Nick Priestly and model Aisling Friel with Nick's predicted bouquet. Dress from Joyce Young By Storm.
Ahead of the royal wedding on the 29 April, a TV and celebrity florist has made his prediction for Kate Middleton's wedding bouquet.
Nick Priestly, who has designed flowers for many stars, including Rihanna, Kylie Minogue and Keira Knightley, believes Kate's choice will continue a tradition of royal brides expressing their own personality with their floral choices. He said, “Kate’s relationship with her florist will not be unlike the one she has with her dressmaker. They will obviously discuss her preferences, but will also look for flowers that symbolise something of her life. Increasingly brides don’t make decisions purely on colour schemes but want their choice of flowers to mean something personal to them.”
Apparently royal brides are ahead of the times in this respect. Since Queen Victoria they have been trailing style bouquets with combinations of flowers often representing key references in their lives.
Nick said: “Thoughout history, royal brides appear to have a duty to follow tradition, however it is clear that each had their own preferences.The Queen chose mainly whole sprays of orchids signifying her role as leader of the Commonwealth, while Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, included white heather symbolising her native Scotland. It is unlikely that Kate will choose anything too far from the royal norm. As a contemporary princess she would suit a spring themed, hand-tied bouquet of white ranunculus and lily of the valley but will she and her florist be brave enough to make such a floral statement on the day? An alternative twist would to be to add a touch of sapphire blue colour to match her stunning engagement ring in the form of muscari, hyacinths or delphihiums. This would of course draw attention to the late Princess Diana’s ring and evoke her memory.
“My prediction is that Kate will have a traditional-shaped bouquet of trailing wired flowers to include calla lilies (her favourite flower), white daffodils to signify the fact William is the Prince of Wales and Fairtrade Kenyan roses to signify William’s charity work in Africa and the place of their engagement. Her bouquet is also likely to include royal staples such as jasmine, lily of the valley and a sprig of myrtle which has been included in all royal bouquets since Queen Alexandra’s back in 1863.”
