Weddings are a celebration of love and personal expression, and Saskia and Toby's wedding at Collingwood Children's Farm in March 2024 was a perfect example of just that. Working closely with bride Saskia, the couple envisioned a vibrant, whimsical, and delicate floral aesthetic to complement and elevate the rustic charm of their unique venue. Our team was so thrilled to bring their vision to life that in this blog I’m sharing the details and behind the scenes with you. At the end, we also delve into the key takeaways that might help you in planning your wedding flowers, whether it’s at Collingwood Children’s Farm or whether your vision is whimsical, fun florals.

Their Vision

The vision is one of the first things we ask you (or help you create), as this sets the tone for your wedding. Saskia and Toby's vision for their wedding flowers was clear. The style was to be whimsical, deconstructed, and airy, creating a delicate and enchanting feel. The colour palette was colourful, bright pastel with a strong focus on pink as the bride’s reception outfit as well as the bridesmaid’s dresses would be pink. The challenge was to blend this whimsical look and popping colour with the natural, rustic setting of Collingwood Children's Farm, and we were excited to take it on. Below you’ll see a couple of inspiration that Saskia shared with us from Pinterest.

Wedding Party Flowers

Saskia's bridal bouquet was bold and whimsical with a cottage wildflower look. We used locally grown, seasonal flowers to create a deconstructed and airy bouquet that was both playful and elegant. Some of the flowers that you can find in the bouquet include, delphiniums, dahlias, snapdragons, and tulips. Tulips were a particularly important flower to include as they are Saskia’s mum’s favourite.

The bridesmaids bouquets were modern and chic yet maintained whimsical and dreamy feel of the day. Each bouquet was made up of a one variety of flower in various shades of pink, celebrating their individuality and complementing their pink bridesmaids dresses. I am big fan of highlighting individual varieties in bouquets, especially for a large bridal party. These bouquets create a cohesive yet unique look for each bridesmaid, adding to the overall charm and elegance of the wedding party.

 Toby's buttonhole was designed to match the Saskia' bridal bouquet. The buttonhole incorporated the same flowers and colour palette. I love how it all came together, and I’m completely obsessed with their wedding photos! Photo credit goes to Alex Carlyle, who did an amazing job capturing the special moments of the day.

Ceremony Flowers

The ceremony took place on a paddock at Collingwood Children’s Farm. With green grass and the Yarra River running alongside, it was a gorgeous location on a gorgeous day. Did I mention that the day before, the weather (in classic Melbourne fashion) was looking average, and I do recall a bit of rain? Thankfully, with the sun shining, we set up our wooden arch and adorned it with an arrangement on the top left corner and right side in the colour palette. This arrangement was carefully crafted to include the same flowers used throughout the wedding, ensuring a consistent and cohesive look. However, we used a bit more foliage here so that the bridal party’s own flowers stood out. The addition of chiffon drapery added flow and softness to the arch, enhancing the romantic atmosphere.

From the images we saw, the ceremony, which involved elements of Saskia’s Indonesian heritage, was beautiful and so special for the couple. Following the ceremony, the flower arrangement was cleverly repurposed for the bridal table at the reception. There are many ways to repurpose the ceremony arrangement, and we’re such fans of doing so – it allows you to enjoy the flowers for the whole event and makes the transition from ceremony to reception super cohesive.

Reception Flowers

The magic continues and, in fact, escalates when we reach the reception. I think the reception really topped the cake for Saskia and Toby’s already dreamy day. The reception took place in the charming barn at Collingwood Children's Farm, and our goal was to transform the space into a whimsical and elegant wonderland.

The barn consisted of beautiful exposed beams that we absolutely love decorating. For the main beams going across the barn, we adorned them with a large floral installation, again using colours and flowers in line with their vision. The intention was to create a lush and full look that captivated guests. A couple of smaller arrangements were also installed on the secondary beams to add to the overall lushness and beauty of the space. To really elevate and take the dreaminess to the next level, we styled white chiffon over the beams, enhancing the overall effect and creating a soft and romantic ambiance that was simply breathtaking.

The guest tables were decorated with colourful, seasonal, and locally grown flowers that mirrored the bridal bouquet, ensuring a cohesive look throughout the day. Think lush flowers. We absolutely love the candle look; however, open flames are not allowed at Collingwood Children’s Farm (and rightfully so for this beautiful venue). So, to create the dreamy and romantic look of candles, we used LED candles to add warmth and romance to the space. The use of LED candles allows us to comply with the farm's no open flame policy and provide a safe yet beautiful alternative.

Not to forget the dancefloor, we created a floral chandelier hung above the dancefloor, for the couple and their guests to enjoy all night long. It made for an extra special touch for their first dance.

Overall Thoughts

I loved how it all turned out, and more importantly, Saskia and Toby loved it too. Saskia and Toby's wedding at Collingwood Children's Farm was a celebration of love, creativity, and joy. Thank you to my team at Bituin who worked night and day to bring their floral vision to life. The vibrant and whimsical floral designs perfectly complemented the rustic charm of the venue, creating a magical atmosphere that will be remembered for years to come.

Here’s a little snippet of Saskia’s kind words after her wedding to describe her experience with us:

“Lana has a beautiful styling sense, and her expertise in detailing is evident in the way she assembles flower ceiling installations with drapes—it just looks incredible. Everyone at my wedding raved about how no two flower vases on the dining tables were the same, showcasing her whimsical ability to wow all my guests on my wedding day.”

How to Plan with Us

Planning wedding flowers with Bituin is a collaborative process and one that we hope you’ll enjoy! Using Saskia’s and Toby’s planning journey as an example, here’s the process we took (and typically take) when planning wedding flowers. Saskia and Toby's journey with us began with an enquiry and requirements form, where they provided basic information about their event date, location, and vision. We then followed up with a detailed questionnaire to gather more specific details.

Based on this information, we created a custom proposal that included a mood board and a quote. The mood board showcased examples of designs, allowing Saskia and Toby to visualize how the florals would look on their wedding day. The quote provided a clear breakdown of costs, including additional expenses like delivery and service fees.

After reviewing the proposal, Saskia and Toby decided to book us as their wedding florist. Throughout the planning process, we maintained open communication, making updates as needed and ensuring that their vision was brought to life. Two months before the wedding date, we conducted a final run-through to align on the inspiration, logistics, and finer details. We take care of all the behind-the-scenes details and work so Saskia and Toby could focus on enjoying their special day.

Key Takeaways from Their Wedding and Planning Flowers

• Start Early and Be Clear About Your Vision: Saskia and Toby's clear vision for their wedding flowers made the planning process smooth and enjoyable. Communicating your preferences and ideas early on helps your florist understand your style and create designs that align with your vision.
• Embrace Seasonality and Local Flowers: Using seasonal and locally grown flowers not only supports local businesses but also ensures that the flowers are fresh and vibrant. Saskia and Toby's wedding flowers were a beautiful example of how seasonal blooms can create stunning arrangements.
• Be Open to Repurposing Arrangements: Repurposing the ceremony flower arrangement for the bridal table was a sustainable and creative solution that added continuity to the wedding decor. Consider how floral arrangements can be reused throughout the day to maximize their impact and make for a cohesive look from ceremony to reception.
• Incorporate Unique and Personal Touches: From the floral chandelier to the elegant bridesmaids' bouquets, Saskia and Toby's wedding flowers were filled with unique and personal touches. Don't be afraid to include elements that reflect your personality and style.
• Trust Your Florist: Trusting your florist's expertise and creativity is crucial. Saskia and Toby's collaboration with Bituin was built on mutual trust, allowing us to create floral designs that exceeded their expectations.

Conclusion

A wedding in Melbourne is an opportunity to embrace the magic of the season. With the right florist, your wedding flowers can elevate the enchantment of Melbourne's unique charm. Bituin offers a combination of expertise, collaboration, and a commitment to your unique vision, ensuring that your wedding blooms with beauty, elegance, and the warmth of love. Enquire now and let Bituin be your partner in crafting a whimsical wonderland for your Melbourne wedding.

At Bituin, we specialize in crafting bespoke wedding and event florals that reflect your unique vision. Our commitment to sustainability and quality ensures that every arrangement is not only beautiful but also kind to the planet. If you're planning a wedding in Melbourne and looking for a dedicated and creative wedding florist, we invite you to enquire with us.

 

 

As mentioned above, photo credits of Saskia and Toby’s wedding go to Alex Carlyle.