Behind the Scenes, Wedding Flowers

The Design & Creation Process

Vanessa Jayne

March 19, 2024

As florists, sometimes we feel like fairies, arriving at a venue when few others are around, setting up and creating floral magic with installations and set ups that look like they’ve always belonged in situ. So to give some insight into what goes on behind the scenes in the lead up to a wedding day I’ve written a little step by step overview post below to give a bit of an outline of the design and creation process.

1. Discussions with trusted growers

After quoting and producing mood boards, discussions start with our trusted growers into sourcing and availability. Vanessa has built up trusting relationships with her growers who know her style well.

2. Preliminary Orders

Preliminary orders are often made and initial stem counts are noted. If there is anything specific we can grow ourselves we will.

3. Sourcing Items

Sourcing the other non perishable elements begins. Everything from hand dyed silk ribbon for the bouquets to specific glassware for the tables is ordered. Often the creation or hire of bespoke mechanics are required for Venue flowers. This could be for a table canopy, an extra tall entranceway arch, floral backdrop or hanging floral designs such as hoops, planks and canopies.

4. The Week Before

The week before your wedding and the studio is a hive of constant activity, with flowers and foliage arriving at specific times to ensure correct openness of flower and bud. This is also the point where Vanessa will go and do a personal cut from her most trusted local growers to ensure the wedding party flowers are nothing short of extraordinary. Seeing what is at the correct stage of opening in the days leading up to your day, being able to select just the right shade to tie in with the bridesmaids dresses or table linen is invaluable when pulling all your elements together cohesively.

5. Flowers & Foliage Conditioned

Flowers and foliage are all conditioned according to their unique requirements. Some stems may need more care to ensure they are at their best. Special considerations are always made for stems that might be out of water, and extra measures put in place to keep all your stems as happy as possible in the event of those extra hot summer days.

6. Creating your Flowers

7. Delivering

There are often multiple drop offs needed on a wedding morning dependant on where both sides of the wedding party are getting ready and if this is separate from the venue…also if the ceremony is taking place in a different location to the reception. We will have considered everything in our timings and leased with your other suppliers (planners, photographers, hair and make up artists etc) to ensure we all work in rhythm.

8. Setting Up

On the morning of your day (sometimes this is very early and determined by ceremony time or venue restrictions) your venue flowers will begin to come together beautifully and transform the space.

9. During the Event

If you have designs that we are repurposing from ceremony to reception set up we will usually stay on site to move these and rearrange them for you, especially if you have a broken arch or large urns to move! We want your flowers to really work hard for you all day and be in places where they can be enjoyed for as long as possible!

10. Clearing Down

A return to the venue the next day to take down any installations, collect up vases and dismantle arrangements such as large meadows, arches or hanging floral designs. Everything is then sorted and green waste is always composted.

11. Sorting & Resetting

It takes many hours to sort and reset after a wedding, the studio will be full of buckets and vases that need to be washed and stored away. Mechanics will need to be dismantled and cleaned, there will be lots of cardboard boxes to be recycled, wires to sort, scissors to clean and items to re-stock before the next event.