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WEDDINGS will become more expensive say West Fife's florists, who've report a significant fall in profits since Brexit.

The industry relies heavily on the EU with most imports coming from Amsterdam and this has caused flower prices to double overnight.

Lou Lou flowers in Dunfermline, who specialise in luxury wedding flowers, described the effects of the vote as immediate and and a bodyblow to their business.

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Owner Laura Hutchinson told the Press: "You work as a florist because you are passionate about it and a florist's margins are already quite narrow, but as soon as Brexit happened I felt an immediate effect.

"As I deal within a niche part of the market, there will be specific flowers that I will need and they're normally imported from Amsterdam.

"There is a very small market for British flowers because of weather and the most popular designs for brides have quite a commercial feel.

"I was paying 60p for a rose and now it's more like £1.30 but even the most basic flowers are expensive.

"This was all very sudden with no warning so I have weddings booked in from two years ago with quotes I have to honour and I'm barely making any money.

"It's a tough business to be in right now and the UK might be a less flowery place soon."

Prices in the florist industry have always fluctuated because weather issues all over the world affect the product but when flowers are massed produced in Holland, Brexit has made prices soar.

Some florists reported a profit of £100 instead of £400 after June.

Vivienne McBride, previous owner of Lilywhite flowers in Dalgety Bay, said: "I recently closed my florist but the last few weddings I did, I was lucky to make £50-£100 from them.

"I've now opened a new business but Brexit was been a deciding factor to quit.

"It was just far too much of a risk every month and costs have pretty much doubled.

"It seems the Dutch are quite willing to trade with other EU countries but are not really interested in the British market so they'll just put our prices up because they know there's a demand."

Lorna's Flowers, in Dalgety Bay, said their profits hadn't been affected but it appears that florists specialising in weddings are feeling the pinch.

Lyn Wilson, of Poppy Floral Design in Charlestown, said: "Prices have definitely gone up and some flowers have doubled.

"The floral trade goes in swings and roundabouts but I think if we sit tight we'll be alright and things will eventually even out."

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