GOODBYE MISS HAVISHAM (or, why Floragraphica rocks)

Floragraphica is my baby, and I’m super passionate about it. For me, it combines all my favourite things – photography, flowers, art. But, hey, it’s not all about me (shocking, I know!) So, I am writing this little piece to tell you and the rest of the world (only slight delusions of grandeur there) why Floragraphica should be your favourite thing too – ESPECIALLY if you are getting married (and having fresh flowers – that’s an important part!)

If you include my own, I have been in the bridal party of 10 weddings (you should see my collection of bridesmaid dresses!).

One common thing across them all is the love and attention (and $) that went into choosing the bridal bouquet. And these bouquets were beautiful – yes even the ones in the early 90s! But where are they now? Well I can tell you where mine is – it is a cob-webby, brown, Miss Havisham-esque nightmare (see above for a visual) hidden away in my mother’s garage. (I know - it’s time to let it go . . .goodbye Miss Havisham). My wedding photos do contain some images with my flowers, but I’m not really the type to adorn my walls with my own image, so those pics don’t take pride of place. My flowers, which I adored (really adored), are really only alive in my memory. That makes me sad.

And flowers are beautiful. Just looking at them lifts your spirit (it’s true – I’ll throw in a link at the end to prove it). They deserve to be celebrated and admired. They deserve to be on your wall making your home beautiful. They are worthy of being art (just ask Georgia O’Keeffe, Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Christopher Beane or any other incredible artist who captured flowers).

So, imagine if that beautiful art on your wall of that beautiful flower was actually from your wedding. For a start, you will feel especially emotionally connected to it (after all, it’s probably your favourite flower in the world) plus, it’s a reminder of what was probably the best day of your life (all things going well ;) ). Isn’t that a beautiful thought? No-one in the entire world will have that piece of art except you, because it is from your bouquet. And it can be something you hand down to your children that hopefully they won’t hate inheriting (I’m looking at you Wedgwood figures).

It won’t brown, and won’t ever look Miss Havisham-eque – but it is totally on you if it gets cob-webby . . .

If you would like to see more examples of my previous work, check out our Gallery; if you would like to talk to me about turning your bouquet into an artwork, email me at info@floragraphica.com.au or use the contact form. And if you'd like to form a support group for my bridesmaid dresses, I'd be open to that too!

References:

o Miss Havisham image from Great Expectations (1946) via The Toast

o Effect of floral displays on mood: http://horttech.ashspublications.org/content/10/1/59.full.pdf

o Credit for bridal image (far left) Alvin Mahmudov