For her Oct. 12 wedding to Jack Brooksbank, Princess Eugenie hired London-based florist Rob van Helde.
For her Oct. 12 wedding to Jack Brooksbank, Princess Eugenie honored royal tradition while also incorporating rich fall colors in her floral décor.
The couple hired London-based florist Rob van Helde, who’s worked with a number of celebrities, including Pierce Brosnan, Elton John and perfume maker Jo Malone. Van Helden used flowers and foliage sourced locally from Windsor Great Park. The display outside the entrance to Windsor Castle included roses, spray roses, hydrangeas, dahlias, and berries in a beautiful autumnal color scheme. Additionally, the designs also featured Liquid Amber tree.
“It has been the greatest privilege and honor to create the flowers for Princess Eugenie and Jack, on their Wedding day,” Van Helden said, according to the Palace. “Her Royal Highness has been very involved from the start and has been instrumental in the autumnal theme.”
The bouquet included the traditional royal wedding sprig of myrtle alongside lily of the valley, white spray roses, trailing iris and ivy — an homage to the princess’s home, Ivy Cottage at Kensington Palace.
“I felt her bouquet honored royal traditions, but I loved the pop of blue!” said Heather Waits, co-owner of Bloomtastic in Columbus, Ohio. “It fit the style of her gown well with the tear-drop shape playing into her neckline, although it could have been a little bigger — so says this American.”
Christy Hulsey, owner of Colonial House of Flowers in Statesboro, Georgia, too smiled seeing a cascade bouquet. “Classic and traditional, yet romantic, her bouquet was full of intention and meaning,” she said. “I’m especially fond of the incorporation of white roses, which mean purity. And I like how the blooms were loosely gathered for an organic aesthetic.”
Hulsey also admired the color and texture of the dahlias and berries and appreciated the inclusion of seasonal foliage and branches from Windsor Great Park. “We always use this technique for our own bouquets as I think it gives a sense of place and just feels right,” she said.
The day following her wedding, Princess Eugenie carried on a generations-old royal family tradition by having her bouquet placed upon the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.
Katie Hendrick Vincent is the senior contributing editor for the Society of American Florists.
