Fabulous Florals
PHOTOSHOOT - Stennack Farm photoshoot styled by Piccolo Weddings for Petite Weddings. Flowers by Lafonia Flower Company.
Taken by Thomas Frost Photography.
The current pandemic has affected everyone in one way or another and it’s something that has united us in its worldwide effect; halting everyday life as we know it and drastically changing our day to day routines. It has been the first time in recent history where we are unable to live life as we usually would, creating huge ripples of change in our human behaviour and has given nature the opportunity to breathe and flourish.
Heartwarmingly, this has seen a hugely positive influx of going back to traditional ways of shopping; turning to local producers for our everyday needs, with a rise in farmer's delivering families food to their doorstep in neighbourhoods. Communities have grown closer together, born from implemented social-distancing measures and many of us have found ourselves reevaluating the lives we lead.
Before the virus hit, we had become a society that consumed everything quickly and immediately, moving further and further away from seasonal produce. Every area of life and industry has been affected by our mass consumerism, including floristry, and many out of season requests led to wedding guests not being the only attendees boarding a flight to the ceremony; wedding flowers as their fellow passengers.
Who would have thought that we would ever see the day that the very same planes are grounded due to a global pandemic?
SEASONAL FLORALS - Beautiful succulents and florals taken from a 60's inspired photoshoot featuring Lafonia Flower Company.
Taken by Olivia WR Fine Art Photography.
Launching our new Friday Features, we are introducing you to a woman whose own business has environmental responsibility and sustainability at its heart. We take a look at how she’s working to provide every bride and groom the possibility of beautiful flowers, that do not cost the earth (metaphorically and literally).
Ingrid from Lafonia Flower Company is a flower farmer and florist extraordinaire, based at a farm near Praze-an-Beeble. She grows all of her flowers singlehandedly, relying solely on her yield; no air miles racked up or stamps collected in the process.
Absolutely everything is considered and thought about, ensuring all environmental impact is minimised; repurposing egg boxes as seed trays, utilising homemade compost, wrapping flowers in recycled paper and harvesting rainwater for hydrating her crops, just some of her efforts towards being more than just naturally green fingered.
NATURAL STYLING - An alternative to the bridal bouquet, made from willow by Lafonia Flower Company. Used in the Stennack Farm photoshoot styled by Piccolo Weddings for Petite Weddings.
Taken by Thomas Frost Photography.
When we first came across her beautiful arrangements, we fell in love with Ingrid’s style of floristry and approach to protecting Mother Nature. Her devotion and ethos personally, as well as a business, entwine into her work; and you cannot help but love her own natural nature.
There have been occasions in the past, where she has gone above and beyond the normal call of any florist, including a time when a bride and groom’s copper archway went missing just hours before their ceremony. Handcrafting a wooden version, she delivered the new replacement to the venue, set it up and adorned it with her beautiful greenery and flowers effortlessly. The perfect rustic touch to their vows.
And for any couples who have a smaller wedding budget, the option of DIY bouquet buckets are also available, so that all of the flower arranging and styling can be done by the bride and groom themselves. This isn’t always an option possible from florists, and although we would invariably recommend Ingrid for her mastery in this department, it’s reflective of just how thoughtful she is of everyone, remaining as inclusive as ever.
INGRID - Ingrid from Lafonia Flower Company holding her arrangement whilst modelling for the Tregoose Farmhouse photoshoot, styled by Piccolo Weddings for Petite Weddings.
Taken by Griffin Photography.
Her dedication to both the environment and the couples she works with is evident, creating truly beautiful bouquets to every bride and groom's taste, and we have really missed working alongside Ingrid at weddings throughout lockdown.
So with this in mind, we decided to kick off this blog entry by putting together some questions for you to have your very own virtual first-hand introduction to her work yourselves.
So with no further ado, here’s a little bit of behind the scenes at Lafonia Flower Company -
When did you start Lafonia Flower Company and why?
It's the only way I have ever known from my childhood and I guess it's a part of who I am.
I grew up on the Falklands Islands on small remote farms, where we had to be self-sufficient. Raised by adults who lived off the land, working alongside the seasons; their resourcefulness, resilience, adaptability and keeping in touch with nature ingrained in me that way of being.
I absolutely love it.
The most important thing to me is that I do not do any harm, and just let things happen as they should, building a great future-proof business alongside it.
I love that I'm giving more people the opportunity to buy flowers that haven't been grown in another country or imported, and I especially enjoy delivering my flowers locally; taking great satisfaction in handing over a product that I've grown from seed, nurtured and then cut and arranged into a beautiful product.
BRIDE - Marianne with her bouquet made my Lafonia Flower Company for her wedding at Porthpean House. Coordinated by Piccolo Weddings for Petite Weddings.
Taken by Salt and Sea Co.
Have you always been green fingered and drawn to florals?
Absolutely!
As a child I have very fond memories of spending time with my nan, who was a very skilled gardener. She grew the most amazing flowers, roses in particular, and did a lot of flower arranging.
I remember regularly going with her to help gather moss for wreaths and displays, and now, I use both moss and chicken wire for my own designs. It’s the most natural thing to me and I attribute that experience very much to her.
Without her influence, I wouldn't know half of the floral knowledge I do.
DETAILS - Table layout at the Tregoose Farmhouse photoshoot styled by Piccolo Weddings for Petite Weddings. All flower arrangements provided by Lafonia Flower Company.
Taken by Griffin Photography.
What inspires you throughout your work?
The flowers and my surroundings are my biggest inspiration.
I'm very lucky to live in a beautiful part of the country and throughout the year I feel like nature shows me the way; the hedgerows, woodland and clifftops offer the most beautiful displays.
I find that just having the flowers growing and being able to pick them as I need them, is the most brilliant source of inspiration I could have. They bend and lean in certain ways that lend themselves well to a particular arrangement, or they've possibly gone to seed, and that adds the texture I'm looking for.
A cutting garden is a florist's dream!
COLOUR POP - Splashes of colour against the greenery in this beautiful wedding bouquet by Lafonia Flower Company.
Taken by Olliver Photography.
It is right that you don't use any chemicals or pesticides on your flowers?
It is.
I strongly believe that nature should be left alone and it will reward you by naturally keeping the balance.
The area where I grow my flowers is not manicured, it's a little wild and there are a lot of weeds.
If the ecosystem is allowed to thrive, there will always be predators for any pests I may have and I leave some things on purpose to provide habitats.
Only clearing sections as I need to plant them and trying to keep to a 'no dig' approach helps maintain really healthy soil, working towards this and keeping a closed loop.
PESTICIDE FREE - A close up of Ingrid’s beautiful flowers, free from any chemicals, start to finish.
Taken by Lafonia Flower Company.
Is it true that you let brides and grooms visit your plot to pick out their flowers from what you are growing?
It's a really lovely thing for the bride and groom to experience and I'm always happy to meet my couples at the plot to show them what's available.
There's nothing more informative than seeing the reaction people have to the different flowers and it can be great confirmation of which varieties to include in a couple's wedding arrangements.
There’s something quite special about them picking out the flowers that will be used on their wedding day.
We are surrounded by an abundance of flora and fauna, and I love to share that with them individually.
FORAGING - Foraging and collecting greenery alongside her florals, are all part of her creative process and source of inspiration.
Taken by Lafonia Flower Company.
When you’re not at your plot, where can you be found?
I spend a lot of time with my husband and children, and you can usually find us either at the beach, walking the coastal path, or in the woodlands. Cornwall is so beautiful through every season and we make the most of our natural surroundings.
I know how much my own childhood shaped who I am today and for that reason, I like our own children to be out surrounded by nature.
We see it very much as our playground, and I love nothing more than going for a sea swim, getting out on the paddleboard, or going for a run or cycle around our local area.
FLOWER DELIVERY - During lockdown Ingrid has been using her flowers that would have been in her wedding bouquets amongst her local flower deliveries, to avoid any of the beautiful blossoms going to waste.
Taken by Lafonia Flower Company.
For anyone who has a chance to watch Ingrid in her element, her immeasurable knowledge of flowers and deep-seated love for the whole creative process is a pure delight.
There is something very special when you see a person who is a complete natural in their expertise and executing exactly what they were born to do. It’s a joy for us here at Piccolo Weddings to work alongside Ingrid.
If you are feeling inspired to buy some of her beautiful blooms, you can support Ingrid by arranging your very own bunch of Lafonia Flower Company flowers for your home, via her local flower delivery service.
She is currently offering free delivery to your doorstep in Hayle, St Ives, Penzance, Marazion, Helston, Camborne, Redruth and surrounding countryside.
Contact her on ingridstone@live.com for more information and placing your order.
Treat yourself or a loved one during quarantine.
DOORSTEP DROP OFF - “It's essential as a florist to have lots of different varieties to work with and so as a grower I always try to include interesting textures and a broad spectrum of colour to cater for all our weddings throughout the year. With good planning we can truly stand by our ethics because we will have a fantastic selection of our own slow grown and pesticide free flowers at our disposal throughout the season”.
Taken by Lafonia Flower Company.
When the pandemic draws to a close, we hope that not everything comes to an end.
That newly formed connections strengthen, and our daily interactions remain open.
Whilst the temptation to rush back to large supermarkets is resisted and the surge of support for local businesses withstands; the hidden gems we will never take for granted again.
By stepping away from constricting work schedules and lessening time frames we can embark on adventures in our own area codes. Free to bask in the simple pleasure of sipping barista-made coffee at sun-trapped cafe corners, and to dive deep into the pages of our books that collect dust in our never-ending stacks of ‘to read’.