Neil Whittaker of The Design Element in Manchester will be providing the flowers that bring the winner’s dream wedding to life. His stunning floral creations will be carried by the lucky bride as well as decorating the venue.

Neil has years of experience of creating stunning bridal designs and venue displays, and has wowed brides around the world, including those attending the New York bridal show, with catwalk shows of some of his couture bouquets. View Battle of the Brides Images

One of the UK and Europe’s top floral designers, Neil has operated a shop and floral design school at The Design Element in Manchester for the past 27 years and has a wide range of high profile clients throughout the North West and beyond. As well as running the business Neil has represented the UK in international competitions, and is frequently in demand for design tours and demonstrations around the world.

Currently the British Florist Association’s Retail Florist of the Year and Interflora Florist of the Year, some of Neil’s work is currently on display at The Lowry gallery and performance venue in Salford Quays.

Our Wedding Galleries

Please click one of the links below to view our wedding galleries:

Brides Bouquets

Jewish Weddings

Hotel and Reception Ffowers

GMTV - Battle of the Brides

Planning flowers For Your Wedding Day

Flowers can be used in a huge variety of ways for your wedding - sometimes in small quantities simply to reflect the theme, and sometimes in larger quantities to help set it.

What you decide to have will depend very much on your own personal taste and on how much you want to spend.

Here at The Design Element we have great experience in designing wedding flowers and can offer you good, practical advice about the best way to achieve the effect you want.

Click on the links below to view a few examples from the simple to the elaborate designs that are available for your special day.

THEME AND STYLE OF YOUR WEDDING:

What are the surroundings like (both for the wedding itself and the reception)? Is atire formal or informal ? Classic or Modern ? What will the bridal gown look like? What mood are you trying to create? These are vital clues, which will help the florist design an appropriate style for you.

HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO SPEND?

Obviously, you can’t be expected to have a precise budget ready prepared But a realistic ballpark figure will help your florist to suggest appropriate types, styles and quantities for flowers.

THE COLOUR SCHEME:

Are there any colours which ought to be included or avoided? What colour are the bridesmaids dresses - or the grooms waistcoat? Or the table-cloths at the reception? Swatches of materials are ideal - failing that, a photograph or even a colour match from a DIY store will help.

SHAPES AND SIZES:

What age are the bridesmaids? How tall are they> are there any other attendants to think about ( perhaps a page-boy or a matron of honour )?

HAIRSTYLES:

If the bride or bridesmaids are having flowers in their hair, their hairstyle may affect how the flowers can be fixed and what style of head-dress will be appropriate.

WEDDING VENUE:

How large is it? What is the lighting like ? If the wedding will be celebrated in church, synagogue, Mosque , temple or a civil ceremony at the main venue, are there any particular customs or requirements which the florist should know about?

THE RECEPTION:

How large is the room or marquee? Do you want table arrangements - and , if so , how many? What is the background like - what colour and what material ? Do you want any arrangements for the car?

BOMBARD YOUR FLORIST WITH INFORMATION:

The more they know about your plans for the wedding, the easier they’ll find it to give you exactly what you want. Pictures , photographs, sketches, colour guides - it all helps.

Please make sure you leave plenty of time to book your wedding as many florist book up many months in advance. Even the biggest of florist can’t manage many wedding on the same day. You might also want an unusual type of flower, which will have to be ordered in especially.

A FINAL THOUGHT:

Flowers also make an ideal ‘ thank-you ‘ gift - to bridesmaids, mothers and others who have helped you with all the planning and organisation that goes into your wedding .

You can arrange through your florist before the big day and have them delivered to venue on your wedding day

We at The Design Element are here to make your dreams come true with our wealth of knowledge so any further information please contact NEIL or ANTHONY on Tel 0161 775 7039 to book your appointment today!