoots I’ve seen in a while. And since we’re not experts on florals, Vanessa of Verbena was sweet enough to give us a few tips on how to achieve these looks. Keeping reading for the full interview and pop on over to the gallery to see every single blooming beauty.
Polynesian Peony Princess | Rebecca’s headpiece is made up of grevillea, coral charm peonies, hap fiddleheads, galax leaves, fuchsia anemones, garden roses and italian ruscus. Her bouquet features yves piaget garden roses, hap fiddleheads, coral charm peonies and galax leaves. Her lip is a fun bold fuchsia and her hair is made up with soft bouncy, shiny and playful curls. OPI – You Callin’ Me a Lyre? is on her perfectly short nails, which has a hint of pink and is very sheer and shiny. She’s wearing designer Robert Bullock, style Jessica, which is a lovely, alencon lace dress with straps and a small sweep train.
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Rustic New Year’s Eve | In Cara’s belt you’ll find silver bruin, italian rusks, privet berry, seeded eucalyptus and kochia. Her bouquet is made of silver bruin, hap fiddleheads, privet berry and kochia. Emily’s nails are painted in OPI – Honk if You Like OPI. This look was a perfect example to show how a bride could do a dark nail. Her makeup is more edgy and fun to match her tattoos and her hair is polished yet edgy, with smooth, sleek and shiny finish. Cara is wearing designer Love Yu, style Jenny. The epitome of a romantic dress! A strapless ivory tulle gown, with modern pick ups.
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Old Hollywood with a Spanish Colonial Flair | In Brooke’s hair are coral charm peonies. Her bouquet matches with a single stem coral charm peony. With a burst of colour for this Bride, we chose a classic and perfect French Manicure. OPI. She has coral cheeks and lips to make her blue eyes pop and her hair has soft, flowing waves, gently pinned to create natural volume. Brooke is wearing designer Wtoo, style Suri. An ivory, textured organza gown with a drop waist and cascading ruffle skirt.
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Classic Summer Romance | In Krianna’s hair is a simple white peony. Her bouquet is made of white peonies, hap fiddleheads, white anemone, white spray roses, seeded eucalyptus, privet berry, magnolia foliage and avalanche roses. Krianna is also wearing OPI – You Calling Me a Lyre? on her nails. She has a soft smokey eye with a berry lip. Her romantic hair is a classic, simple chignon. Krianna is wearing designer Lea-Ann Belter, style Mathia. A gorgeous, silk dupioni mermaid gown with a draped bodice and dramatic train.
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Romantic English Country Side | In Brooke’s hair are caramel antique garden roses, peach hypericum berries and peach spray roses. Her bouquet is made of caramel antique roses, peach spray roses, seeded eucalyptus, hapu fiddleheads and kochia. To match her creamy skin and pearls is a classic OPI french manicure. Her eyes have a earthy metallic eye shadow and she has a peach lip to compliment the soft peachy flowers. Her hair is romantic, and softly pulled back. Brooke is wearing designer Wtoo, style Suri. An ivory, textured organza gown with a drop waist and cascading ruffle skirt. Her flower girl Lily, has a white peony and peach spray roses for a classic versatile flower girl look.
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Winter’s Refined Elegance | In Emily’s hair you’ll find pepperberry, hap fiddleheads and grevillea. Emily’s bouquet is made of ilex and pepperberry. In the background of Emily’s photos are paperwhites and pepperberries. Her red-berried bouquet called for a very chic short red nail, OPI – Oui Bit of Red. Emily’s makeup is a classic soft beauty look and her hair is a vintage meets modern fish tail braid, with soft face framing waves. She is wearing designer Love Yu, style Aster. A silk charmeuse gown, with a deep cowl back and full, lace-edged train.
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SMP: What is Verbena Floral Design and how did you get your start?
VFD: Verbena Floral Design came to be after a childhood-love of both flowers and weddings. Today, we are a full-service floral design studio located in Victoria BC, specializing in florals as well as unique decor items for all manner of events and celebrations, weddings included. As someone who wanted to be a floral designer, I poured through every design book I could find. Paula Pryke, a favourite designer of mine, has long been an inspiration for me.
SMP: What is the best part of your job?
VFD: I adore my job, and the people I come across along that path. That quiet moment right before a bride walks down the aisle is always a special one for me, one that I always try to take in. This is the moment when everything has come together!
SMP: What inspires you?
VFD: The loading dock of my wholesaler is one of my favorite places to be, where ideas stem from and inspiration abounds. You might also find me combing the aisles of the local garden nursery, coffee in hand, searching for a vine or bloom that is going to add the perfect touch.
SMP: Of all the pretty petals, which is your most beloved?
VFD: Of all the blooms to choose from, I have a soft spot for the pretty garden rose. It is absolute romance! When designing, I like to use cut flowers, in addition to plants with interesting foliage, beautiful candlesticks, and live edged platters as risers.
SMP: What types of hairstyles work best with fresh flowers?
VFD: There is no hard and fast rule, I think almost anything will work as long as it is in proportion to the hairstyle and head. If the wedding is filled with soft, fluffy romantic blooms than there is nothing more beautiful than a gorgeous garden rose or two. If you are a more contemporary bride with a modern look than look no further than the spectacular phalenopsis orchid! As long as the bloom can be wired with a stem to pin into the hair than anything is possible.
SMP: Will the flowers stay fresh and last throughout the day?
VFD: I always recommend that we do up two sets of blooms, one for the ceremony and pictures and one for the reception and party, that way they are the freshest possible for the whole day and night.
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Photography: Jenna & Tristan | Floral Design: Verbena Floral Design | Wedding Dresses: The White Peony Bridal Boutique | Makeup: Mel Baird of Melanie Baird Make Up | Hair: Elena Roberts of Conscious Hair by Elena | Manicures + Pedicures: Christine and Jessica of Mille Fiori Spa