In this interview, Steph and Tim were kind enough to share their thoughts about their business and style, trends, favourite memories and more.
Steph is a Chelsea Gold Medal winner and a Master Florist - need I say more!
I hope that you enjoy this interview - it’s a corker!
Please tell me about your business and style
We are a Wedding Flower specialist. A Chelsea Gold Medal winner (and ex- Chelsea Judge) plus a Master Florist which is the highest qualification in the floral world.
Our style is relaxed and friendly.
What’s the most important piece of advice you would give a couple?
We love it when both partners are involved in the wedding plans. Too often all the planning seems to be left to one half of the couple.
This special day is for both of you! It's the start of a new life, have fun choosing suppliers and the small details together, each of you needs input, then you'll be able to look back on your wedding with fuller and richer memories.
What are the most popular current requests and trends for next year?
The two most popular trends we have next year is "Modern Day Princess" - blush and white soft tones with very romantic floral arches of big blousy scented roses and cascading designs.
We also have "Tropical Jungle" - quite a few requests to create overhead foliage structures for their receptions with long hanging vines and large leaves with pops of fresh fruit and bright exotic colours.
Do you have a favourite review?
"Choose your florist carefully - they absolutely make the atmosphere of the wedding. Steph & Tim at Chirpee Flowers made the impossible happen, where others would have said: "it can't be done". They made dreams come true; it's worth making them central to your budgeting - Alison & Peter"
What do you love about the wedding business?
It's a such a joyous business to be part of a couples' happy day, we don't take it for granted.
Wedding suppliers really do want the very best for you and are an incredibly dedicated group of people.
What is your favourite touch that you’ve seen at a wedding?
A Groom to be who asked us to "write" a huge I LOVE YOU in red rose petals on the sand outside the Brides window on the morning of the wedding.
She had booked a room at an Eastbourne hotel on the seafront to get ready, and he hoped she would look out of the window just before she set off for the Church. (She did)
Slight problems on the beach with a breeze blowing... but it worked in the end. :)
Tell me about your memories of a favourite wedding
A memorable wedding a few years ago, involved a Texan Bride who thought she had booked Canterbury Cathedral for her wedding but when she arrived in the UK with her parents was horrified to find it was a small Canterbury Church called St Thomas's tucked down a side street in the City.
The problem being at the Church was that she was a 5ft Bride who was planning to wear a very expensive bespoke dress that was 6 feet wide. Social distancing by dress width!
Upon discovering that the Church she had booked had a very uneven narrow aisle, there followed many heated meetings with the Priest who eventually agreed to let the couple dismantle the Church so the aisle could be widened.
It was the start of a year long process for us with the flowers, and many many calls and emails to the US liaising with the Church and Reception.
10,000 white orchids were requested for the church aisle along with 2 massive floral arches dripping with white hydrangeas, scented roses and yet more orchids to walk through.
An additional problem was that her Groom was 6ft 5 which made it necessary to build bespoke arches for the day.
Leeds Castle was booked for the reception, more white orchids... along with a whole plane load of guests to travel to the wedding from Texas.
A gondeliere was to be used to transport the Bride and Groom at the start of day around the Castle moat with a drone filming every second.
Photographers from Vogue and Harpers, 2 Wedding co-ordinators, 3 bands for the reception, 3 amazing Dress changes and a day never to forget...
Oh and a final note, the Bride was an hour late for the wedding due to an accident on the motorway... We worked for 3 days getting the Church ready, it looked amazing... - but what a wedding!
What is your favourite celebrity wedding and why?
It's going back in history a little bit, to the mid Fifties but for me Grace Kelly was the most iconic Bride that the world has ever seen.
A stunning Bride and a stunning dress that's been now copied by Royal Brides' umpteen times, Classic fairytale wedding, an American film star marrying a Prince. Hmm that sounds familiar...
Tell me about your favourite wedding traditions that you’ve come across
I love the old Pagan traditions of "hand-fasting" which is seeing quite a revival at the moment, for secular and even some religious ceremonies.
Hand-fasting ceremonies date back over 2000 years. An ancient Celtic tradition, it was originally used to symbolise a betrothal, during which a druid priest would declare that the couple would be bound together with cords around the wrists.
This engagement would last a year, as a sort of 'trial marriage', after which you'd decide to opt in or opt out! In later times, it was used in a marriage ceremony, in lieu of the presence of a priest.
In the 21st century couples are using long ribbons and even fresh flower garlands to tie their hands together to symbolise a happy union.
Why should couples choose Chirpee Flowers as their wedding florist?
Good question! Your details for your wedding are our absolute obsession - your personalities should reflect the floral designs you choose, to make your wedding totally unique and we can do that!
Plus we can create flowers for small intimate weddings to large lavish celebrations and provide everything you need from one supplier.
Thank you to Steph and Tim at Chirpee Flowers!
You can visit the website of Chirpee Flowers here You can call them on 01273 951745 , or email chirpeeflowers@gmail.com