This past weekend, I designed the flowers for an outdoor wedding at the bride’s family home. The weather in Ohio finally decided to give us a taste of fall, making it a perfect day for an outdoor ceremony and reception. The color palette was warm and vibrant, a perfect reflection of the seasonal moment in time - one foot in summer, the other in fall.
Normally during a wedding week, I take a lot of photos of the preparation and behind the scenes. Then, they just get buried in my camera roll, never to be seen again. The most exciting and beautiful part of the process to show the internet is the finished product, which I do. It’s fun to show off the bridal bouquet or the flowers after I’ve processed, designed and staged them. A finished bridal bouquet and a full reception tent don’t tell the whole story of an event, though. Honestly, neither does a recap of the week leading up to the celebration. Months in advance, consultations are had, details are set, flowers are ordered, communication is made with planners and other vendors. Allow me to give you a behind the scenes of the process that begins once the materials and flowers are in my hands. I’ll recap using my actual to-do list for the week leading up to last Saturday’s wedding.
Monday
Print proposal (shown above), refresh on design details
Final vase count, organize by placement for reception
Prep vases
Tuesday
Wash buckets
Wash bud vases
Wednesday
First flower order arrives, from Sunny Meadows Flower Farm in Columbus, OH
Pick up flowers from Back Woods Briar Goods
Unpack, process, and get flowers in water
Thursday
Pick up flowers from Wanderlust Flower Farm
Flowers arrive from Ohio Flower Collective
Process and get into water
Design bud vases
Set aside best flowers for bridal bouquet
Friday
Design:
Boutonnieres
Bridesmaid bouquets
Bridal bouquet
Jai Mala
Centerpieces
Set aside and organize loose flowers for designs on-site, cake flowers
Saturday
Design base of Mandap florals
Pack car
Saturday, At Venue
Deliver personal flowers
Install Mandap piece, finish design
Install chandelier florals
Add flowers to cake
Set centerpieces and bud vases
Clean up all flower debris
Unfortunately, I didn’t see the reception tent completely set up. Tall taper candles were added closer to ceremony time. As I leave a venue, I say a little prayer that I get to see the professional photos. Each time I take photos of my own work, I am appreciative of the art of photography, and the skill it takes to photograph flowers well. It’s difficult.
This was such a fun and unique wedding to design for. Here were some of my favorite moments, as their florist:
I saw the bride and her mom as soon as we arrived to the venue (sometimes I don’t see them) and I was able to personally hand the bouquet over to the bride. Her and her mom were so happy with it! My greatest fear as a florist is that a bride does not like her bouquet. The bride gave me a giant “You nailed it! Knocked it out of the park!” and her mom’s eyes welled up upon seeing it.
I had experienced help for set up. Even though we were two girls of 5 foot tall carrying a 15 foot ladder around for flower installations, it went so smoothly and we had fun!
It would be easier to just order from a traditional wholesaler. I wouldn’t have to make several trips to pick up flowers, I would know exactly what I was getting and would be able to create specific recipes beforehand. However, I get such a thrill and so much delight from picking up flowers directly from the farms at which they were grown. I get that same thrill picking flowers for events from my own tiny garden. I communicate with each grower beforehand, share the bride’s vision, and receive the best of what is seasonally available. It’s such a spark of creativity and community, every time I gather a collection of flowers from multiple local sources.
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What a beautiful selection of flowers 💐