EXPERT COLUMN: FLORIST
A chat and a cuppa with. .
.
ESCENTIAL BLOOMS
HOW TO
TRAIN YOUR
FLORIST...
As a seasoned
wedding florist, I am
passionate about helping
brides get the most out
of their wedding flower
experience. One of the
most important aspects
of my job is ensuring that
all my brides leave their
consultations feeling
happy and relieved they
have found someone
who either understands
exactly what they want or
understands what will suit
them and their budget.
Visiting your florist should
be a fun and exciting time
of your nuptial preparations.
More importantly, it certainly
shouldn’t be something you
wish you hadn’t done!
Advert Credit: Curly Chops Design
The florist you have chosen to
contact should be able to offer
you a ‘No obligation initial
consultation’.You should be
able to take along Mum, Dad,
Grandma, Aunty Doris and
your pet Schnauzer if you are
inclined. I am lucky enough to
have a beautiful workshop at
home with twinkly chandeliers
and a pot of tea (and biscuits)
always at the ready. My room
is crammed with burgeoning
shelves full of candelabras,
vases, glassware, china,
lanterns and oodles more, all
on show to help inspire my
visiting brides.
I find that on our first meeting,
we can both quite happily chat
for at least an hour about all
things floral and a wide range
of other details that I feel are
critical in order to gain a real
insight into their wishes and
wants. I tend to ask a lot of
questions covering style of
dresses, colours, the wedding
breakfast menu, favourite
flowers, family traditions and
most importantly how they
want their flowers and their
overall day to feel. Be aware of
florists who aren’t interested in
any of these things!
It is vital that you ask your
own questions.You mustn’t be
shy! How else are you going
to gauge if your florist knows
what they are talking about?
When discussing flowers,
don’t allow them to flummox
you by using complicated
Latin names, ask if there is a
more common name that you
may have heard of.
If your florist doesn’t offer you
a portfolio of their designs
to look at, ask to see one. If
you are someone who has
a particular style or design
in mind, make sure you are
happy and confident that
your florist is more than able
to create it for you. Do not let
them talk you in to something
you don’t want! A good florist
should be able to design and
create whatever picture is
in your head, and possibly
improve on it by adding their
own individual touches and
expertise.
Your relationship with
your florist should be a
growing friendship that
improves over time and it
is this friendship that will
be evident in the beautiful
flowers they will create just for
you, encouraging you to be
adventurous in your choices
but more importantly choose
flowers that suit your day and
your character.
Do ask if the flowers are
seasonal or local as this
should make them more
reasonably priced and local
flowers have less handling
and travelling so should be in
tip-top condition.
www.dottyvintageweddings.co.uk
18
Issue 5