Wedding Flowers Before and After at Highley Manor

Floral Ideas from a Master Florist Steph Willoughby @ chirpee.net

Behind the scenes decorating a local wedding venue...

We are proud to be a preferred supplier at Highley Manor and love decorating this local venue, which we do regularily!

Highley Manor is a wonderful 19th Century Manor House located near Balcombe, Haywards Heath, in Sussex. They offer civil ceremonies for up to 80 guests and evening receptions for up to 200. You may have spotted it on TV, when they first opened, being filmed for an Interior Design Challenge with Alan Carr. Check out the amazing bedrooms!

It has a fascinating history....the original Manor was home to the Poet Shelley.

It's bigger than it looks at first sight - there's actually 7 acres of land and their grounds have views across the Sussex countryside and a stunning Ceremonial arch to get married under in the warmer months, a beautiful spot to say, "I do!"

Areas to decorate at Highley Manor can include the outdoor Ceremony area - it's where your marriage will take place after all so needs to look beautiful.

Here are a few "Before" and "After" Images...

A more elaborate decoration with attachments to the frame of the Arch and Free-standing Pedestal arrangments to match.

An alternative decoration - a Foliage Moongate (A Good luck Symbol) to sit in front of the Archway

(This can be moved inside after the ceremony to behind your Top Table if you wish, but if most of your day is outside in the Summer -, leave it for photos and your guests to sit underneath it later in the day).

Highley Manor has a pretty garden swing next to the Arch - perfect for photos and also perfect for decorating... country-style garlands for example.

Outside the main entrance are 2 lovely Urns - have a floral arrangement to welcome guests - or you could choose Pedestal style arrangements or Free-standing columns (see right for example) on either side of the Front door.

These could be moved to your Ceremony nearer the wedding time, or to your Top Table or your Cake Table by your Bridesmaids or Groomsmen.

The "got to decorate" area is the stunning staircase - it's perfect for either a full-on complete look for a magical entrance or a couple of decorations at the front of the staircase if you prefer a cost-effective decoration.- examples below

Here are some "After" images of recent staircase decoration

A fuller design - 14 arrangements for the 7 steps - what an entrance!

Please note - since these decorations Highley has informed us decorations of the banister itself /the railings are no longer an option due to Health and safety considerations

Decorations can be placed underneath the banister rail or on the front newel posts or staircase.

After your magical entrance - your Indoor ceremony can be decorated in many ways.

Chair posies for the aisle, flower petals, lanterns, and a centerpiece for your registry table, or as seen below a "Meadow walkway" to make a beautiful romantic entrance.

We love how fresh flowers create a magical atmosphere, the smell and the sight of fresh flowers are like nothing else but did you know -we also offer faux, dried, and preserved flowers - a few examples can be found in our brochure - email us for a downloadable version.

Top table/ Banquet ideas...

For your reception, you will need to consider whether you would like long or round tables according to how many guests are attending.

Discuss with the Highley Manor wedding coordinators and staff the best layout for your number of guests.

They are super friendly experts who will help you with your wedding and will suggest ideas for you.

A recent decoration at Highley Manor used Hourglass stands and Low Bowls of Flowers - you will need to decide if you would like "all tall" or a mixture of low and high florals - both work well at Highley.

Here are a few examples of Guest table floral designs created at Highley Manor recently.

Please note: We have been advised that real candles are not permitted at Highley Manor, due to the Historic nature of the building - but LED candles or twinkly fairy lights can be very effective in floral designs.

Tall stands always create a wonderful "WOW" for your guests (we have a range of dull gold, rose gold, and perspex ) to choose from in our workshop/showroom in Hassocks - call to make an appointment).

Wondering whether to choose fake or fresh?

There's no choice... fresh flowers are the best! The scent, the touch, the beautiful look - yes of course we are biased!

Don't believe what you've been told - your guests can still see each other... they are 80cm high and designed especially to be above eye level.

To see more of this beautiful Gothic inspired wedding check out our Real Love stories page

What else might need decorating? See our Wedding flower Checklist here for suggestions.

The coffee tables in the Entrance hall are sometimes overlooked - a pretty jar of flowers or a design with impact - you choose. You may like to re-purpose your Bridesmaid's or Groomsmaids' flowers here - we can provide vases for you.

The Fireplaces are also lovely spots to put candles or twinkly lights, flowers, and lanterns all entwined with foliage garlands.

If you fancy a dramatic floral statement - we can provide an overhead canopy for your Top table or Ceremony.

It's also a nice touch to put fresh flowers in the Ladies' loo of course. Your guests will appreciate this!

Depending on your allocated budget of course - an average spend is around 10-15% of your total wedding budget on flowers.

Silk or Fresh flowers? Undecided?

We can provide either or both together. Price wise hiring isn't always the cheapest option no matter what you have heard!

Ask for a competitive quote for both and don't forget fresh flowers are yours to take away or to give to your guests - they will love you for it.

Plus, yes we are biased towards fresh flowers, lets's face it there's nothing like them - the fragrance that hits you when you enter the venue will provide memories and links back to your wedding day forever.

If you are wanting to keep your wedding bouquet permanently - faux flowers are great for this, but you can also have your fresh bouquet preserved by pressing or in resin - check out our blog here.

Whatever you are comfortable spending we can help with ideas and suggestions or you may already have a complete vision of what you would like.

Next steps?

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To go to Highley Manor's website - click here for further information

Photo credits: John Scofield & Cole-Young photography & Shelleys Decor