You’re a florist! That must be such a relaxing job!

The response I get 99% of the time when someone finds out what I do. Let’s explore why being an events florist is not the most ‘relaxing’ career.

I love my job, but I love it because it’s creative and fun and believe it or not, adrenaline inducing. The feeling of completing a complex wedding set up is exhilarating but it’s certainly not relaxing. Weddings - we wouldn’t survive as florists without them but they are not without their challenges! Holding our breath and praying that the flowers open on time but don’t wilt in summer sun, that the arrangements hold up and a drunken groomsmen doesn’t knock over that enormous pedestal or this unseasonal gale force wind doesn’t completely destroy that delicate floral arch. 

Dressing venues requires speed, a steady hand and unflappable focus. Soaring ceilings crying out for floral chandeliers, sweeping staircases that NEED garlands and giant fireplaces requiring suitably grand mantle piece arrangements. To achieve these Pinterest worthy looks often requires lengthy negotiations between myself and the venue. The older the venue the stricter the restrictions. No tape, no wires, no hooks, ‘I just want to hang some ivy, pleeeeeease.’ I will always visit a venue before dressing but despite this surprises always occur, especially contending with our gloriously unpredictable British weather. The number of weddings I have dressed that were planned outside only to be thwarted by monsoon conditions. Moving weighted floral pillars in 2 minutes in horizontal rain, so relaxing. 

One wedding comes to mind when thinking about venue challenges. One of my first large solo events, the wedding was in a stunning 17th century castle in Surrey. The bride was not able to attend the site visit before the wedding day and unfortunately the wedding coordinator was off sick the day I went to view. The receptionist showed me round but took me to the wrong part of the castle. The bride had chosen elegant tall glass vases with large round arrangements sat on top for the tables and asked if she could utilise these in the ceremony too, we agreed they could sit in the alcoves, the room I saw had 6 beautiful alcoves on the floor and the arrangements would have worked perfectly. Next, the enormous fireplace, tall and gigantic, stunning to adorn. Looked simple enough with the help of a tall step ladder. The day comes, I am prepared, all arrangements made and everything just needed placing. When I arrive the co-ordinator takes me to a completely different room. The alcoves were waist height with sloping window sills. She assured me florists always placed vases on them and my arrangements would be fine with some florist putty to secure them. Against my better judgement I positioned my creations. I must have used a whole roll of putty - this stuff is industrial strength. All in position I could hear guests starting to arrive outside. The harpist was sat in front of one of the alcoves, I turned my back to add a final flourish of petals down the aisle and smash - a vase shattered on the tiled floor, glass and water everywhere. I have never moved so fast, thank goodness the harpist wasn’t sat under the fallen vase. I quickly dismantled the others. Swept up the glass, sacrificed my apron and jumper to mop up the water and placed the arrangements vaseless in the alcoves. I felt sure the bride would be disappointed the arrangements were not on the vases (she later told me that she hadn’t actually noticed). So crisis somewhat averted. During the ceremony I just had to place the mantle piece arrangement above the fireplace. I ascended the giant ladder to discover this mantle too was sloping down. My arrangement was enormous, and extremely heavy, how the heck was I going to secure it? I asked one of the very kind waiters if he knew of any door stops around the castle, he went hunting and returned with no less than 10. I wedged those bad boys under my flowers until I knew it couldn’t possibly move. Once everything was in place I snuck out dripping in sweat with valuable lessons learned, NEVER view a venue without the bride! 

So despite all the challenges as a florist, we deliver! Whatever your vision whatever the venue we WILL make it happen. You want a giant floral  chandelier hanging in the middle of your marquee? We will use the tents pulley system to suspend it! Yes we’ll have to pull it up and down a hundred times - adding more foliage to weight it in the right places because we know you’re going to love it. Florists - the unsung heroes of wedding decor. We battle the elements, contend with wobbly tables, sloping mantles, uneven floors and venue restrictions all in the name of floral fabulousness! We lose sleep worrying about scarring harpists or decapitating guests with giant arrangements. So the next time you see a stunning wedding set up, remember that behind every bloom is a florist who has fought a floral battle to make this happen - we come armed with scissors, string, putty and tape and we will create, all the while making it look relaxing! (BTW I never normally look quite this calm as in this picture delivering flowers the morning of a wedding, but when you are a guest as well as the florist you have to get yourself together! You can read all about this in my April 2024 blog, ‘Yes I’ll wear the puffy sleeves and ruffles but you better cry when you see your bouquet!)