Category behind the scenes

2015 – Our Year In Pictures

Well, it’s been a shockingly long time since I wrote a blog post *embarrassed face* but we’ve been a little busy you see…

It all started in January with our double win at The Wedding Industry Awards 2015, for Best Industry Newcomer and Best Industry Website (and you’re here looking that site- hoorah!). After that we entered into a whirlwind of enquiries and quotes and preparations for the new season. Then the weddings started in April. Oh, the weddings! So many and so wonderful they were, and we felt darned proud of every single one we worked on. Major props to Stephy, Clair, Jo and Annie who worked for me this year- top work and some of the nicest people I know, really.

Then bang in the middle of the season, silly old me decided that we really needed more space and I hatched a plan to move to new premises on the glorious Somerley Estate near Ringwood. And frankly it’s bloody marvellous to throw open our big barn doors and gaze upon the rolling English countryside as we flower away. Twas a tad tricky getting the workshop up together and moving the entire inventory of the business in one of the busiest months of the year, but we survived (with the help of coffee and the best florist’s husband on the planet!).

And as if that wasn’t enough, I went on a jolly for some advanced techniques training and inspiration with the inimitable Sabine Darrall, worked with Koh Thai Tapas to decorate their restaurant on the beach for the Bournemouth Air Show, made a LOT of flowers for a MEGA photoshoot, was shortlisted for The Wedding Industry Awards again and won the Best Florist gong at The Dorset Wedding Supplier Awards for the second year running!

And then we did a little pop-up shop for Christmas at beautiful Cranborne Garden Centre to round the year off nicely.

Phew, writing it all down makes me feel quite exhausted! And also, it’s a lot of boring writing, which is not what you’re here to see right?

Hope you enjoy our 2015 highlights as much as we enjoyed living them (there’s a lot, grab a cuppa)…


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Picture above right courtesy of Maddie Waters Photography, with many thanks.

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The Wedding Industry Awards 2015 – We did the double!

January has been pretty crazy for team JP! Mr P and I headed off for a well-earned break in veeerrry cold northern Lapland just after New Year, where I celebrated turning 30 (booo!) and we did lots of lovely wintery things, including catching a full on show from the spectacular aurora borealis (yay!).

Just a few days after getting back to reality in good old blighty, we were off to Cafe de Paris in London for the national final of The Wedding Industry Awards 2015. Since winning the regional title for Best Newcomer in the South West, I was again just happy to share a good night out with industry buddies, drink a little too much champagne and soak up the atmosphere.


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Pictures by Adby Creative

Shocked was not really the right word when I picked up not only the national Best Wedding Industry Newcomer award, but also the Best Wedding Industry Website award! I think I nearly fell over- what an honour, and against such stiff competition!


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With Guides for Brides director Alison Hargreaves. Picture by Adby Creative

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The year that was – 2014

Well, the final wedding of the year is done and dusted. It’s been an amazing year full of happy days and literally thousands of beautiful flowers.

Thanks to each and every couple who chose Jennifer Poynter Flowers to create their wedding magic this year!


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Picture courtesy of Andrew Billington Photography

There were 31 stunning brides and 31 wonderful grooms, 89 dutiful bridesmaids and 29 cute flower girls…
There were 297 buttonholes for the boys and 35 sets of hair flowers for the girls…
10 flowery wedding cakes and 2 flowery seating plans…
Those emotional ceremonies were decorated with 110 pew end arrangements, and the receptions with 195 centrepieces…
There were archways and huge designs in giant stone urns…
There were fairy lights in trees and marquees, and mums thanked with enormous bouquets…
There were also too many candles to count- probably well over 700!


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Picture courtesy of BH13 Photography
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Best Newcomer at The Wedding Industry Awards

This time last week I was at Kingscote Barn in Gloucestershire for the South West regional final of The Wedding Industry Awards 2015. I was delighted to be shortlisted in both the Florist and Best Newcomer categories and was really just using the experience as an opportunity to celebrate my first year in business and meet some new people…


The 2015 Wedding Industry Awards WINNER Certificate
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The Dorset Wedding Supplier Awards 2014 – I WON!!

So, it’s almost exactly one year since I hung up my florist-shop scissors decided to ‘go it alone’. It’s been an amazingly tiring but fulfilling year, and last week brought the perfect cherry on the (wedding) cake… I was delighted to be named ‘Best Wedding Florist’ at The Dorset Wedding Supplier Awards 2014! I was completely shocked as the other two finalists are ladies I have a lot of respect for professionally and I don’t know how the judges chose between us! It was really an honour to receive this award in my first year of business.

Here’s me with lovely Caroline of Amazing Face, who won the ‘Best Wedding Makeup’ category… so very well deserved (if you need wedding makeup, this lady is truly amazing- clue’s in the name!)


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A little trip to Devon – with Caroline Hodges Flowers

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In mid July I made my way down to the darkest (not that dark actually) depths of South Devon to visit a fellow florist who I used to work with, the very talented Caroline Hodges. She had a big weekend of weddings and was sporting a rather large 7 month baby bump, so she asked me to lend a hand. Luckily I had a quiet(ish) week, so I was more than happy to head west.

It was a little strange at first working in someone else’s studio, but pretty great all the same, and boy did we make up a lot of flowers!

Here’s a little selection of what we made for just one of the gorgeous weddings…
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The Dorset Wedding Festival 2014

On Sunday I was proud to exhibit at the second Dorset Wedding Festival, this year held in a field at Farmer Palmers Farm Park (where you can now hold a marquee wedding reception!). Organised by the girls from Something Borrowed Magazine, the festival is a mix of great wedding suppliers, live music, food and drinks, all bookable for your big day.

Despite wet weather all week making the site rather muddy, nobody was complaining and lots of brides and grooms-to-be were there in their wellies to enjoy the entertainment and get advice from the pros.

My prep started on Friday; The workshop smelled pretty good…

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I decided to fill my stand with vibrant pink and blue summery blooms, including hydrangeas, peonies, sweet peas, delphinium and roses.

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