Bubbles, Botanicals & a Slice of Citrus

3 days ago
5 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

A Champagne and Lime Christmas

This Christmas, it’s all about celebrating in style, with a fresh twist. Inspired by the zest and sparkle of a Champagne Mojito, Bubbles, Botanicals & a Slice of Citrus blends natural beauty, sustainable elegance, and a hint of indulgence. From eco-friendly florals to mindful baking, the concept proves that luxury can have a lighter footprint and that festive entertaining is all the more joyful when it’s personal.

Multi-award-winning Cheshire floral designer and stylist Jacqui Owen of Jacqui O, North West finalist artisan baker Rhian Farrington of Bake-A-licious, and award-winning wedding & brand photographer Sarah Horton came together to stage the ultimate girls’ night in: a celebration filled with botanicals, fizz, sweet treats, and tablescaping inspiration. Their creative collaboration brought to life a fresh take on Christmas styling, one that sparkles while remaining grounded in nature.

The inspiration came from Heather’s Knutsford home, where the character of the interiors set the tone for this non-traditional setting. The bold blue bar chairs at the kitchen island and the season’s emerging trend of green foliage with fruit accents became Jacqui’s starting point. A painting of a boat on the sea hanging in the home further influenced the mood: the deep blues of the ocean, a touch of frothy white from the waves, and the green of land imagined from the boat all informed the palette. Accents of gold added warmth and light, bringing a gentle glow to the tablescape and balancing the cool tones with festive elegance.

The Tablescape

The green trend for Christmas is shining strong this year so for this dinner setting, Jacqui created an eclectic mix that felt modern yet full of personality. Handmade ceramic bowls by Chester ceramic artist Kate Smallwood, crafted exclusively for Jacqui, were filled with blue globe thistles for the waves, soft white lisianthus for the froth, and a grounding mix of green trick dianthus, green hypericum berries, and seeded sunflower heads to reflect the sense of land from the painting’s maritime inspiration. Seed heads and grasses added a wintry movement and texture.

These natural elements were styled alongside gold charger plates, elegant fern plates, and delicate pear starter plates, each accented with a little treat of pistachio macarons and a lime napkin folded neatly beneath the pear plate creating a table that was both striking and considered.

The look was finished with vintage candlesticks, forest green taper candles, pistachio pillar candles, and gilded details such as gold-leafed pears by Jacqui. Succulent plants tucked into the tablescape introduced a living element, thoughtful gifts to be cherished long after the evening, planting memories as well as beauty.

And the final flourish? A Lime and Champagne Cake, a show-stopping centrepiece as delicious as it was beautiful. Styled with freshly cut lime halves and slices, fragrant mint, and soft champagne-infused buttercream, it was filled with locally sourced lime curd from Mrs Darlington’s. Carrying through the theme of freshness and sparkle, the cake echoed the spirit of the evening, light, zesty, and celebratory.Light, zesty, and celebratory, it was the perfect sweet finish to this fresh and festive celebration, a cake that didn’t just taste indulgent, but looked like part of the tablescape itself.

The Red Berry Festive Sweet Grazing Island

Taking over the kitchen island, a very on-trend choice for entertaining. Jacqui and Rhian styled a Festive Sweet Grazing Island that blended indulgence with seasonal natural styling. The idea was simple: to create a visually abundant spread that felt as much a feast for the eyes as for the palate.

The menu sparkled with festive flavours: orange and ginger cake, miniature raspberry cupcakes, lemon meringue blondies, macarons, pistachio cheesecake, and fresh fruits. Styled with edible flowers, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and orange slices, all created with Cheshire made curds and jams from the family-owned Mrs Darlington’s, the table celebrated abundance without excess.

To give the table its own identity, Jacqui worked in a wildesque floral style layering red Naomi roses, delicate seeded ammi, dried grasses, asparagus fern, and cascading red amaranthus. Cinnamon sticks and orange halves added festive fragrance, while jewel-toned berries gave the island a decadent, celebratory feel.

The result was a showpiece that transformed the kitchen island into the ultimate party centrepiece, abundant, joyful, and distinct from the tablescape, yet perfectly in harmony with the theme. A decadent spread of sweet treats, it was the perfect setting for entertaining friends in true festive style.

Jacqui O’s Luxury Tablescaping Tips

For Jacqui, tablescaping is about much more than decoration – it’s about creating a space that reflects your personality and sets the scene for memories. Her tips:

Collect What You Love – Mix treasured pieces with seasonal touches. Personal touches always make the biggest statement and give your table character.
Play with Nature – Layer greenery, fruits, and florals for movement, texture, and fragrance. Unexpected touches like gilded pears or succulents become conversation starters.
Think Beyond the Day – Include living plants, reusable ceramics, or thoughtful takeaways for guests. A tablescape should create beauty that lasts, not just for one evening, but an experience that people treasure and talk about for years to come.

Bake-A-Licious’ Delights and Sweet Secret Tips

For Rhian, sweet grazing is more than just visual appeal, focusing on refined flavours that leave a lasting impression on the

palate.

1. Delight with a spread- Curate a table of indulgent treats, offering an array of flavours and textures to appeal to

every guest.

2. Infuse with freshness- Highlight fresh, palate-cleansing fruits for a perfect balance of indulgence and refreshment,

this option sits lightly and comfortably for an evening of celebration.

3. Limit waste- Opt for bakes designed to be refrigerated or frozen, preserving their exquisite flavours and extending the delight to another day.

At its heart, Bubbles, Botanicals & a Slice of Citrus was more than a styled table, it was a celebration of friendship, creativity, and the joy of gathering. With fizz in hand, seasonal flavours to savour, and florals that told a story, Jacqui and Rhian showed how entertaining can be both beautiful and meaningful. Captured with timeless elegance by Sarah, the evening became a visual story of festive abundance, proof that a little imagination, a touch of luxury, and a love of nature can turn even the simplest gathering into a memory to treasure.

This Christmas, let your table sparkle, let your style feel personal, and above all, let it be joyful.