Helena Brown is an award winning wedding florist creating wedding flowers from her studio in Northamptonshire
We’re delighted to introduce you to Helena Brown, owner of By Arrangement Flowers in Northamptonshire.
We have known Helena for over four years now as a regular exhibitor at our wedding fairs and during that time I’ve seen her decorate more than a few fireplaces and top tables, always creating something truly stunning to inspire our brides.
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Based in Northamptonshire, Helena offers her floristry services across the East Midlands region and into Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Oxfordshire.
How long have you been doing what you do now?
By Arrangement was founded in 1986 but I’ve been involved in solely weddings and events since 2013
What services do you offer?
Wedding party flowers, venue and church decor, gift flowers, new baby flowers, sympathy and funeral flowers, business reception area flowers.
Hire of some wedding hardware such as easels, post box, large mechanics for creating bespoke and unique decor. Consultation and advice regarding all things wedding.
What preparation do you have to do before a wedding?
There is of course the consultation, quote and booking process which takes a few weeks working closely with couples. Then based on what has been agreed I contact members of my team and “book” them for set up or preparation of flowers. But in terms of the day itself a typical Saturday wedding begins on a Monday for me. I make detailed plans – flower counts; hardware lists; sundry lists.
Then on Tuesday I am cleaning and polishing hardware and packing these sparkly items ready for transport to the venue. Wednesday is ordering day and I am on the auction on the dot of 2pm when it opens, armed with my spreadsheet and order the flowers. The following day they arrive in huge crates.
So flower buckets are bleached and cleaned and filled with flower food and water and every single stem is cut and conditioned and placed carefully in the buckets. Once they have had at least 24 hours to drink the creative bit can start – this takes 1 or 2 days in total. Wedding day is then set up day so the car(s) is packed with hardware, flowers and team and off we go.
The day after the wedding we go back to pick the hardware up and bring it home for cleaning and return to storage. And then it is Monday again!!! During a busy summer this is my life and I love it!
How do you start your day when you’re working a wedding?
Tea!!! As a Yorkshire lass it has to be tea!
How do you end the day when you’ve worked a wedding?
A lovely bubble bath with a glass of something bubbly and snuggling in bed with either a book or my cross stitch.
What’s your ‘must pack’ essential item in your wedding kit?
Scissors. It is a well known fact that you’re not a proper florist unless you constantly lose your scissors!! I’ve thrown them in my green waste bin whilst conditioning, left them in the loos at a venue. I find them all over the place – it’s a bit like most people are with pens. But the wedding flower world is impossible without scissors!!
If you could work a celebrity’s wedding, who would it be and why? (past or present)
Holly Willoughby. OK I know she’s married but she could renew her vows! I love her style and she’s girly girl and adores flowers and all things romantic. A bridal florist’s dream!
If you could give one piece of advice to couples for choosing a vendor in your category, what would it be?
Build a relationship with the vendor. You need your vendor to be invested in your wedding dream as much as you are. Of course I need to earn a living – but I can honestly say that the investment in my couple is more important. That relationship is so important – if you can’t make that connection and feel their investment in you – move on.
11 Fun Facts About Helena
- Do you have a nickname and if so what is it?
H. Short and sweet. I assume it’s short for Helena or I hope so!! - When you were small what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to have a shop like Emily in Bagpuss. Showing my age! - If you weren’t doing what you do now, what would you be doing?
I think I would still be teaching. - What do you do to unwind?
I love reading and cross stitch. - Can you cook and if so what is your speciality?
I adore cooking. Always have from being tiny. I’ve been lucky enough to attend some fabulous cookery schools too. My friends keep threatening me with Masterchef. I’d love to do it but a normal year of weddings wouldn’t allow the time!! I could have done it this year as it happens – but we didn’t expect this to go on quite so long! My speciality is anything modern British – I love fine dining and replicating things I’ve tasted. - What’s your favourite tipple?
Amaretto. On the rocks. Bliss. - Favourite holiday?
A two week spa break in Wales. Seriously. I don’t need sun, sea and sand! - What are you reading at the moment?
I founded a facebook book club during lockdown – we are about to start 100 years of solitude by Marquez. I’ve read it before but it’s the kind of book you can read again. But I’ reading Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi at the moment. - Favourite ‘Quality Street’
Strawberry Cream - Marmite – love or hate it?
Adore it! - Most famous person you’ve ever met?
Princess Diana
Booking Procedure
What’s the usual procedure for booking your services?
Set up a consultation – no obligation to continue with me and it’s free. Once the consultation is done I can prepare a detailed quote. If you wish to go ahead with By Arrangement we convert that into a contract. I recognise this takes time so your date is held for you. The contract relates to the date and NOT the content – this can be tweaked and changed right up to me ordering the flowers.
Do you take a deposit and if so how much?
No
How does your payment process work? Do you offer instalments or a payment plan?
I usually finalise things with the couple 8-6 weeks before the wedding and send invoices out 4 weeks before for payment up to 2 weeks before the wedding date. However, if couples prefer to pay in instalments this can be arranged.
What’s the best way for couples to communicate with you – phone, text, email?
All three! But text and email is good if I’m busy flowering!!
Do you have a cancellation policy and if so how does that work?
If a couple cancel outside of 6 months before the wedding there is no charge. Between 6 months and 3 months there is a 25% charge of the total cost of the contract. Between 3 to 1 month there is a 50% charge and within 1 month there is 100% charge. HOWEVER, realistically I would take each case on its own merit.
