October 2017 - WEDDING FLOWERS
News Update
Loading...

6 royal birthdays for November


It's candles for Charles this month as he celebrates his birthday
(photo By Korona Lacasse [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons) 

There might not be as many royal birthdays in November as in other months, but these ones pack a real regal punch. On this list you'll find two heirs as well as a first born grandson of a monarch. Get the cards and cake ready, here are six royal birthdays for November.


  
 
  Charles, the Prince of Wales is 69 on November 14th 2017
Charles Philip Arthur George was born on November 14th 1948 at Buckingham Palace, London. He was the first child of the then Princess Elizabeth, heir to the throne, and her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and he arrived just days short of his parents first wedding anniversary. His birth, like their marriage,was a high point for a country still recovering from the Second World War. He became heir to the throne on February 6th 1952 on the accession of his mother as Elizabeth II and he has held that role ever since making him the longest serving first in line in British history. 





Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg is 36 on November 11th 2017
Guillaume Jean Joseph Marie was born on November 11th 1981 at the Grand Duchess Charlotte Maternity Hospital in Luxembourg. He was the first child of the then Hereditary Grand Duke and Duchess, Henri and Maria Teresa, who had married on Valentine's Day that year. He became heir to the throne on his father's accession in 2000 and married Stephanie Lannoy in 2012.


 

Queen Sofia of Spain is 79 on November 2nd 2017
Sofia of Spain has had happier birthdays and that's saying something. She was born a princess of Greece and Denmark on November 2nd 1938 in Athens. She was the first child of Paul, then first in line for the Greek throne, and his wife, Federica, who had married in January that year. Her father became King of Greece in 1947 and in 1962 she married Juan Carlos of Spain who would become his country's king in 1975. She saw her son, Felipe, become King of Spain in June 2014 on the abdication of Juan Carlos and will spend this birthday watching him wrestle with the biggest political crisis to hit his country in decades. Sofia is still much admired in Spain despite her more background role now. 



Peter Phillips is 40 on November 15th 2017
Well, that's something to make the longest reigning monarch in British history feel even more historic. Her eldest grandchild turns forty this month. Peter Mark Andrew Phillips. first grandchild of the Queen, was born on November 15th 1977 at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington. He was the first child of Princess Anne and her first husband, Mark Phillips. At birth he was fifth in line to the throne and his parents' decision to not raise him with a title caused huge debate at the time. He was educated at Gordunstun and the University of Exeter before taking jobs in sports sponsorship and management. He married Autumn Kelly in 2008 and the couple has two daughters.




  
  
David, Earl of Snowdon will be 56 on November 3rd 2017
David Albert Charles Armstrong-Jones was born on November 3rd 1961 at Clarence House, London, He was the first child of the Queen's only sister, Princess Margaret, and her then husband, Anthony Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon. At birth, the new Viscount Linley was fifth in line to the throne. He spent a lot of time with his royal cousins growing up and would go on to develop a career in furniture making and antiques. He married Serena Stanhope in 1993 and the couple has two children. Earlier this year he became Earl of Snowdon on the death of his father.



Lady Louise Windsor will be 14 on November 8th 2017
Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary was born on November 8th 2003 at Frimley Park Hospital, Surrey, the first child of the Earl and Countess of Wessex. She was born prematurely after her mother was rushed to hospital. Like her November cousin, Peter Phillips, there was debate about her title at birth but her parents announced she would be known as Lady Louise Windsor. She makes appearances at major royal events like Trooping the Colour. Lady Louise is eleventh in line to the throne.

Leonor's first official portrait


It's a birthday tradition that Spain's royals don't tend to follow as much as other European houses but this year they've made an exception. To mark her 12th birthday, Princess Leonor, heir to the throne, has a new portrait to celebrate. In fact, it's her first official portrait and it comes at a very interesting time indeed.




The image, taken on Spain's national day just a few weeks ago, has been shared on the official Casa Real website on the royal birthday. It's by Francisco Gomez and shows the girl who will be queen posing, relaxed and happy, at the Royal Palace in Madrid. It is released exactly twelve years after the arrival of the first child of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia - Leonor was born on October 31st 2005 in Madrid.


Embed from Getty Images
So far, so very standard. But it's the timing that's really interesting about this portrait.  Spain's royals have barely been seen in the weeks since the disputed independence referendum in Catalonia on October 1st 2017. Leonor's father, King Felipe, has cancelled several engagements in the past few days - a tumultuous time which has seen Catalonia declare independence and the Spanish government impose direct rule on the region ahead of new elections in December this year. No one was expecting this portrait of Leonor and yet, just when her Royal Family needs her, there she is smiling out in a portrait for the history books.



Embed from Getty Images
Turning twelve is a big deal and so it may always have been the plan to release this image. But the last time that Spain's royals shared an official portrait of Leonor to mark her birthday was back in 2006 when she turned one. Then the photos also celebrated the news that her parents were expecting another baby. Now, this new picture comes as her family faces tough questions about its role and little chance of making any public appearances given the political situation. It's a good news stories for Spain's beleagured royals. Any first official portrait is always one for the history books but this photo really does have a special place in Spain's regal story.

Kate's bouncing back to health


After several months of severe morning sickness, it seems that Kate is bouncing back to health. The Duchess of Cambridge, now into the second trimester of her third pregnancy, looked to have put the Hyperemsis Gravidarum which forced her to stay indoors for the best part of two months behind her as she carried out her latest public engagement. It was anyone for tennis as Kate started her autumn agenda again.



Embed from Getty Images 



The Duchess of Cambridge was visiting the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton in her capacity as patron of the Lawn Tennis Association, a role she took on in December 2016 when the Queen passed it on to her. Kate was accompanied for the first time by her new private secretary, Catherine Quinn, who was appointed earlier this year.




Embed from Getty Images 


 
Kate's itinerary today included a chat about the work going on at the centre. A major aim of the Lawn Tennis Association is to get more people, especially youngsters, involved in the sport and the Duchess was able to hear about the programmes being rolled out to achieve this. Among them is Tennis for Kids which will give around 22,500 children across the UK the chance to learn the sport this year.





Then it was time for the obligatory royal playing sports shots. Kate took to the court with some of the children who have been learning tennis to try her skills and see how they are getting on. She took part in a coaching session run by Coach Core apprentices. They themselves are part of the Coach Core scheme which trains young people looking for work to become coaches. It was was set up by the Royal Foundation overseen by William, Kate and Harry who recently celebrated its achievements at a special event in London.


Embed from Getty Images 


 
If you were hoping for clue as to whether baby Cambridge number three is a boy or girl (we're getting close to the point where a scan might just say) then you're out of luck. There was no baby blue or pink anywhere to be seen as the duchess went all sporty sensible and turned up in black trackies. Which, as anyone who has ever been pregnant knows, is just about the only thing you ever really want to wear while waiting for baby.



Embed from Getty Images 


 
This is Kate's first pre announced solo engagement since the summer - her most recent appearances have been surprises as she has accompanied William and Harry to events already in their diary. Given how well she looked and the fact that in her previous two pregnancies, the effects of Hyperemsis Gravidarm have lessened considerably as she progressed into her second trimester, we can perhaps take this as a signal that Kate is over the worst of it. The Duchess of Cambridge is bouncing back to full health.

Photo credit: Kensington Palace Twitter

8 things we learned from 'A Very Royal Wedding'



You just can't beat a royal wedding. Even when you think you know one like the back of your hand, there is still plenty to find out about these moments of magic that fill royal history books. That was proved and then some by the fabulous documentary shown on ITV on October 30th 2017 as the countdown to the 70th anniversary of the Queen and Prince Philip's wedding gathers pace. The programme, made by Oxford Films and presented by Alexander Armstrong, told the story of the big day in minute detail with never before seen footage and interviews with some of those who turned this dynastic love match into the wedding of the century. Here are eight things we learned from 'A Very Royal Wedding'....



1. It really was the People's Wedding

Sticking ''people's'' in front of a major event is a bit of a cliche and, let's face it, the House of Windsor hasn't had the happiest associations with the phrase. A Very Royal Wedding was based on the principle that the marriage of the then Princess Elizabeth to Philip Mountbatten on November 20th 1947 really was the ''People's Wedding'' and it kind of proved the point. We heard about the contributions sent from around the world to make the big day happen - from the already well told story of the clothing coupons that had to be sent back to the less well known tales of sugar and fruit winging their way from as far away as Australia to help make the cake. But what really came alive in this programme was the way the wedding turned into a focal point of celebration for a nation still recovering from World War Two. The minor objections to the cost of the match were well handled at the start and the documentary really gave a feel of how this one day became a beacon of hope for so many still mourning and rebuilding. 


2. Those Mountbatten genes are strong

While the Queen's dress and bouquet might have got plenty of attention in the programme, Prince Philip's cheekbones also came in for plenty of scrutiny as many of the contributors spent the first part of the show talking about just how downright handsome the groom was. The archive footage showed they were right but it also proved just how strong those Mountbatten genes really are as both William and Harry bear more than a passing resemblence to that dashing prince of 1947. In fact, the Duke of Cambridge might be granddad all over again.


3. A wedding gift list like no other

Alexander Armstrong in John Lewis might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to royal history but the man had a point. As he wandered through the shop zapping random items, we learned that the Queen and Prince Philip were the first senior royal couple to accept wedding gifts from anyone and everyone rather than keeping the list just for the rellies. They ended up with 2,583 presents in total including a washing machine from the people of Leamington Spa and a bath sponge from an odd vicar and his wife. So far, so very People's Wedding. Then Queen Mary turned up with a shed load of diamonds that could sink a ship. You have to keep it regal sometimes.


4. The Queen is a trend setter

Kate fans might disagree with the fashion expert who said that the Queen's wedding dress inspired the one worn by the Duchess of Cambridge but the epic amount of colour film from the time showed that the bride's whole look really did set trends. I could quite happily have listened to Betty Foster, the seamstress who worked on the gown, and Barbara Unwin who helped wave the silk for the frock all day. These two women, both 19 at the time, helped create a frock whose silhouette really did inspire brides for years to come. And what's not to love about hearing designer, Norman Hartnell, employ typical British understatement in an archive clip where he described the frock as having a ''simple line but rather elaborate working''.

5. Sleep, sleep and more sleep

Sleep featured quite a lot in this programme. We learned that Norman Hartnell made his manager sleep in the design studio where the wedding dress was being created, allegedly armed with a gun, to stop anyone trying to steal the design. We heard that Jim Allen of McVitie's slept in the factory where the cake was being made to protect it. We heard that the florist, Martin Longman, got precisely zero z's the night before the wedding when he had to be up just after midnight to start making the bouquet so it was fresh for the wedding. And even the bride herself missed out on some snoozing as the crowds outside Buckingham Palace were cheering for her so loudly the night before the wedding that she made an impromptu balcony appearance. There were no photos so presumably it wasn't a pyjamas and dressing gown moment.

6. Everyone loves a baking show right now

Just as Bake Off comes to an end on Channel 4, ITV showed that everyone loves to watch cakes on television right now. To bring to life just how complex the Queen's cake was (all 9 feet and 500lbs of it), top chef Judy Walsh and her team spent really quite a long time recreating it. When you see a cook wearing jumbo blue gloves to mix rum into raisins and then use a huge saucepan to get the cake mix into the tin, you know you're onto a major bake.

7. Weddings are all about family

The Queen might have had 200 million people listening to her wedding on the radio around the world but when all was said and done, she was still a young woman making the biggest move of her life so far with her family around her to support her. We were treated to some never before seen cinefilm of what went on behind the Buck House doors and it was all rather sweet and pretty much like every other wedding you've been to. There was 5 year old page boy, Prince Michael, running down a corridor and almost taking uncle Bertie (King George VI to you and me) out at the knees. There was the bride's granny strolling arm in arm with a cousin she'd not seen in ages (Queen Mary and Queen Frederica of Greece if you need a clue). But best of all, we got a glimpse of a bride's aunt doing what they all do and sneaking a cheeky cig when she thinks no one is looking. Yep, Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent caught on camera making it a real, proper family wedding.

8. It really was a happy ever after

Seeing this wedding brought to life in the colour film all these years on wasn't just a huge treat, it really underlined just how into each other the happy couple were. You can't watch this programme and not realise just how much love there was and is between Elizabeth and Philip. As John McNaughton, who took part in the bride's escort to Westminster Abbey, said ''she really was as happy as Larry''. As we all were, watching this treat of a programme. Happy every after.

Heather & John's Wedding Flowers at St Anne's Singleton & Singleton Lodge

This was such a beautiful wedding day, showered with blessings from above but that wasn't going to dampen anyone's spirits, the lovely Heather and John had put their all into the planning for such a magical day!!!
~
Our Olivia was in charge of presenting the Bridal Bouquets to Heather and her lovely Bridesmaids over at The Shard where the Bridal Party were getting ready.
 Heather had chosen a neutral palette of fresh flowers arranged in a wild and natural style, we'd included a glorious array of fragrant and textured materials; fresh Lily of the Valley, scented Jasmine, Heather our Bride's namesake, Peonies, Roses, Nigella, Dill, Astrantia, Grasses and Passion Flowers and Astilbe.

The Bridesmaids carried posy shaped bouquets of Peonies, Roses, Heather, Passion Flower and Astilbe with grasses and foliages.

Our Olivia headed off to one of our favourite Churches St Annes at Singleton 
Fresh flowers decorated the Altar and framed the ceremony space beautifully
Two huge pedestal designs framed the ceremony topped with Cafe Au Lait Dahlias, Hydrangeas, Passion Flower and Roses


The Dotted Crotchets were in Church ready to entertain the guests as they arrived

The Altar was bedecked with candlelit fresh flowers cascading over the fron the altar
Posies of fresh flowers dressed each alternate Pew End
The Corsages and boutonnieres were lined up ready for Olivia to pin them in place
The Groom's super proud family; his sister Alison, Mum Mary & Dad Colin
Heather's handsome Bride Groom John was one of the first to have his boutonniere pinned to his lapel
Grandma Margaret looking very gorgeous
Too cute for words!!!
The super glam Bride's Mum Julie
The fabulous Bridesmaids were next to arrive wearing pretty navy Bridesmaid's gowns




So beautiful...

Here comes the Bride...

The beautiful Bride Heather wearing a stunning gown from Blush Bridal in Poulton, Heather's hair was by Mairead from Wedlocks and her make up was by Sonara Parker




All of the magic was being captured by the great folks from Stella Photography
Massive Congratulations to Heather & John from all of the team here at Flower Design Events
Heather's Bridal Bouquet was a huge cascading design featuring loads of fresh flowers and foliages




The celebrations moved on to the magical surroundings of Singleton Lodge
Our spectacular Flower Bombs decorated some of the tables
Other tables were dressed with our Baroque Candelabras

Posies of fresh flowers under glass bells dressed the rest of the tables
The spectacular wedding cake was created by the brilliant Bride's Mum, we'd created a floral plinth for it to sit on and made a collection of fresh flower cake corsages dressed the tiers



The Top Table was decorated with a magnificent candlelit swag















Huge thanks to Heather & John from all of the team here at Flower Design Events

wedding

[australian native wedding][recentbylabel2]

Featured

[Featured][recentbylabel2]
Notification
Wondering what style of flower bouquets you'll choose for your big day?
Done