A Day in the Life of a Florist.

Available at Lily Blossom

The expert florists at Lily Blossom in East Molesey, describe why the humble craft of floristry, is far from the ‘daily grind’. 

“It’s like giving colour to your words. Flowers have their own language” says Nicholas, Lily Blossom Florist’s business owner, sifting delicately through the flower market’s morning offerings, “And the words they express can heal, let someone know you love them, celebrate successes, and wish good luck. They encapsulate the essence of so many life events; they can sometimes say what words can’t. And they last a while. So your message lasts too.”

A customer's 'Thank you' note 2014

Available at Lily Blossom

Nicholas explains, that when his florists get a phone call from a partner in the proverbial dog house, a blushing future bride, or a mourner who has lost a treasured loved one, the first role of a florist is to lend an empathetic ear. Choosing the right flowers for the current wedding trend, or season, is important, certainly. But understanding the customer’s situation is the most important thing:

Available at Lily Blossom

“If we understand what is happening for the customer, and a little about how they are feeling, we can help them to express with flowers, what they want to say, within their budget. Some customers say this is a little cathartic. Especially when it comes to funeral and sympathy flowers.”

Knowledge of floral symbolism is what can set the passionate florist apart from those who simply view the craft as a day job. So too does design, and knowledge of current trends. Both these skills are equally important when designing floral displays for weddings. After all, your wedding day, is one of the most emotional days of your life, and the most photographed, making flowers a key aesthetic in your wedding.

The quality of fresh blooms, is paramount, and will immediately, and visually, differentiate the leading florist from the less quality ones. As Nicholas says, and any woman will tell you, she can tell a petrol station bunch of carnations, from a hand-tied boutique florist’s bouquet.

 

Design by Lily Blossom 

But what of the practical side, of becoming a florist? What skills are needed, and how do you take the first steps to realizing such a career?

“The first skill a florist needs is creativity. You must be able to combine flowers to form beautiful displays, taking into account colour, texture, height, fragrance, and often symbolism. With weddings especially, we like to help our brides-to-be, to develop their own ideas, no matter how vague, to produce something unique and special for each bride.”

Buttonhole Available at Lily Blossom

Nicholas points out, that although his florists want to work with a bride-to-be, or any customer, to develop their ideas, it is just as important, to let the customer know, if they feel something will not work visually:

“Your wedding day is an extremely important day. The last thing we want to do, is have you walk away with a bouquet that will not help you and your venue to look at your very best, even if we have to (delicately) explain that a part of your idea will not work in practice.” 

Design by Lily Blossom for Ben & Joo's Wedding 2014

Design by Lily Blossom for Ben & Joo's Wedding 2014

In this way then, an expert florist will safely guide you towards the most beautiful floral products obtainable within your budget. To achieve this, people skills are a must, as is tact and diplomacy.

One the more practical side, a florist’s day begins very early. The staff at Lily Blossom Florist begin their day at 8am, when they check the inbox for orders that have come in from the Internet. They begin crafting these orders from Lily Blossom’s bounty of beautiful blooms, and the London florist usually opens at 9am.

“The benefits of the job far outweigh the cons” says Nicholas, “the morning starts are not too early. There’s bags of room for creativity, plenty of contact with lovely people. It can be done on a part-time basis quite easily, and you’re surrounded by the gorgeous scent and sizzling colours of beautiful flowers every day!”

Rose & Aspidistra Cross
Available at Lily Blossom

 Not the best career choice for Hay Fever sufferers then! But with the average florist earning between £16000 and £25000 a year, a chance for a good work-life balance, and opportunities to show off your artistic flair, Floristry is a valid career choice. A common way to start a career in floristry is to get a job in a florists, and learn on the job. However, if you would like to train first, you have a few choices: floristry apprenticeships are available, as are B Tech National Diplomas in floristry, throughout the UK. See the National Careers Service website for more details. 

Wedding Rituals and Customs 1: A History of the Flower Girl

Deciding to include a Flower Girl in your wedding procession is one of the most adorable wedding customs.

The little girl, pretty as a princess, who totters behind the bride with  a basket, or a bouquet of fresh flowers. “Awww!” croon your delighted guests, as she nearly trips over her little gown and flashes her cute dimples at onlookers.

Cute it is, definitely. But where on earth did this tradition come from???

  

Available at Lily Blossom Florists

The Flower Girl’s debut, took place in ancient Rome, when she first skipped her merry way down the aisle, part of the wedding procession, carrying a wreath to symbolise prosperity and fertility, in the hope of bestowing these virtues upon the lucky bride and groom. The wreath was made of wheat and herbs.

Later, the Flower Girl’s role evolved, to ward off evil, and she would carry garlic down the aisle.

However, contemporary flower girls are often dressed in a gown that will mirror the bride’s outfit, but in miniature. In fact, this is reminiscent of a very Elizabethan tradition, when children were dressed in the same style as their parents and carers, mirroring their outfits, as can be seen from the picture (right). 

While this is undoubtedly a charming tradition, it has a deeper underlying meaning: the Flower Girl is in fact, dressed as the bride, to symbolize the bride’s transition, from maiden/ little girl, into womanhood, through marriage. Our little flower girl represents childhood innocence.

Available from Lily Blossom Florists

To add this symbolic depth to your Flower Girl’s bouquet, and pay homage to her history, consider asking your wedding florist to combine your choice of wedding flowers with herbs, echoing the symbology of prosperity and fertility (if you should so desire), and perhaps, to sculpture a wreath out of your flowers. You can even ask them to include garlic in their design if you like, but we wouldn’t recommend it!

This wreath can be worn by your Flower Girl, around the head, or carried, like it was by her Ancient Roman predecessor.

These days, you can choose to have your flower girl carry a basket of fresh flowers, which she can scatter along the aisle as she goes; or you may decide you’d like her to hold a ‘kissing ball’, especially if this is the style of bouquet you have chosen for yourself.

We have known our brides to choose to have the Flower Girl wear a wreath of flowers in her hair, and blow bubbles before the bride, or indeed, fresh rose petals, instead of confetti.

Flower Girls traditionally walk down the aisle with their equally cute partners, the Page Boy, therefore completing the symbolism of transformation from innocent love, to the intimate adult connection that comes with marriage. They walk ahead of the Bride and Groom, to symbolize this passing of the passage of time. 

Available from Lily Blossom Florists.

Choosing to have a Flower Girl is a fantastic way to include a little one who may be too young to handle the responsibilities of being a bridesmaid. She will look gorgeous in photographs and add the kind of charm to your ceremony that only a little girl can. 

A Guide to Autumn Wedding Bouquets

Autumn colours can be deep, fiery, earthen and vibrant. Combine plump crimson and purple berries with flaming oranges, rich reds and evergreens to conjur the passion and warmth you want to bring into your married life.

There are a few ways of doing this, so no matter what your style of wedding, there is a hot autumn trend. If you find one you like, remember, it is only a guide. Let your imagination fly: an expert wedding florist will be able to work with your ideas, and these trends, to create a bouquet that is both personal, and unique to you.

Calla Lilies, with their velveteen petals and their seductive shape, symbolize beauty, perfection, eroticism, and purity and ascention, depending on their colour. Although their appearance is beguiling and exotic, they have been out in force, in many English gardens, this summer. Their dazzling array of colours, and their distinctly female sensuality, makes them a beautiful choice for your wedding bouquet.

White is the traditional choice, for a bridal bouquet, but if you want something a bit different, try combining mango-coloured Callas with deep, aubergine purple ones. Ask your florist to mix the lilies with thistles, berries, raffeta, hessian, and other natural fabrics, for an exotic take on an ancient, woodland feel.

Gerberas come in a fabulous array of hot shades. Studded throughout your bouquet, their simple, cheery forms will set off the exotic curves of the Callas beautifully. The lilies can alternatively, be teamed with roses, which also come in a variety of warm colours.

The images to the left, and right, courtesy of topdreamer.com, show what can be achieved with this design. And the similar bouquet below left, is available from Lily Blossom, East Molesey. 

  

Design by Lily Blossom Florists

If you are looking for a wedding bouquet that has a more vintage style this Autumn, you could consider asking your florist to combine that soft, versatile, vintage beauty, the rose, in pale, wistful shades of baby pink, cream, pale orange, and soft yellow. The Autumn colours are there, but beautifully mellowed. Again, team with natural materials such as twigs and seasonal foliage, and perhaps a soft ribbon in a shade of creamy mocha, for a simple, striking bouquet. 

Available at Lily Blossom Florists

If you find a bouquet design that you love, it is a good idea to use it as the inspiration for the rest of your wedding décor, if possible. Or to choose colours of your wedding décor and theme, as the main palate for your bouquet design. Your florist will be glad to help you with this. And it is sometimes useful to create a mood board: cut out images that you like, such as colours, flower combinations, even textures, and show them to your florist, who can talk through your ideas with you, and will physically show you what different flower combinations will look like when you go to see them.

The flowers, textures and tones in your bouquet, will usually inform your choice of table centrepiece, wedding party buttonholes, flowers to decorate the venue, or wedding arch, and even the style and décor for your cake. Make sure to incorporate the colour of the bridesmaid’s dresses into your bouquet where possible. Your bouquet should become the simple essence of your wedding’s central theme. And if you choose your flowers carefully, thinking about their meaning and symbolism as well, you will have a bouquet that represents the hopes and dreams you hold for your future as Mrs X.

Lily Blossom Florists, East Molesey, will be happy to talk through your ideas with you. Contact us by phone on 0208 979 5656, or email to book a free, no obligation wedding flowers consultation. Or pop in to see us in our florist studio.

Ask about our exclusive Forever Wedding flowers package, which entitles you to a free bouquet of flowers, delivered fresh to your door, every year, on your anniversary, for twelve years!!

And look out for our guide to winter wedding bouquets coming soon…