Summer Daze...

I have finally found a moment amidst these mad summer months to share something I have been sitting on for a while. With the brand new website in progress, it seemed the right time to pack the van full of seasonal blooms and spend a few days shooting with the unbelievably talented Katy Lawrence, to really try and capture the essence of Verity & Thyme.

It is no secret I adore the Cornish coast with its wild waves, bountiful hedgerows and sense of seclusion, so shooting flowers on real film with my dear friend Katy for a few sunshine filled days was heaven on earth. Laden with flowers, film and more white dresses than anyone should ever really own, we spent a few beautiful July days jumping in corn fields, scrambling down into secret coves and hiking up heather covered cliff tops for the best views of the sparkling Cornish sea. We returned home each day with more freckles on our noses and salt spray in our hair, choosing homegrown strawberries from down the lane for tea in the garden. It was one of those perfect summer weeks where life seemed to stand still and I had time to fully enjoy how perfect the English summer can be. I picked hydrangeas from the hedgerows (in the most heavenly shade of dusky lilac I have ever met), wild mint growing abundantly from gaps in the stone wall and honeysuckle from the garden to make bouquets for Katy to shoot and I don't think I will ever tire of looking at them on film.

So I leave with you our photos, full of happy summer flowers and perfect Cornish sea and sky. Enjoy...

There are more, but I wish to save a few for a rainy day when a reminder of summer is all we need to lift the spirits.

I can't quite put my finger on why but I feel this summer has slipped by in a heartbeat and although I welcome autumn with arms wide open, I fear I have missed those long sultry summer days this year. Afternoons spent lounging in the long grass with a picnic by the river and balmy evenings spent in good company with delicious food, or maybe I had them but they seem lost in my memory as the weeks have rolled by. I may have to dedicate the last bank holiday next weekend to the above, lets just hope the weather holds or there will be some rather soggy sandwiches to pretend to enjoy.

Having said that, I love watching the seasons change and I get that same excited back-to-school feeling every autumn and I have to stop myself running out to purchase some tan brogues and a new notebook. The end of the summer will see a few more lovely weddings for delightful V&T bride and grooms to be and the launch of the new website, so this may be the last post on this blog as it will have a new home this autumn. More to come soon...


Charlotte xx

The wedding of Helen & Liam...

Helen and Liam's pretty palette of pale pastels, soft white and green made for a very romantic summer wedding last month. Blowsy seasonal blooms such as homegrown peonies and garden roses sat happily next to fluffy nigella and astilbe, and a touch of sweetly scented freesia (a favourite of the bride's), stock and sweetpea created a truly beautiful bridal bouquet. 

Helen wore a fresh flower comb, made to match her bouquet, in her hair and her four bridesmaids had delicate fresh flower corsages on their wrists. The groom and his groomsmen carried blush spray roses with white astilbe, whilst the ladies had a sprig of homegrown flowering thyme amongst their roses. 'Just picked from the garden' style clusters of jam jars in pretty pastels dressed the tables at Oh Me Oh My, full of blooms such as garden roses, sweetpea, lilac scabious, powder blue nigella and fresh green achemilla, and lots of fresh foliage added a natural touch...

Helen's blush, white and green natural style bouquet

Blush pink, white and greens sitting pretty together

Flowers for the bride

Flowers for the maids 

Flowers for the men

Flowers for the ladies

Wedding party blooms

Seasonal clusters for Oh Me Oh My

I still have a whole host of lovely June weddings to share with you, but for now I am signing off for a week in Cornwall with family, good food and hopefully more of this glorious weather!

Charlotte xx

The wedding of Estelle & John...

June, what a wonderful month! I have had my hands full of blooms every week with lots of happy summer weddings so the blog has had to wait a little, but I promise to share them all in the coming weeks...

We shall start with Estelle and John's big day at The Hope Street Hotel on the 12th. Having tied the knot in Thailand a few weeks before, the obvious choice for their wedding celebration flowers were striking purple Vanda orchids alongside palms and fountain grass, which were mixed with traditional English country garden flowers such as sweetpeas and stocks for their beautiful sweet scent. Lilac roses, lemon scented waxflower and homegrown mint made up the buttonholes and wrist corsages for loved ones, whilst lush green thlaspi and towering delphiniums and snapdragons made an impact in tall vases for Hope Street. Pretty little jam jars filled with lilac and white blooms were dotted around the room on the day to complement the bridal flowers and it was all set for the celebration!

Estelle's Bouquet

Flowers for the boys

Flowers for the ladies

Large vases for Hope Street

A happy yellow vase for Estelle's mum

Pretty little lilac jam jars for Hope Street

Flowers for the happy couple

As usual, I can't wait to share the professional photos with you as my amateur snaps hardly do them justice but in the meantime I shall be posting Helen and Liam's lovely day at Oh Me Oh My... watch this space!

Charlotte xx

Summer blues...

On the steps of the hut

Cornwall was amazing. I had planned to share a few photos from my old film camera with you but it decided to return a whole film blank to me (I needed a lot of cake to recover from this one), so instead I present you with a few polaroids and phone photos from my trip. They hardly do the sweet little shepherds hut and the valley views justice, but digging them out this evening has bought back many lovely memories - paddling in Padstow, gathering wildflowers from the bountiful hedgerows and a cream tea for breakfast to name a few.

The view from the window

It wouldn't be Cornwall without eating lemon meringue fudge by the sea

However, it was back to work last week with Ali & Euan's early summer wedding with a palette of pale blue, pink and white with lots of fresh textured foliage and grasses. I spent a sunny afternoon collecting bundles of soft lace and ribbon to bind Ali and her 8 bridesmaids summer bouquets, and added a touch of blush pink lace to the men's buttonholes and ladies corsages too. Ali's bouquet contained a handful of David Austen palest pink roses as well as blush peonies, highly scented sweetpeas and nigella amongst others. The tables at Oh Me Oh My were dressed with Kilner style jars full of scented blooms in happy summer shades, with soft blue delphiniums at the centre to tie in with the bridal bouquets. It was the perfect way to start the month of June and it was a pleasure to be part of Ali & Euan's big day...

Ali's bouquet

Flowers for the maids

Kilner jar table centres

Summer blooms and ribbons

Flowers for the ladies

Flowers for the boys

Ali and her maids by the wonderful Amy Faith Photography

Charlotte xx

The wedding of Jen & Morgan...

It was an absolute joy creating the flowers for Jen & Morgan's big day at Oh Me Oh My over the bank holiday weekend, and I was thrilled to be using a pretty palette of sorbet pinks, peaches and whites to bring a touch of early summer colour to the celebrations.

The start of May heralds the beginning of peony season and I was sure to include both Coral Charm and Shirley Temple peonies, the bride's favourite, into Jen's bouquet and the table flowers. The adult and baby bridesmaids wore wrist corsages in sorbet hues, whilst the men and mum's carried delicate buttonholes and corsages on their lapels made with complementary flowers and foliage to match the bride's natural bouquet. The beautiful old church was decorated with two large arrangements filled with seasonal blooms whilst the reception tables at Oh Me Oh My were dressed with varying sized jars filled with peach, coral and pink blooms to match the pretty pink bunting and lanterns strung around the room. It was the most wonderful way to start the month of May...

The bride's natural style May bouquet

Adult Bridesmaid corsages on soft peach satin ribbon with vintage lace

Delicate baby Bridesmaids corsages on soft pink satin ribbon with vintage lace

The beautiful old church where Jen & Morgan said 'I Do', complete with blooming blossom tree

Seasonal flowers for the church

Seasonal flowers for the church

Coral Charm peonies just about to pop in the sunlight

Flowers for the men and mums

Flowers for the Groom

Top table blooms at Oh Me Oh My

Sorbet shades for the reception tables

Charlotte xx