October Wedding Flowers at Greentrees Estate, Sussex with Sustainable Design, Seasonal British Flowers, Soft Autumnal Tones and Sculptural Floral Installations
With the Sussex countryside just beginning its gentle seasonal turn, we arrived at Greentrees Estate with vans full of golden foliage, delicate grasses, seasonal blooms, berries and branches and the very last treasures of the British grown flower season.
Greentrees Estate is a luxury, exclusive-use weekend wedding venue nestled in the Sussex landscape. It is beautifully abundant in light, space, architectural detail and rambling gardens. It’s always a joy to flower here and an honour to be a recommended supplier at such a lovely venue and that is very local to the MWG Surrey based flower studio. The estate offers the most elegant canvas, refined yet warm, dramatic and modern and yet softened by the surrounding countryside visible through its expansive windows.
For this October celebration, the floral styling was designed to echo exactly that balance.
Before diving into the details, here’s what the bride so kindly shared about her bespoke wedding floral design experience with Made with Grace -
“I honestly cannot recommend Grace enough, a true visionary who instantly understood my ideas for the wedding from the first meeting. Every single detail was absolute perfection and exceeded all of our expectations and I am beyond happy that we put all of our trust in Grace to pull off such amazing work.
Not just an incredible supplier but such a kind soul too! Thank you Grace”
The Floral Design Brief & Autumn Styling Vision
This couple - F & J, discovered Made with Grace via Instagram and enquired 17 months ahead of their wedding. Lead and enquiry times seem to be becoming increasingly shorter in recent wedding seasons but it really does benefit to begin early, allowing ample time for evolution of ideas and concepts and to secure your favourite suppliers. Many luxury wedding florists and suppliers, including Made with Grace only take on a limited number of weddings per season and have exclusivity of dates to allow the very best provision of care and creativity. So do always get started on sourcing your florist early if you can. All you need is your date and venue to begin.
F & J’s original aesthetic brief on enquiry described a desire for something sleek and modern with an element of colour and wildness from the flowers. They were drawn to the studio’s use of nuanced colour, soft palettes and organic yet subtly sculptural silhouettes here at Made with Grace.
Interestingly, the initial design proposal as per the couples initial thoughts and wishes explored pastel tones. However, as the wedding approached and details such as the black tie dress code became finalised, the couple felt called to lean into the beauty of the autumn season instead, while still maintaining softness and light in the feel. This shift felt incredibly grounding and being a floral studio that really loves to complement and celebrate the beauty of the seasons where clients briefs allow this was very welcomed.
The new palette, now leaning into the season was developed to embrace soft terracotta, butter yellow, coffee tones, pale peach and blush.
There is something very special about allowing florals to reflect the landscape beyond the venue walls and windows. In October at Greentrees Estate, the surrounding trees were beginning their quiet transformation from green to gold and the garden borders becoming more muted, neutral and textured as floral varieties begin to die back and grasses really come into their moment.
Designing in harmony with the season also allowed us to incorporate specialist British-grown varieties only available for a few fleeting weeks each year, flowers that may become nostalgic markers when they bloom again in future autumns.
Ceremony Flowers at Greentrees Estate
The ceremony space at Greentrees Estate is beautifully light-filled and framed by the huge windows and wooden frames. So we wanted to soften the backdrop and bring a sense of focus and intimacy with the florals.
Framing Urn Installation
Four large floral urn designs were created and positioned upon plinths to form a sculptural nest behind and around the couple during the ceremony. The silhouette was modern yet organic, structured in placement but softened by the organic forms and botanical ingredients.
These statement designs featured many floral and foliage varieties including -
Naturally turned golden oak and birch branches
British hedgerow vine wild clematis trailing gently from the urns
Hydrangeas with muted, multi toned petals
Focal chrysanthemums
Delicate daucus
The layering of branch work created height and architectural structure, while the seasonal flowers introduced softness and tonal warmth. Following the ceremony, these urn arrangements were thoughtfully separated and repurposed. Some went to the bar for statement floral styling in this space and the others became backdrops in the dining room. Repurposing of floral arrangements is something we do wherever possible, getting the very most from your florals and investment and providing visual cohesion and impact across the celebration.
Aisle Meadows
The aisle was lined with abundant yet delicate floral meadow arrangements.
These were created with many floral varieties including -
The last of the British-grown cosmos
Frothy daucus
Luxury lisianthus
Delicate grasses
The movement of grasses and petite stems introduced that sense of wildness the couple had originally loved, while maintaining the modern restraint suited to the venue.
After the ceremony, the meadow designs were repurposed with some used to style the seating plan for the dining and the remaining combined to form a statement meadow installation encircling the wedding cake.
This thoughtful reuse not only minimises waste but ensures the florals remain present throughout the entire celebration and gets the very most from your investment.
Bridal & Bridesmaids Bouquets
The bridal bouquet captured the very best of the October moment.
It featured:
The last of the British speciality phlox
Late season dahlias in butter yellow and dusky pinks
Luxury cappuccino roses
Delicate grasses
Petite autumn-turning foliage
It had a soft autumnal feel with a sense of golden glow about it with the gentle coffee tones and the inclusion of butter yellow dahlias, foliage caught on its seasonal turn from green to gold softly contrasted to peach and pale pinks and terracotta tones
Its silhouette was that of the MWG signature style, relaxed, textural, with depth and a gently heart shaped form.
The bridesmaids bouquets echoed the same tonal story in a slightly pinker composition, with soft greenery, lisianthus and premium roses, each slightly different (no two arrangements are the same here!) maintaining cohesion across the bridal party and contrasting with such elegance to their black gowns.
Reception Styling & Table Flowers
Inside the dining space at Greentrees Estate, round tables were styled with floral centrepieces in our MWG exclusive handmade stone bowls.
Each design as always was foam-free and sustainably crafted, featuring:
Seasonal berries
Delicate chocolate cosmos
British anemones
Dahlias
Soft textural foliage
Paired with tall ivory taper candles, the result felt warm, intimate and softly dramatic perfectly balanced against the black tie styling of the day and hand calligraphy table stationery and black bow ribbon details.
Welcome Sign Flower Meadow
A statement asymmetric floral arrangement framed the bespoke linen welcome sign created by Be Wildly, placed in the entrance hall. Rambling branches brought height, delicate ferns softened the base, and seasonal focal flowers of hydrangeas, berries and chrysanthemums created depth and interest and a teaser of the days floral palette to welcome guests.
Bud vases were scattered throughout the bar, bathrooms and signing table, subtle floral touches that carried the aesthetic through every space.
Rehearsal Dinner Florals
The evening before the wedding, florals were also provided for the rehearsal dinner, this time in elegant all-white tones.
Delicate British-grown cosmos, anemones and dahlias were arranged in glass scalloped rim bud vase and paired with tall ivory taper candles. It felt feminine, soft, understated and beautifully complementary to the main celebration the following day.
Seasonal British Flowers in October
Despite being late in the growing season, we were fortunate that the temperature had not yet dropped sharply, allowing access to British-grown blooms from our trusted growers in Surrey and Sussex. We are super passionate about supporting British grown flowers here at Made with Grace, supporting our commitment to sustainability and respect of our community and land. Our clients so often also share this value and experience great delight at discovering flowers they may have never seen before in their wedding flowers and experiencing their beauty. It is an element we are so commonly complimented on in feedback.
They are so loved because sourcing locally grown flowers allows -
A significantly reduced carbon footprint
Pesticide-free cultivation and kindness to our soil
Exceptional freshness and longevity
Access to delicate, specialist varieties unavailable through the international market
October in Britain offers a fleeting window of dahlias, speciality phlox, cosmos, chocolate cosmos, chrysanthemums, berries and richly toned foliage. Working with the rhythm of the British growing season results in florals that feel deeply connected to time and place.
Sustainable Floral Design at Greentrees Estate
Every arrangement (as always here at MWG in adherence with the commitment to sustainability) created for this October wedding at Greentrees Estate was designed using foam-free, reusable mechanics.
From large-scale urn installations to table centrepieces and meadow designs, sustainable inner structures ensured stems were supported and hydrated without chemicals or single use materials.
Vessels used throughout the venue were from the studio’s curated collection, either vintage pieces or exclusively crafted for ongoing event use.
Sustainability is an element we are passionate about and kind and clean practice is embedded in every stage of our design process.
A Softly Sculptural Autumn Celebration in Sussex
This Greentrees Estate wedding was a beautiful example of how leaning into the season can bring delighting elevation to the celebrations backdrop and blooms.
By embracing the tones of the natural landscape in October, golden foliage, soft terracotta tones, muted berries and the final flourish of British-grown blooms, the florals felt grounded, cohesive and quietly luxurious.
If you are planning a wedding at Greentrees Estate or searching for a sustainable wedding florist in Sussex, Surrey, Kent or Hampshire who works seasonally and foam-free, I would love to hear more about your wedding plans so far.
Wish to see more?
Learn more about the Made with Grace bespoke wedding flowers service here
Want to see video content from this wedding? Check out this snippet on instagram here and a longer film here
How about seeing what florals we crafted for a Spring Wedding at Greentrees Estate? Click here
The Wedding Suppliers Behind the Wedding
Photographer - Imogen Eve
Video - Charlie May Video
Coordination @greenlily_events
Hair & Make up @hl_london
Wedding Dress @vagabond_bridal
Venue @greentreesestate
Caterer @eat_events
Flowers @madewithgracefloraldesign
Videographer @charlimayvideo
Band & DJ @mattmauriceevents
String Quartet @halostringsuk
Stationary @bewilderly
Frequently Asked Questions About October Wedding Flowers
What flowers are in season for an October wedding in the UK?
Availability depends on weather conditions as October lies late in the British flower season. If we are blessed with late warmth and calm weather seasonal varieties can include dahlias, speciality phlox, cosmos, chocolate cosmos, anemones, hydrangeas, berries and autumn-turning foliage.
Is sustainable wedding flower design possible for large installations?
Yes. Large ceremony urns, meadows and statement designs can all be created using reusable, foam-free mechanics. Whilst requiring expertise, sustainable floral design is not limited by scale or impact.
Why choose British-grown wedding flowers?
British-grown flowers have a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to imported blooms. They are often fresher, more delicate in character and include specialist varieties unavailable on the international flower market.
Can ceremony flowers be reused for the reception?
Absolutely. Repurposing installations is both sustainable and cost-effective. Ceremony urns can frame bars or dining spaces, and aisle meadows can be transformed into cake surrounds or seating plan styling, amongst many other possibilities.
Do autumn wedding flowers have to feel dark or heavy?
Not at all. Autumn palettes can feel soft, light and refined by incorporating butter yellows, coffee tones, blush, peach and warm neutrals rather than focussing on deeper tones.
