We are so excited to share this A Day In The Life! One of our favourite florists and Recommended Supplier, Moody Blooms, has honoured us all by giving us an exciting glimpse into what an average day in the life looks like for a wedding florist. Not forgetting all of the gorgeous flower inspiration included in this article! From how Moody Blooms first decided to become a wedding florist, advice on getting in the zone, as well as giving the tell-all insight into what a florist gets up to on and before event days, we’ve asked the 11 most frequently asked questions from you. So tell us Moody Blooms, just how do you do it?

A day in the life with wedding florist, Moody Blooms!

1. How did you become a wedding florist?

I opened a shop in my hometown after I graduated from university. My family have been involved in floristry for three generations. The building blocks were already in place having grown up around it. I took myself off to agricultural college where I had the most amazing tutor and opened my own shop as I was keen to do my own thing. Since leaving my hometown, Moody Blooms has relocated to Kent where I now am studio-based. I have worked in many aspects of the floriculture industry including teaching floristry, product development for multiple retailers, consultancy for new businesses in developing markets, and as a stylist for marketing campaigns.

2. What does an average day in the life of a wedding florist look like?

When I’m not flowering an event, my day will consist of answering emails, writing quotations, speaking with clients, suppliers, and venues, creating flower recipes (we LOVE this phrase) for each event, planning, booking freelance staff where needed, costing, and placing flower orders, sorting equipment and stock, account work and cleaning the workroom. Early week is a good time for general admin and desk jobs. Wednesday onwards tends to see me in the studio working with flowers. Although weekday weddings are becoming more popular, weekends are still dominant for events.

When a flower delivery arrives, all flowers are processed and checked for quality, stripped of any excess foliage, freshly cut, and placed into fresh conditioned water. This needs to be done at least 12 hours prior to flowers being used to ensure that they are of optimum quality and any problems can be spotted and rectified. Flowers are arranged according to the recipe that Moody Blooms has created. This is done the day before the event to ensure that the flowers are at their freshest. On the day of the event, flowers are delivered and set up at the venue. If a client wishes for us to remain at the venue to relocate arrangements, this can also be done. A breakdown service is also available to remove or collect items such as installation frames and vases the following day. Although the event may have finished when the party is over, a florist’s work is not complete until everything has been returned, cleaned, and packed away again.

3. How far in advance should couples book you/enquire with you?

18 months ahead of the event is a good time to enquire with a supplier. Of course, if you know that there is a certain supplier that you are keen to work with, I’d enquire as soon as you feel you’ve found the one!

4. What is the skill set required to be a wedding florist?

• A great listener and communicator
• Customer service/interpersonal skills
• Flower and plant knowledge
• Design skills
• Business acumen

5. What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a wedding florist?

Aside from meeting new people all the time and creating relationships of trust, one of the most rewarding parts of Moody Blooms is handing over a bridal bouquet. It’s really one of the things that you can’t physically see before the day itself so it’s a wonderful, joyful moment. Messages of thanks afterwards are also wonderful as the detail that goes into planning and executing the floral work is extensive.

6. What do you wish more couples knew about being a florist?

I think that if couples understood more about the process from start to finish, there would be a better understanding of why event flowers can cost as much as they do. Time is the biggest factor in planning event florals with every element being meticulous and detailed. Often, planning and execution account for days as opposed to hours! Although flowers are being grown more in this country, any flowers that are imported into the UK from Holland are bought through Dutch auctions. Prices fluctuate, so it is difficult to know exactly what flower costs will be when planning up to two years out. Brexit, the pandemic, and the rise in energy costs have all massively impacted the industry and flower costs. My suggestion to others is to be open about the budget and let your florist guide you as to how to get the best out of it.

7. What current trends are you seeing within wedding flowers?

I am seeing a shift towards a modern classic design. At Moody Blooms, floristry styles such as Ikebana are being referenced and sustainable methods of arranging are becoming more popular. Soft, abundant, garden styles are also very popular with seasonality being key. Colour has also been massive this year!

8. How do you get inspired/get in the zone?

Inspiration can come in many forms! I’m always open to attending courses with other florists to learn new techniques and design skills. I’m always learning, and this is so important in a constantly evolving trend-led industry. Books, magazines, and social media posts from countries outside of the UK are vital too. Countries such as the USA, Australia, Japan, and the Netherlands are great as they can often be ahead of the UK in terms of trends!

I personally love visiting the flower market at Convent Garden. If I ever need a dose of inspiration, this is a great place to start! Newsletters from flower growers, RHS flower shows, blogs, podcasts, social media channels are all a huge source of inspiration and I also subscribe to floral trade organisations who keep me abreast of industry news. The floriculture industry has many facets, not just in this country, but all over the world with social/economic factors and implications. It’s important for me to operate with knowledge and to do the very best I can to tread lightly in a sustainable manner.

9. What are your lowest and highest price packages/options?

I don’t offer packages for event flowers at Moody Blooms, preferring a more tailored approach, but my pricing starts at £2K for wedding flowers.

10. What advice would you give others looking to become a wedding florist?

Firstly, take a reputable flower course to learn the basics and then find a reputable company where you can get some work experience. It may well be initially unpaid, but it would give a valuable insight as to whether the career is for you.

11. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

My biggest advice is to talk to a supplier to see if they resonate with you. Relationships are everything when planning an event and it’s important to feel that your florist understands your vision and needs. These ideas might change as you go through the planning stages, but you need to feel comfortable and confident. An initial conversation can be very valuable for all parties. Loving a supplier’s Instagram feed is not reason enough to book them. From my perspective, I know I can give so much more to the client if they invest time in the process.

11 tell-all questions with our talented Recommended Supplier, Moody Blooms!

Thanks so much to Moody Blooms for their delightful insight into wedding floristry. Your work always leaves us with major heart-eyes. Looking for some more inspiration? You can check out our wedding flower arrangements article that will have you blooming with happiness. Need a guide to wedding bouquets? We've got all the most popular bouquet shapes and styles right here!