With more than a century of experience, it’s no surprise brides and grooms call on Tipton & Hurst time and time again for unforgettable wedding florals. We caught up with vice president and lead designer Chris Norwood to talk current floral trends as well as how the company is working with clients to adapt their wedding days during COVID-19. | Sponsored Content
Weddings in Arkansas: Your floral services go above and beyond bridal bouquets and table arrangements. Tell us a little bit about some of your other offerings for weddings and events.
Chris Norwood: We want couples’ big days to be as stress-free and special as possible. Our team is available to help with anything the bride and groom may need—from linen rentals to large-scale florals and even balloon installations. If you can dream it, we can do it.
WIA: In light of COVID-19, how are you adapting your services? Are you seeing a trend toward smaller, more intimate ceremonies?
CN: Since we were founded nearly 135 years ago, we have always done weddings of all sizes. No matter the scale of the wedding, every couple is important to us—and that hasn’t changed with COVID-19. Over the past few months, we’ve seen many couples transition to smaller, more intimate ceremonies, but we’ve also had some clients who have opted to postpone until they can have larger celebrations. We know life is stressful right now. That’s why we’ve allowed couples to postpone, move their deposits, or even get full refunds. Our goal is to help make wedding days easier and more special, always.
Above: Chris Norwood, vice president and lead designer for Tipton & Hurst.
WIA: What are some of the most popular bridal bouquets in 2020, in terms of both style and palette?
CN: Right now, we’re receiving a lot of requests for free-form, gathered garden clutches. We’ve also seen a trend toward larger bouquets. As far as color and flower choices, blush and ivory are always popular. Ranunculus, garden roses, peonies, hydrangeas, and anemones are currently go-to choices.
WIA: What about mother of the bride and mother of the groom offerings? Are tussy mussy bouquets or corsages still in play?
CN: I’d say about 90 percent of mothers do not carry or wear flowers anymore. Instead, they go for great handbags.
WIA: We know part of the process of working with a bride or groom is finding the florals that suit their style. What are some of your favorite selections for traditional wedding flowers as well as contemporary bouquets and boutonnieres?
CN: For a timeless bouquet, I go for a beautiful Victorian clutch of garden roses, hydrangeas, and ranunculus paired with traditional rose or ranunculus boutonnieres. On the contemporary side, fewer flowers and more gardenesque, free-form greenery and succulents create an almost “foraged” look. I would complement that bouquet with boutonnieres containing berries, succulents, greens, and ribbon.
WIA: Finally, do you have any advice for brides and grooms in terms of floral selections, budget, or planning?
CN: Be open to options, especially if you’re trying to do more while sticking to a budget. If you’re open to a range of colors or seasonal selections, we can usually find flowers that are more easily available that you might not have considered at the beginning of the process.
Tipton & Hurst has locations in Conway, Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Pine Bluff. Visit tiptonhurst.com for more information.
Photo of Chris Norwood by Rett Peek shot for At Home in Arkansas. Wedding photos by Kati Mallory and Stephanie Parsley, respectively, from weddings previously published in Weddings in Arkansas.