Bright And Beautiful…

..As opposed to Brain-dead And Bleurgh, which is how I’m feeling.

By my standards, this weekend’s wedding was a big one – pedestals, pillars, pew ends, lychgate, steps, garlands for the marquee and field gates, and that’s in addition to all the usual bridal party stuff, of course. The colours were bright and loud, which I love doing, and the clients lovely, co-operative and organised.* You couldn’t ask for more.

But even so, late last night, there was the inevitable anguished cry of  ”Why am I doing this?”, shortly followed by the sulky “Why can’t I just get a job in Waitrose?” and,  just after everyone had relaxed again, the accusatory “I had a decent desk job, and left! How could you let me do that?!”

Is it just me? What do “normal” florists do? Why don’t you hear weeping and wailing and the clatter of buckets being kicked over coming from the open doors of high-street florists? Is there a special room out the back for this? Or do you just reach a stage – eventually, perhaps before you gamble on opening a shop – when it becomes smooth and easy? God, I hope so.

I did get it all done in time (just) – despite the heat, the unforeseen hiccups, and the leaden fog of tiredness that working 18-hour days brings. Mostly, though, it happened because of the inexhaustible energy, enthusiasm and kindness of Erica and the  competence**, goodwill and all-round helpfulness of Amanda. I am feeling a bit slushy from tiredness, so excuse the sentimentality, but I feel SO lucky to have found the people who help me out and really, truly do not know how I’d do it without them.

Anyway, I know you’re really just here for the pics, so a small selection:

*Swatches of all the fabrics used in the bunting and dresses bundled up ready for me – joy!

** She whittles the ends of woody stems into points, where I would hack at it with a blunt pair of secateurs.