Custom Floral Design

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. Most of the events I do are private parties for all kinds of occasions. From birthdays and holiday parties to retirement or engagement parties and summer barbecues. For some clients I just know that whenever a birthday or other event in their family is coming up I'll be doing the flowers. I work whatever hours are necessary to do the job and I deliver and set everything up before your event. I will also come back for take down after the event if you like.

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Have a personal conversation with the florist or designer. Just talking about the necessities and making an order isn't enough in my opinion to know who you're working with. I like to know my clients and I'd like my clients to know me. If you just need a few simple centerpieces thats one thing but if you have a special occasion or event and really want to make a statement and wow your guests with something special you should know more about each other and communicate regularly throughout the process. On the other hand, if you provide pictures of what you want I can copy them.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. I guess I'd want to learn how to do arrangements myself but of course I'm thinking with my creative mind. If I wasn't a creative person I might want to know how pricing works. I can't usually give accurate estimates for arrangements and wedding flowers without knowing a lot about what I'm going to be doing. If a client isn't sure what type of flowers they want, what size they want, how many they want, etc., I can't just throw out a guess or use a set price for all bridal bouquets, boutonnière's, corsages, etc. because it may turn out to be wrong. Flowers vary a lot in cost and depending on season and availability, some get expensive at certain times of the year and some get less expensive. Some can't be found at certain times of the year. This is why I can't just use a set price list and make immediate quotes or estimates. I need to know the specifics if I'm going to give you an accurate price.

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. Knowing what you want obviously helps. If you have a budget you need to stick to I'll need to know the amount we have to work with. I can adjust things as necessary to fit your budget most of the time.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. My work is an artistic expression. I don't do pre-set designs by big companies like FTD or Teleflora and I don't have a florist shop. I've been passionate about flowers since I was a little girl and have been designing since I learned the tricks while working for a designer in high school. I learned techniques I didn't already know but the art and creativity was already there. I put my heart into everything I make for my clients, family, friends, neighbors and the flowers in my own house. I love flowers and I love making people happy with what I create especially for them.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I love taking the beauty God gave us in nature and using it to directly affect people. I love the smiles of pleased clients and the joy I get just for making people happy with what I love to do. Floral Design isn't a job for me, it's a blessing. I am blessed by what I do and I hope to bless others with what I do as well.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. I am often asked for creative ideas. My clients don't want cookie cutter "designs". Many of my clients want to put a piece of themselves into whatever I make for them. I try to get to know them enough so that I know what they'd like and what I could create for them that would convey their personalities, not just mine.They want to take part in the process a lot of the time, mainly for weddings of course, but they love to brainstorm and ask me to help come up with original creations that make their event stand out and express their individual style and any theme they may have for the event. I do have many clients though who just know me and what I do and trust me to make something special for them for whatever their occasions are without any input from them. A lot of people think that they aren't creative and couldn't help with ideas and sometimes don't even know what they want. Many of them may be creatively impaired but that doesn't mean that I can't get exactly what I need from them in a couple conversations to show them off at their special events,

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. I don't really have just one. I simply love it when I deliver or set up the flowers and the client is thrilled with them. It's what makes all of the hard work and long hours well worth it.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. I guess I would like people to know that creating something special takes time and often a lot of effort. For example, I often go out into the forest or any natural environment to find things I want to use or I'll take my time to hunt down just the perfect containers or props. I enjoy this process but it is more difficult and time consuming than just going to the flower market and picking up everything I need. This is one difference between a typical flower shop florist and an artistic designer like myself. Another difference that people probably don't know is that I'll gladly come to your home or property and pick your flowers, foliages, seed pods, pine cones, moss, etc. if you have enough for me to work with. I'm great at turning nothing into something so most of the time people don't think they'll have enough for me to use but it turns out in my opinion they have plenty and I have a great time putting something even more unique together out of their own garden.

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. I didn't really decide it, I was a floral designer at birth. When I was a little girl I would pick wild flowers and leave them on my neighbor's doorstep ringing the doorbell and running to hide. I've done the centerpieces and decor for every holiday or other gathering for family and friends for as long as I can remember. I just go out and explore and come up with something beautiful. It's just what I do.

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. I think it's yet to come actually because I get to do my brother's wedding next July which is going to be really great and something that is very special to me. I think I'll be most proud of that one.

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. I take the time to stay educated on the latest style trends and the most popular flowers, colors, embellishments, etc. I also study the latest techniques and products that may give me new design options or more efficient ways of doing things.

Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?

A. Same color or "monochromatic" designs are still in style and actually continue to grow in popularity. They're just soothing and beautifully simple. What makes them great and never boring is the use of different textures or other products like shiny wire or gems or other organic finds. The other latest trend is the exact opposite. Very unexpected or extreme combinations of colors and materials and their containers is hot right now. Mixing colors like pink, orange and yellow or using a rough rusty container with elegant flowers are good examples. Designers are also throwing out design "rules" like proportion and balance. Some work, some don't but it's obviously a time of experimenting with anything we can get our hands on and doing whatever we want with it all. There's a big difference in free form modern arrangements for corporate entry ways or designs for a flower show and the classic and perfectly harmonious wedding flowers that will never totally go out of style. There are always going to be traditional brides as well as those who want to do their own thing and make a statement by totally breaking the rules and going way out of the norm. These days tradition isn't such a big deal while personal expression and individuality is more frequently desirable.

Q. Describe your most recent project, what it involved, how much it cost, and how long it took.

A. My most recent project other than making arrangements for pictures for my portfolio and for a friend's engagement party was a private 90th birthday celebration for the Siri Family. They grow organic vegetables that can be found at local stores. The theme was beach party and using my personal shell and coral collection in the designs was a lot of fun.

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. My prices depend on the types of flowers used, their cost at different times of the year, the containers used, the complexity and size of the design and the amount of materials used and total volume and delivery distance. I adjust my prices depending on all of these factors.

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. Take basic flower and design classes and then more advanced skill courses to learn the techniques you need to know because with just artistic ability and little training in the "mechanics" you can miss a ton of important time saving skills as well as lack knowledge of what materials are available to make your job easier and help you to create more beautiful and interesting things. Flower prep and care is also essential for making your flowers last longer and of course business classes are very helpful as well.