Designing flowers around a saree for a multicultural wedding at the Horniman
Ravina and Tom's wedding was a joyful, colourful celebration — and from the moment Ravina described her vision, I knew this was going to be one of those briefs that stays with you. The Horniman Museum and Gardens is an icon of South London, and their wedding was held in its crown jewel: the Grade II listed Victorian Conservatory.
Ravina wanted a riot of autumn colour — oranges, yellows and reds — with a pop of blue to add interest and lift the whole scheme. She was happy for me to make the flower choices within that palette, which is the kind of trust I never take lightly. Ravina was wearing a stunning Indian saree in rich red tones, so the bouquet needed to complement her gown rather than compete with it. I gathered full details on Ravina and her bridesmaids' dresses before I made a single decision — the flowers always need to work as part of the whole picture, not in isolation.
To honour the heritage of this mixed culture wedding, I wove tropical flowers into the seasonal palette. Anthuriums brought an exotic warmth alongside British-grown dahlias sourced from a local grower in Kent — two worlds sitting beautifully together, which felt exactly right for the day. The flowers were sourced through my trusted network of British growers.
After the ceremony, I moved the arrangements to different locations within the conservatory to make the most of every stem. The aisle meadows were repurposed to frame the entrance — one of my favourite ways of making flowers work harder without waste. Bud vases were used on the dining tables to keep the surface clear for the spectacular spread from Suzanne James Caterers, with their array of Indian dishes. The flowers became a backdrop for the dancing and the feasting, doing what flowers do best — present but not overwhelming.
By the end of the evening, guests took the arrangements home with them. I love when that happens. It means the flowers had a few more days of joy in them.
Ravina was a dream to work with — trusting, communicative and completely open to the process. The result was everything autumn should be: abundant, warm and full of colour.
Photography: Jonny Donovan Photography
Thinking about your wedding flowers? I’d love to hear about your day.
