Expert Q&A: Flower Talk
How did you get into the world of floristry?
I was a "desperate housewife" who was really bored at home once my boys had started school, so I started doing an interior design course. Then I decided to try my hand at floristry after seeing an advertisement for a course in the local paper. I completed that two-year-long floristry certificate full-time at Challenger TAFE, WA, and did my work experience with Coles. I became a Coles in-house florist for two years after this, then worked for various city florists for the following two years. Eventually I decided to work on my own and registered Flower Talk to specialise in wedding work. Ten years later, I now have two permanent staff members and a number of casual florists to help with bigger weddings.
What inspires you?
My inspiration comes from the beauty of each flower. I still get excited when I look at a flower, especially when the quality is good. At the moment I love natives mixed with old-fashioned favourites, such as peonies and David Austin roses.
Describe the most memorable wedding you've ever worked on?
Recently, I did a wedding using white arctic proteas, queen proteas, king proteas, peonies, David Austin roses, banksias and gum foliage. The soft colour palette of the blooms was a perfect marriage with the bridal party's vintage dresses, and the centrepieces looked perfect in a collection of old bottles and jars. Natalija Brunovs (iheartweddings.com.au) the wedding photographer, who I was so lucky to be working with for the first time, photographed the wedding with much love. The flowers looked so amazing in her photographs and when I first saw them I thought to myself, "I have the best job in the world!"
What kind of info would you recommend a bride takes with her when she meets with her florist?
When the bride comes for her first meeting, she should bring colour swatches of her dress and bridesmaids' dresses, pictures of flowers and bouquets she loves that she's seen in magazines, her invitation cards, and she can also make a note of the colour of her shoes. Any information on what accessories she'll be wearing on the day is also most helpful.
What would you recommend a bride look for when picking a good florist for her wedding?
Look at and study a florist's past work and find out how many years' experience they have with wedding work. Is the florist's presentation and knowledge of flowers extensive? Is she good at colour coordination? These are great questions to ask yourself.
To look up Flower Talk and chat to a Flower Talk "blooms stylist", head to flowertalk.net.au.
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