Love it or hate it, Bridgerton will be back to our screens on May 16th. With another story of romance and intrigue set in this pastiche of the Regency era of early 19th century England, florals are set to play a central role again in the lavish production.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first two seasons of wonderful TV escapism, not only for the story and characters but the sets and locations which were truly stunning, especially if you are a flower lover like me.
Bridgerton transports viewers to a time of lavish social gatherings, intricate courtship rituals, and elaborate fashion. Flowers, with their delicate beauty and symbolic language, seamlessly weave into the fabric of this world, enhancing the storytelling and supporting the themes of love, desire, and societal expectations.
In this opulent world where aristocracy reigns supreme and every detail exudes elegance and charm, flowers are used to dazzling effect. Not only do they succeed in elevating the sets to new heights of visual splendour, but they serve to complement the central themes and characters, adding layers of meaning and authenticity to every scene.
In this upper class society of "the ton", where words are often veiled in politeness and propriety, flowers are used to embellish the storytelling, communicating the position and desires of the central characters. Who can forget the beautiful wisteria-covered residence of the Bridgerton family, and the interiors of their house decorated in tasteful arrangements featuring roses, peonies and hydrangea. These florals served to elevate the Bridgerton family and reinforce their position as one of the most respected families of the high society of the era. At one of the lavish balls, Penelope Featherington appears wearing a signature flowered dress in yellow. The entire wall behind her is adorned in yellow flowers so that she literally becomes a wallflower, signifying her general predicament at the time.
At the heart of Bridgerton's production lies a meticulous attention to detail, and the selection and arrangement of flowers are no exception. Dedicated florists were integral to bringing the vision of the series to life, ensuring that each posy, centrepiece, and floral installation captured the essence of the Regency period and was closely aligned with the set and costume design.
The production designers went to huge lengths to ensure every detail was considered. A team of gardeners was employed to ensure that the gardens in every location were brought up to a meticulous standard. This was a challenge during post-pandemic filming, where many gardens had not been attended to and left to grow wild. Flowers, both fresh and artificial were added where the natural state of the gardens were less than inspiring. Flower varieties used were also carefully researched with some of the pre-dominant florals of the era found to be roses, wisteria and jasmine so these feature strongly throughout. Rhododendrons, however, had not been introduced in England during that era, so any locations where Rhododendrons existed could not be filmed.
Of course, a substantial amount of the flowers were not real, according to the Series 2 Production Designer, Will Hughes Jones, where artificial flowers were needed for practical reasons. For example, an indoor set full of lights, cameras and people can become a virtual hothouse in which cut flowers would literally wither while filming. They did ensure that fresh flowers were used where they were in close contact with the actors, for example, the posies that were brought by Daphne’s long line of suitors in Season 1.
Seasonal issues also affected the use of fresh flowers. In one scene being filmed in June, Chris Van Dusen the Showrunner, wanted a field of daffodils which of course was impossible, so they brought in over 5000 artificial daffodils which were placed in the field manually. For another scene which would require Hyacinths in August, and artificial Hyacinths were not available, they found a Dutch flower farmer who force grew hundreds of Hyacinths. Now that’s attention to detail!
Whether you love or hate Bridgerton, it’s hard to deny that the use of flowers elevates the visual splendour and richness of the narrative to new heights, with the production team leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to deliver a feast for the eyes and food for the soul for all flower lovers. I will most certainly be tuned in to Season 3 on May 16th, ready to be transported into this enthralling world once again. Will you?
