Wedding Flower Tips From Oprah’s Favourite Florist

Celebrity favourite Jeff Leatham’s beautiful blooms and scene-stealing settings have set the bar high for wedding design

Oprah said that Jeff Leatham is “the greatest florist of all time” and Cher said he is the “Bob Mackie of flowers.” Surely the most famous florist in the world, the Artistic Director of the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris has been creating magic with flowers since 1994 where it all started at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. On his recent visit to Dubai to design the floral installations at Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, Jeff said: “It is probably the largest installation, in terms of size, that I’ve ever done at a hotel, which is very exciting for me and it was incredible to be able to create something so special for the resort’s 10th anniversary.” Bazaar Bride got the rare opportunity to ask the famed florist about the dos and don’ts when it comes to deciding on blooms for your big day.

Can you ever have too many flowers at a wedding?

Ha, well yes! I have definitely designed several weddings that have had an unbelievable amount of flowers, but I do believe there is a point that too much is too much. Large statements in certain areas are great, but overload in every corner is too much in my opinion, as it makes you not appreciate the details when there is too much everywhere.

Can you walk us through the steps of how you begin to work with a couple?

I always start with asking them to close their eyes and describe what they envision their dream wedding to look like. Pinterest boards are great to see an overall vibe and what they want, but there is nothing like the dream they have in their head and hearing how they articulate that vision.

How can a bride prepare for her first meeting with you?

I am a true believer in not planning too far ahead. If people call me and say they want to book me for a wedding in two years, I always respond by saying: “Call me 11 months before the wedding and we can talk.” Everyone’s vision always changes up until the last months before the event. And, we need to know exactly what your budget range is because when everyone knows that up front, it saves a lot of time and trouble.

Are there any types of flowers a bride should avoid on her big day, either in her bouquet or as decoration?

Mixing too many different colours together – that’s a NO, NO, NO.

What are the trends and themes you are seeing at the moment for winter weddings?

To be honest, I don’t really follow trends.

Do you have a favourite flower?

The magnolia. Are you a fan of the boutonniere? Not really unless it is beautifully simple; gardenia or three stems of Lily of the Valley.

Tops 10 truths with Jeff

1. What is your motto? The Leatham three: Keep it clean, simple and chic.
2. What’s your greatest extravagance? Art and sleep.
3. What does success mean to you? Hard work every day.
4. What would you ban if you had the chance? Unkindness.
5. What trait do you admire most in others? Kindness.
6. What’s your most treasured possession? Marilyn Monroe’s Golden Globe from 1962.
7. If you could be anyone else, who would it be and why? I love my life and would not change a thing or want to be anyone else.
8. If you wrote a book one day, what would it be about? My amazing, wonderful, fun life.
9. When you were younger, what did you want to be? An actor.
10. How many vases do you have at home? Many, but eight that I fill with flowers every week.

From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s Bride Autumn/Winter 2024 issue