I’ve always loved cottage roses, arbor roses…any rose that opens up in a random eruption of petals and shows their delicate yellow centre. I’m even more in love with imperfection, spatters of colour that have generated from years of cross pollination and genetic mal-tendancies! So of course it would make sense that two of my favourite flowers come together; not only a the right time of year-with much anticipation and squeals of delight from florists everywhere, but with the sort of picturesque union that even William Morris could not hope to replicate in his famous fabrics and wallpaper designs. The softly falling, compact petals of a newly opened peony are the perfect accompaniment for the exquisite David Austen rose - whose reputation over the years has become that of legend. Not only are these queenly flowers a delicious sight to behold, but they hold the good ol’ fashioned rose scent. The scent that takes you back to days of old, or grandmas backyard…sigh…

Symbolises romance and a steadfast marriage

When I was asked to do a wedding for a friend, her only stipulation was ‘romantic, soft and feminine’…well, enough said. Go no further I hear you say. If you are getting married in October/November in Australia, and the bride says ‘feminine’, you know exactly what you’re going to use! Couple the blooms with soft silver foliage and you have a bouquet to die for. Without a question of doubt in my mind I gathered these flowers together in different shades of white, cream, pink, antique (Julia’s rose…my favourite…what a coincidence!!) and apricot. The only foliage to consider with such a combination is either mini-gem magnolia, or dusty miller. I went with dusty miller.

Old world elegance

I love the texture the Dusty provides too, a sort of halo of soft coral…oh so soft. All that’s left to do is bind the stems in ivory satin ribbon and perhaps add an antique heirloom to the handle that only the bride will look down and see, and you have a bouquet that encompasses your every wish for your big day. Soft, romantic, feminine, enduring, alluring and sentimental.