Follow our countdown to ensure nothing is overlooked on your special day.

One year left

• Firstly we at Todich Floral Design recommend that every bride should put together a scrapbook of ideas.  Gathering favourite images of flower varieties from magazines and the internet is a great way to find out what you like or do not like. We also advise adding photographs of your chosen theme and wedding venue in the scrapbook as this will also help us and you determine the look you are after.

We exhibit at the Earls court wedding show every year and find that brides visiting the shows often find a new style which they hadn’t considered before.  We honestly believe that it makes a big impression if the brides are able to handle the bouquets,  With brides feeling the weight, and looking up close, feeling the different textures of the flowers, helps them see more clearly, which floral style is best suited.

Ten months left

• When you have chosen your wedding and bridesmaid dresses, add fabric samples to the scrapbook, so that you can refer to the book when you start to choose the colours of your flowers,
• We at Todich Floral Design treat every bride’s special day as if it was our own. We understand the importance of a wedding, and we have no time limit for our consultations and we are happy to discuss the wedding flowers with you, We recommend booking with us earlier rather than later so that we can devote out time solely to you, With a scrapbook at hand we would be able to gather an understanding and guide you for the best colours and flowers, If you do not have the scrapbook prepared then we would be happy to show your our portfolio of past weddings and guide you through all the recent designs.

• When you confirm your booking with us, we will confirm all the details discussed in writing. Including an estimated breakdown of costs.

Six months left

• We at Todich Floral Design would very much recommend you show the florist your wedding venue, either by inviting us with you or showing us photographs of the grounds and interior. We want to make your day perfect, and with one of the florists seeing the layout we would be able to guide you to the best way to decorate.
• It is around now that we suggest is the best time to finalise your flower order, together with the number of arrangements needed.

Three months left

• If you have decided that you would like to wear flowers in your hair, then we recommend that you order a trail set with us and have a run-through with your hairdresser one of two times, to make sure everything is perfect for the special day.

One month left

• The big day is looming and this is the time for final confirmations, the florists at Todich Floral Design recommend brides hold a final meeting with us so that the number, style and colour of arrangement are finalised.
• Provide all necessary details of all delivery addresses, we are happy to deliver to your chosen address in the morning of the wedding, or if you would rather, we can deliver the evening before, leaving you with less stress for the wedding day, but we recommend you double check the venue for delivery times first.
• Like most florists we recommend you find out when the florists expects the bill to be settled, as a general rule of thumb, it is normally 10 days in advance.

One day left

• We at Todich Floral Design have your flowers ordered 1 or 2 days before the big day, we make sure we buy the flowers at their freshest, and make all the designs up the day before the wedding, allowing time for flowers to open and flourish, ready for the big day. If you by chance change your mind or if we have a problem with buying the flowers requested then we order the alternatives as previously discussed and agreed to in the consultations.
• Always remember to discuss any last minute arrangements
• We would always make sure that all last minute arrangements and possible alternatives have already been discussed, if unforeseeable circumstances occur. Being in the industry for over 15 years, we are very much in the know of emergency numbers and the best people to contact should any problems occur.

The wedding day

Everything is now over to you, your big day is here and the excitement and new life beings. The very last steps are very easy final checks for your big day.

• Don’t forget to store any other buttonholes and corsages in a cool dry place.
• Always remember to give buttonholes for the groom’s side of wedding party to the best man.
• We deliver the hand-tied bouquets in water, and just before they leave us we spritz the arrangements in water so that they remains as fresh as possible
• Last but not least, remember to dry off their stems at least half an hour before you leave for the ceremony, so there is no danger of them staining your dress.

If you would like any further information or would like to book a consultation then please do not hesitate to give us an email at sales@todichfloraldesign.co.uk or call us on   020 7737 1166               (+44 20 7737 1166)

It’s the magic and romance of weddings that we at Todich floral design love most, we tell every bride that her bouquet is one of the most important elements of the wedding day, We want out brides to feel special when they see their bouquet for the first time, Lots of girls get tears of joy and an excitement that the special day is almost here.

Start researching early

It is best to book your florist as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. We at Todich floral design only every take one wedding a week, as it’s important for us to be able to give time and energy to each bride’s wedding flowers. So as soon as you’ve decided on the venue, the date and the dress, it’s time to turn your attention to the flowers.

Ask for an Initial Consultation

It is always helpful if you tell the florist as much information as possible, we would love to hear about your dreams for your big day and what you would like to achieve. Bringing in photographs or magazine clippings is great for the florists, we even suggest creating a mood board of pictures of your dress, the bridal party’s outfits and samples of fabric so we can try to grasp a definite theme or colour scheme coming through, making the consultation much easier.

If you have not found anything suited then we have a portfolio full of past designs which we would be happy to talk through with you. We always arrange more than one consultation with future brides so that we can develop a relationship and an understanding to exactly what you wish, The florists at Todich floral design truly believe that the most important thing about the initial consultation is the rapport.

Be clear on your budget

We always ask about your budget at the very first meeting, as it’s extremely important to agree on how much we are working with before starting on the design concept. We will then try to accommodate the design agreed upon within that budget, and when the proposal is accepted, we stick firmly to the budget unless any further additions are requested by you.

The Season

Try to take seasonality into account when deciding on your wedding flowers, and pick varieties that will be at the height of their season around the date of your wedding. This way, you will find that the flowers will be particularly stunning and fresh, and your budget will stretch that little bit further. The time of year can also help set your theme. For example, spring brides could go for foliage, bulbs and sprouting twigs for a fresh country feel. Those having a summer wedding might decide to go for a generous herbaceous border flowers mixed with lush green grasses. In autumn, we would suggest seed heads, fruits, twigs and hot, spicy vibrant colours. And in winter, look for sumptuous flowers in deeps colours such as crimson and violet.

The Theme

Take time to identify the central, personal theme of your wedding, as this can shape the decorative style of the whole day. For some brides, their theme may be a colour, a piece of music or a season, while for others it may be a love of fairy lights or perhaps jewellery. Once the bride has found her theme, it is very inspiring for the florist, who can then biggest design concepts to reflect the ideas and create truly wonderful displays that will remain in the memory of the couple and their wedding guests for ever.

You

Finally, it’s important that the flowers and shaded you choose work with your hair, colour, skin tone and bridal make-up. Think of your bouquet as an accessory, and choose it as you would a handbag or a pair of shoes. If you’re unsure, consider paying for two or three different sample designs and practise holding them to see which weight, style and colour you prefer.

If you would like any further information or would like to book a consultation then please do not hesitate to give us an email at sales@todichfloraldesign.co.uk or call us on 020 7737 1166 (44 20 7737 1166)

(If you like the look of the bouquet in the photo above, then you can order from our sister website flowers24hours, just follow the link  http://www.flowers24hours.co.uk/lickety-split/1670.html

The floral displays at your ceremony are vital for creating that all important first impression. This blog contains our top tips for guaranteed wedding wow factor!

Whether you are tying the knot in a register office, religious setting or at a licensed venue, we at Todich Floral Design can create help amazing displays to perfectly match your chosen type of service. While you don’t have to spend a large amount of money, some floral accents at your ceremony are essential; as this will be the first time your guests get a feel for the style and theme of your day.

It’s a really good idea to show us photos or even allow us to visit the space at least once before the wedding so that we can make everything perfect for your special day, we can make the most of the architecture and atmosphere, and have an idea of any colours to avoid or to complement, we would make sure that the flowers would make a great first impression.

We would be happy to guide you with ideas through a consultation at our studio. The floral designers at Todich Floral Design will give you hints and tips for areas you may not have been considered, for example why not decorate the entrance to your venue?, Traditional floral arches, such as a stunning mix of lilies, roses, orchids, hydrangeas, leather leaf, chrysanthemums and aspidistra leaves are a wonderful way to welcome your guests.

The same impact can be made with large pedestal arrangements at either side of your venue entrance. The impressive displays can contain any flowers you wish and it is always a cheaper and better to choose flowers in season.

Why don’t you add a sense of gravitas to the occasion? If you’re working to a small budget, a hanging arrangement may be best for you, cascading orchids, scented lilies and beautiful dainty roses would be an eye-catching display for you and your guests.

To create an effect with an impact with a significantly lower cost, then it would be a great idea to reduce the sequence of displays at the table centres.

Including some colour to your ceremony room, church or synagogue by adding small floral displays to pew ends or to the first chair in each row can create a wow factor!,  why not include trailing posies of fragrant Singapore orchids and roses to just a few chairs lining the aisle.

And, of course, the classic way to decorate any ceremony room is with an eye-catching pedestal. A display of roses, guilder rose, tulips , eucalyptus and ruscus arranged in a church font perfectly complements the venue’s décor, and is bound to have made an impact everyone.

For more ideas then please do not hesitate to contact our experienced floral designers by email at sales@todichfloraldesign.co.uk or telephone 020 7737 1166 (44 20 7737 1166)

So the Chelsea Flower show has passed, and who went home a winner? Well, the results are quite surprising, there was quite a contrast between silver and gold. The difference was in size; first place was taken by a tiny garden that had more greenery than flowers, while second place went to a large and colourful garden. Both gardens had one thing in common, their message.

The first garden was designed with the help of indigenous women from Cameroon. Marking the first occasion that indigenous women have come to the show to help design a display. The display was called the Green & Blacks Rainforest Garden, and it is a bit small and very overgrown. The centrepiece of this garden was a mongolulu (leaf house). But this little garden carried a large and important message; it was an attempt to make people aware of the destruction of rainforests.

The Indigenous people of Cameroon live and feed off of the rainforest, which has been deteriorating due to logging and mining. Along with the beautiful tropical plants, a mining helmet, gun and chainsaw were displayed, as reminder that their way of life is being destroyed.

An entire community designed the second display, which is the largest to date at Chelsea. The Eden Project Places of Change took up the area of three regular gardens. Prisoners and the homeless worked together to create this display (they were featured in a previous blog). And it is wonderful to see that they have done so well! The rough aspects of the display are meant to symbolize the difficult journey of life, while the doors scattered across the garden represent hope and the future.

Decoration and design can seem like a daunting task. But sometimes inspiration can be right in front of your nose! For these award-winning gardeners, all it took was an issue close to their hearts. If you are preparing for an important event in the near future, try to make the theme of the event something that you truly care about. Todich Floral Design can help you realize your ideas, with a team of experts to help.

Recently, the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, were given a bit more colour as they were decked with flowers. Millions of visitors showed up to admire the floral show.

This is the biggest floral show hosted in the city, and Nguyen Hue Boulevard is transformed into Flower Street for a week, gaining the admiration of many.

The inspiration for this year’s show was to capture the glow of sunset in the spring. This was meant to be a symbol of good wishes and luck in the new year. It was also a positive step into the Year of the Tiger, and precursor for the city developments to come.

Tigers made from various flower types decorated the city streets. Another important event is to take place this year, the nation’s capital, Thang Long  Ha Noi, is to celebrate its 1000^th anniversary.

The Lunar New Year, falls on the same day as Valentine’s Day, so there were enormous hearts made of flowers, to celebrate this occasion.

As the weather in this city is quite a few degrees warmer than what we are experiencing in the Western hemisphere, flowers had to be replaced frequently. Nearly 100 florists were taking care of the flowers at any given time.

Flower Street is a great delight for both foreigners and locals, as is any event filled with blooms, flowers always manage to leave a great impression on their beholders, as well as provide an upbeat atmosphere.

Though you may not have plans for giant chrysanthemum tigers to decorate your upcoming event, Todich Floral Design, can help you make your event leave a similar impression on your guests.

The Snap Dragon is a flower that often escapes our thoughts, but with the development of breeding, this little beauty is becoming hardier by the year. Hybrids of this flower are less susceptible to heat, tough against the cold, sturdy and available in a new palette of colors.

No matter what the climate is like in your area, the spadragon can make itself at home at some time in the year. Usually, it is a gardener’s favourite complement for the pansy during autumn. Where winter is a bit colder they are planted at the end of winter or the beginning of spring, filling gardens with color through summer.

The botanical term for this bloom is Antirrhinum majus. Breeding of this plant has taken enormous steps forward, making it a tough little addition to the garden.

The Sonnet and Liberty variety are especially favoured, in the garden they grow to a nice height from 24 to 30 inches. This means that they do not need structural support, both in the garden or in a flower arrangment, making them nearly hassle-free.

The snapdragon is also available in dwarf varieties, with the Tahiti and the Montego being especially praiseworthy types. The Montego is a bit more sturdy in nature, and unlike the Tahiti it does not have a tendency to fall over. These flowers are bit smaller reaching a height of only 12 inches.

If you are looking for something a bit off the beaten path, the rare coloring of the “Twinny” offers something more unique. This is a double flowered version of the snapdragon, its peachy color gives off an air of nostalgia to any garden or arrangement.

The hybridization of a the Spanish Antirrhinum hispanicum and A. molle lead to the introduction of trailing snapdragons, opening new doors and looking for new solutions from designers. This development also lead to creating a more heat-tolerant version of the flower.

Those who are planting this flower at this time of year are taking a bit of a gamble, but it is still possible that this flower is in bloom in many places, meaning that it is still a possible option for flower arrangements.

There is something whimsical and lighthearted about the snapdragon, it can soften the harder edges of any arrangement. With specialized breeding there is quite a palette of colors to choose from. Using this flower as a part of your next design idea can add an element of originality, as well as take you back to childhood years to the time when many of us would gently press together the head of the flower, to see the ‘dragon’ open its jaws.

Sometimes it can be hard to define, what exactly we find beautiful on the cold stormy days of winter. When taking a closer look, howling winds and below zero temperatures could mean the source of inspiration for the next floral centrepiece to adorn your table at a special event. Gales carry with them what nature has discarded cones, needles, branches, seed pods and other beautiful, natural pieces of art.

When working with the right floral designer, nature can lead to the formation of magnificent pieces of botanical art, using city streets, country lanes, or a farmer’s field for as the source of inspiration.

Some have even made this their craft, those who use natural resources for their floral design have been given the title of wildcrafter. As their line of work requires it, they lead a life completely immersed in nature, developing a keen eye for possible material in the outdoors.

This type of designer will be very unlikely to create the traditional Christmas wreath, made of pine or cedar, instead other materials are used making a less obvious reference to the holiday. This kind of approach can be far more refreshing, a bit of originality can just as easily capture the spirit of the season, perhaps even more so, than a green wreath with a red bow that is a mirror image to the one hanging on the neighbour’s front door.

One wonderful example is the use of blackberry, rose hip or birch branches to create a wreath. When birch is in question, branches collected in early spring are fairly malleable, and they can simply be wound around each other, until the desired thickness is reached. Then it is up to the designer to decide what is to be used as further decoration. This can be flowers, bark from from other trees, berries or whatever you like best.

Using nature as a source for ideas can have more than one positive aspect. Natural design and decorations can act as a reminder to stay green, while using nature’s creations will guarantee that you stay unique. In the following few months we will all be spending a considerable amount of time going from house to house, event to event, or perhaps organizing one or several get-togethers of our own. Wouldn’t it be rejuvenating to see one unique decoration scheme after another? Our own homes or events could also see some refreshment with a little boost from the outdoors.

There is no need to start wandering through the woods collecting branches like a wildcrafter. But the next time you consult with a floral designer, don’t forget to think back to the last winter walk you took. With a little help from our designers you could be on your way to creating design that is earthy, yet spectacular and original.

We are about to launch our new floristry school in London, Todich Floral Design School!

Starting at an absolutely unbeatable introductory rate of 25 per 3 hour session, you will learn how to make a variety of different arrangements. We promise to teach you how to get that vase on your kitchen counter livened up again!

Learn the secrets from the professionals! You will discover what type of flowers suit and compliment each other, which flowers are best value for money, what colours can be used for different occasions, how height and juxtaposition effect the overall design and much, much more! Our head florist, Maryline, is incredibly easy going and a fantastic teacher (NB: I should know, she very patiently taught me how to make a buttonhole!)

You can even bring your kids along (if you let us know in advance!) and they can be taken care of by a certified child minder whilst you laugh and learn your way to professional floristry!

We will be hosting two types of sessions. The first is a 3 hour session, where people can develop their skills over time. The second is an intensive 1 day course, where you learn the whole floristry process: from visiting our suppliers to creating button holes for weddings!

3 Hour Sessions

In these 3 hour sessions you will learn how to create a basket arrangement, a hand tied arrangement and a vase arrangement! These will be held at our studio  on:

August 9th 1:00-4:00
September 13th 1:00-4:00
October 11th 1:00-4:00

1 Day Courses

These intensive one day courses start with a early morning trip to our suppliers. You will see the large variety of flowers you can get right here in London and be able to select the flowers you will be working with for the day! Once you get back, you’ll be taught how to make a variety of arrangements and something specific you would like to learn! You will also be able to have a chat and listen to our guest speaker discuss the importance of floristry!

July 31st
August 14th
September 4th

(Times to be announced)

For any more information, email us at info@todichfloraldesign.co.uk or give us a call on +44 (0)20 7737 1166

Book soon as places

are limited!

Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the World’s Largest Flower Garden

Spring Tulips in bloom

This spectacular annual event was opened to the public by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands’ on the 19th March in Lisse, Holland. Keukenhof, known in Dutch as ‘Kitchen-Gardens‘, has been the world’s largest flower garden for the last 50 years running.

This year, Keukenhof is not only celebrating it’s own 60th anniversary, but also the 400th anniversary since English explorer, Henry Hudson, sailing under Dutch authority, landed on the ‘New World’, now known as Manhattan, which led to the founding of New Amsterdam (New York).

The floral tribute to the 400th anniversary is made of more than 53,000 tulips and has been designed to mimic the Statue of Liberty to celebrate ties between the Netherlands’ and the United States.

Hosted in a 77 acre park, an estimated 7,000,000 flower bulbs get planted annually for this two month attraction. Known most famously for its bright tulip displays which are best seen around mid-April, Keukenhof sees over 600 stunning varieties of this particular flower, amongst many others. The best time to visit is now, where you can see almost everything blooming in symphony.

In March, visitors can see the beginning of spring blooms with flowers such as crocus, daffodils and narcissi. By April, tulips begin to blossom and towards the end of April, hyacinths start emerging. Other displays include orchids, Japanese cherry trees, lilies, azaleas, rhododendrons and many more. Growers compete amongst themselves for the most imaginative display in the gardens.

Keukenhof is only 30 minutes away from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport by bus, so it is no surprise it attracts over 750,000 visitors a year, making it one of Holland’s top tourism attractions for many years. The serene flower garden first opened in 1949 when the mayor of Lisse decided to hold an event that enabled European flower growers to showcase their hybrids and boost the flower export industry, one of the most important exports to Holland.

If you’d like to attend Keukenhof, it is open until 21 May and there are still many events left this season, such as the ‘Biggest Lily show in the World’, Bird of prey displays, the flower parade, traditional costume festival and Orchid Weekend, which is the 8-10th of May.

Plants and flowers always seem to be in the root (no pun intended) of every fashion trend, as we’ve seen in the example of designer dresses inspired partly by exotic flowers. This time we’d like to direct your attention towards a remarkable collection of photographs of shoes and accessories designed exclusively from plants and flowers. We can”t wear any of these, but it would be great if we could. The collection is part of Michel Tcherevkoff’s portfolio of photos and is called “Shoe Fleur: A Footwear Fantasy”. It has been exhibited in New York in 2007, and is now available on display in Paris, June through August 2008.

The idea came about while working on on a shoot for a client, and was captivated by a prop and the way a leaf followed the contour of a shoe. He spent the next couple of hours of the evening contemplating on this and ended up playing with plant’s forms, its shapes, bending and twisting, to produce these wonderful creations.