The Biggest Bouquet ever?

The past year has been an exciting one for Specialist Bouquet Preservation Owner Mary Morris was thrilled to be one of the winners of The Produced In Norfolk Environmental Awards 2007 and the trade fair at Caistor Hall lead to her receiving her first commercial commission.
 
She was able to pick any flowers she liked from the beautiful gardens at Broad House Country Estate Hotel , Wroxham , preserve them and then design 3 D pictures for the dining room and some other rooms. Caroline and Phillip Search , who have recently opened this lovely hotel , allowed Mary to create unique collages for them and have very kindly recommended her work to some of their brides.  Working in such beauty was a real pleasure.
 
One recent area of her bridal work has been a challenge !  A bridal bouquet of the most glorious lilies and roses , which were almost black,  were delivered by the Bride and Groom . It was at least 2' 6 wide and 2 feet high and many of the roses were wired in the most decorative way with gold wire.
 
This was to be no ordinary preservation - the Bride requested that every flower was preserved and the shape of the bouquet remain unchanged .  Mary always creates a unique bridal bouquet that will be a precious memory for the bride - be it in miniature or entire - so it was explained to her clients that it was going to be a challenge as the bouquet when framed would be at least 4 feet wide and 3 feet deep !  Fine , they said - just take your time .
 
So , digital photography commenced , before the whole bouquet was taken apart  and off its floor length cone.
 
When is the correct time to stop the clock in a home , shut yourself away and concentrate on a project so huge and complicated !!  Double strength board was needed as the flowers weighed so much . Drilling minute holes started - the only way to fix the intricately wired roses and lilies , but suddenly it seemed to work and the design of the bouquet appeared  and the challenge became fun !!
 
Fine - work completed but the next hurdle was to get the picture to be framed . It only just fitted into an estate car ( and that was before the frame ).  The day had to be completely still , with no wind and definitely no rain as the flowers were so delicate they could not be covered.  The framer took one look at it and said " leave it in the car and I'll measure it there " So it had to be taken home again and placed in a spare bedroom to keep it safe from roaming cats , dogs and grandchildren !!  Another terrifying journey, when the mahogany frame was ready , to turn the picture upside down and fix it in its frame.
 
Amazingly all went well and framed it did look stunning , but it was huge - 4' 6 wide and 3' 6 deep. A telephone call to a very patient client , who had not given any time scale , and that evening she and her husband arrived to take it home.  Her comments were " I am so pleased , its amazing , its wonderful and what better way to keep a memory" .
 
Mary never knows what flowers  , apart from the bridal ones that are booked ahead , will be coming next and that is an aspect that she loves . They can be from a Norfolk garden or from far afield  , but all can be used to create a unique memory for her clients.