Wedding Day: Flower Arrangements

Florist Daniel Ost decorated the cathedral for Philippe & Mathilde's wedding in December 1999.

Originally Queen Paola had chosen a non professional florist to do the job, but the Union of Florists didn't agree and suggested Ost should do the job. This meant Daniel Ost & his team only had 18 days to start from scratch ... And while Mathilde was friendly, the contact with Paola was unpleasant. According to Ost, Queen Paola wasn't very cooperative and in a bad mood. Because the task was so prestigious, the florist from Sint-Niklaas felt he couldn't refuse but he describes it as "one of the worst experiences" of his life.

While Mathilde d'Udekem wanted red flowers, Queen Paola insisted on the colour white. Because the ladies coudn't come to an agreement, Ost put red flowers on the altar and white ones all over the cathedral.

Ost says to be particularly embarrassed about the big bouquet Mathilde carried: it wasn't his work, but the court's own gardener's. The huge bouquet weighed 3,5 kilos and nearly caused the bride to topple.

Mathilde donated her wedding bouquet to the basilica of Halle where the black Madonna is sometimes invoqued against childlessness. The bouquet was dried and is still on display.

Daniel & his daughter, Nele Ost still work for the royal family. Their firm is now an official royal warrent holder.