REMEMBER THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER STORY?

Remember the Elves and the Shoemaker Story?

​Once upon a time, well this week actually, there were three weddings and several funerals and the Bluebell Wood Florist elves were tasked to create their magic.  Just as the Cobbler in the nursery rhyme, the Florist couldn’t possibly do this all on her own – she has a fabulous team of Bluebell Elves to help her ensure everyone was happy.

I thought I’d share another little snapshot into the world of the Florist with you.  This week we had 7 funeral tributes to create for Thursday and Friday, two weddings on Saturday and one on Sunday, along with a shop to manage.  That is the finish posting but to get there, there is so much that has to happen, with many little elfin hands working very hard.

Here is a little checklist of what we needed to make up:

8 funeral tributes; 3 bridal bouquets – one of which was a cascade (fully wired); 16 Bridesmaids bouquets; 20 Buttonholes; 10 Ladies corsage; 11ft mantelpiece, 3 signing table arrangements; 20 real pumpkin table arrangements; 2 large pumpkin arrangements, create a flower wall, 2 foliage garlands for the marquee, 2 pedestal arrangements, 16 chairends; 8 jam jar posies, and 6 Thank you bouquets.

Some of the preparations required to make it happen:

Following the brief from the client we need to create the designs for the arrangements, decide what flowers and how many would be required for each; order the flowers; 2443 flowers come in and need conditioning (stems cutting, leaves and thorns stripping, putting in water); flowers sorting into each wedding/funeral and then each design; 22 pumpkins scooped, carved, lined and oasis added; oasis soaked and taped to trays for 10 arrangements; make up 19 boxes to display bouquets in.   

Then you can create the magic and make up the 127 individual items!

Once all of these are complete they all need to be carefully delivered to their final destinations. 
The first wedding Maria, Trev and I set up at the gorgeous Birtsmorton Court on Friday afternoon for Emma and Michael’s Country Gothic themed wedding, rich autumnal colours to match the season, black baccaras roses, orange roses and germini, black foliage to add some drama.  Pumpkin arrangements to display in the marquee, floral garland hung in the ceiling and a floral wall to hang.  Set up pumpkins and lanterns throughout the magical woodland copse and dress the mantelpiece in the grand hall.

Saturday morning Trev and I were back at Birtsmorton to deliver Emma and her bridesmaids bouquets and Michaels buttonholes and final tweeks to the venue.  Then off back to the shop to collect Ella and Luke’s wedding flowers to be delivered to the wonderful Eastington Park, Stroud, a beautiful manor house in glorious grounds.  Ella’s flowers were gorgeously elegant pastels colours with a mix of sumptuous roses and dried flowers.  We set up the chairends, the jam jar posies for the table centres, signing table and the lovely arrangements to frame the couple as they make their vows.  When I gave Ella her bouquet she cried, she was so happy with them – luckily enough she hadn’t had her make up done yet J. All done and as a reward, Trev and I stopped off at the butty wagon for a burger on the way back to the shop.

Back at base the Elves, Karen, Carol and Sarah had been looking after the shop, which of course they had to do all weeks as well as preparing the above.  They had also been making up the arrangements buttonholes and bridesmaids bouquet for Sunday’s wedding and a gorgeous shamrock funeral tribute.  So I came back to the shop to find the Elves had completed all the wedding work except for the cascade bouquet which I created in the afternoon.  Every bouquet has their own special way to be made, the cascade bouquet requires each flower to be wired to the holder, to defy gravity, so it can be very time consuming but very satisfying to make.

Sunday morning up early to pick up the flowers from the shop and deliver to the lovely Cotswold stone venue of Cheltenham’s Ellenborough Park for Melissa and Ricky’s special day. The chapel looked lovely with flowers created by Melissa’s father, a retired florist, and we added our signing table arrangement to the mix.  Melissa absolutely loved her cascade bouquet and the 7 bridesmaids were thrilled with their posies.

Thank you bouquets hidden and cake flowers set ready for the cake maker to add.
Back to the shop to make finish off the shamrock tribute and put cards on it, pick up some paperwork and then home for a much needed cuppa.

I hope you can see just how much time and love goes into helping add something special to people’s very important days, whether it be to say goodbye or to celebrate the beginning of a new life together.

I’m so very proud of the Bluebell Elves, they may not come into the shop during they night but during their working day and often beyond, they are the most hardworking, talented and caring group of human beings I’ve had the pleasure to work with – here’s to you Bluebell Elves!

And finally congratulations to our three wonderful couples on their special day, at the start of their very own Happy Ever After…