Mon 5th Mar, 2012
The Zita Elze Flower School - including Flower Design courses for Brides and Hens
We're big fans of Zita Elze over here at The Ebury Collection and it was great to see her creativity out in full force at The Designer Wedding show last month.
We've also written about Zita before, which you can see here for Zita's Living Embroidery Collection, showcased at The Designer Wedding Show, Zita's Haute Couture wedding collection and Zita's floral wedding dress.
Today, I'm going to tell you about the Zita Elze Flower School, particularly the 1 week Wedding Design Course, which focuses on transforming creative thought into design for a specific wedding theme. Using Zita's inimitable approach, students start by creating a mood board to express their theme, visit Covent Garden flower market and/or an antique market to source materials, then develop and execute the designs which include a bridal bouquet, a top-table arrangement, button holes, cake decoration, etc. The students also have their work professionally photographed, so they can add them to their portfolio of work.
Zita's approach is always to find inspiration from emotions and channel them into a design concept. She gently pushes students out of their comfort zone, and releases a creativity that many are surprised to discover.
If it's a hen day you're looking for, then you can take part in a bespoke course designed to please each individual bride. They recommend a 4 hour day course at Zita's Design Academy, with a champagne lunch. The bride and her friends can learn how to make button holes, corsages, hand-bags, wrist bands or hair pieces, in view of each friend making their own displays to wear at the wedding (to be recreated fresh for the wedding day). Alternatively, floral displays for the home can be taught. In either case, ladies select the flowers of their choice from Zita's delightful flower shop, and the designs are theirs to take home.
I'm delighted to be able to share the work of some of Zita's students below. Take a look at the incredible work of Louise, Jill, Sarah and Julie. Isn't it beautiful? They took part in Zita's one month course which is divided into several parts:
- Week 1 is an introduction and history of design
- Week 2 is Zita's famed Floral Embroidery technique, and more
- Week 3 is her ground-breaking "Concept and Design" (3 days) focusing on inspiration and creativity, and more
- Week 4 (and the grand finale) is entirely focused on every aspect of wedding design, inspiration, developing a theme, sourcing and execution of the designs.
Students can take either the full 4 weeks, or individual courses, i.e. 2 days Floral Embroidery, 3 days Concept and Design, 5 days (1 week) Wedding Design, or individual single day courses such as seasonal Hand-tied Bouquets or Flowers for the Home. These latter day courses are catered more for amateurs.
Now, the only thing left to decide is which course I'm going to book myself on!
Louise Killen, Australia
"I undertook the one month floral design course at Zita Elze as I wanted to develop my floristry abilities in a creative and inspiring environment which focused on creativity and design, with a strong emphasis on feeling and emotion. The course offered great breadth and with the opportunity to study under a leading figure in the floristry industry this was a clear standout from all the courses within London. Having previously gained practical experience under a Master Florist in Singapore I understood the value of training with florists who were innovative and design led rather than traditional formulaic floristry schools.
Zita’s course taught me all the fundamental techniques that I would expect in a floristry course, but what is unique about this course it allows you to develop your own distinctive style. The school pushed my creative boundaries learning about the history of design, concept and design approaches, styling, and Zita’s world famous floral embroidery techniques. I was continually pushed to use feeling and emotion and to improvise and not be confined by rules. The culmination of the course was creating a wedding design utilising everything that I had been taught throughout the course and seeking out inspiration from antiques markets and developing mood boards to create rather than copy others designs. It was a wonderful experience and I thoroughly enjoyed being in such an inspiring and artistic environment."
The Ebury Collection wedding blog. Photography copyright 2012 Shirlie Kemp
Jill Cavenagh, Australia
"Entranced by images of Zitaʼs ethereal floral embroidery, I travelled to Kew, London, to study for one month. If I was to come away with just a little of Zitaʼs skill and sensitivity then I would be more than happy. Little did I realise the wonderful journey that I was about to embark on.
Zita Elze is utterly unique in the world of floristry. Her work comes from her soul and is devoid of the constraints that traditional formulaic floristry teaching preaches. This proved a real revelation for me as it opened up a whole new realm of possibilities. Cocooned for a month in Zitaʼs beautiful World, I got to study the art of her embroidery techniques; rediscover a love for antiques and history; and to be nurtured/tutored in her concept and design technique. Zita tirelessly and generously gave of her spirit to instill in myself a sense of this process, for which I will be forever grateful, as she has given me the tools to grow and hopefully, maybe even one day, fly.
Encouraged by my time with Zita, I am now opening my own shop in a lovely old heritage building into which I will hopefully imbue a little of Zitaʼs vision and some of my own soul. I have the highest regard for Zita and her teaching."
The Ebury Collection wedding blog. Photography copyright 2012 Izumi Yamaguchi
Sarah Atkins, Buckinghamshire
"I recently had the privilege to be a student for a week at the Zita Elze Design Academy. As a young florist I was searching for something new and refreshing to offer and to push myself further. The course was a rollercoaster of emotions, but I found Zita’s vision that she has developed for floral design inspired me in my work. Now, when having a consultation with a bride I notice her nail colour, the clip in her hair, the scarf she is wearing, & all these are very strong elements that I now use to make a finished product that the Bride will be delighted with. I always knew that I was passionate about design but the course allowed me to explore that passion and to use emotions. I believe that having that understanding and including that personal touch into your design, can mean the most beautiful of outcomes."
The Ebury Collection wedding blog. Photography copyright 2012 Izumi Yamaguchi
Julie Nichols, UK
"After seeing Zita’s work for the first time at the Designer Wedding Show, I was filled with a passion to learn more about her work.
Zita’s Concept &Design course was truly amazing. Her unique style was far more emotional than I could ever have dreamt, but it had to be that way to bring creativity from the heart, making it unique and personal. Zita has given me so much, and my desire and passion to see beauty in all things is greater than ever.
Thank you Zita."
The Ebury Collection wedding blog. Photography copyright 2012 Shirlie Kemp
Floristry courses at the Zita Elze Flower School start from £100 and take place at her Kew Flower School. To see the full list of courses and dates, please pop over the the website here.
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