Garden party flowers are not the same as indoor flowers. Wind, heat, and the fact that nobody wants to lean around a tall centrepiece all change what works. Here is what we have learned from doing this for a few summers now.
Keep arrangements low ¶
The single most important rule for outdoor table flowers is height. Anything taller than about 25cm becomes a problem in a light breeze. Tall stems catch the wind, arrangements tip, guests move them out of the way. Low, wide arrangements in heavy vessels stay put and let people see each other across the table. We use wide-mouthed ceramic pots rather than narrow vases for exactly this reason.
Choose flowers with sturdy stems ¶
Delicate flowers with thin stems, sweet peas, for example, or anemones, struggle in the heat and wind of an outdoor setting. For garden parties we favour scabiosa, cosmos, sweet William, and sunflowers for their stem strength and heat tolerance. Dahlias are good in the evening when temperatures drop. Avoid anything that wilts quickly in warmth.
Water more than you think you need to ¶
Flowers in outdoor settings lose water faster than indoors. If arrangements are going to be out for more than three or four hours, top up the water at the halfway point. For events that run into the evening, we often prepare a second set of vessels and swap them over at around 5pm. It sounds like extra work but it makes a visible difference.
Foliage holds things together ¶
Good foliage is underrated in outdoor arrangements. Hedgerow foliage, eucalyptus, and fern fronds add structure and fill gaps without adding height. They also tend to be more than flowers in the heat. We use a lot of foliage in our garden party work, more than we would for an indoor arrangement of the same size.
Think about the light ¶
Outdoor events often run from afternoon into evening, and the light changes dramatically. Pale flowers, whites, creams, and soft pinks, show up beautifully in evening light. Bright colours that look vivid in afternoon sun can look flat once the light softens. If your event runs into the evening, consider mixing in some white or cream stems alongside the colour.
We take garden party bookings from April through September for events within about 60 miles of Ludlow. Get in touch with your date and we will talk through what makes sense for your setting.