Ask a Wedding Florist: Frequently Asked Questions Vol. 2
Part 2 of our Ask a Wedding Florist series dives into the most common questions about the design process of a weddings and events florist in the San Francisco Bay Area. From the initial inquiry process, to the sketches, moodboards, and renderings, to how we go about choosing flowers, and more!
Welcome back to my Ask a Wedding Florist series, where I answer the most common questions about what it’s really like to be a floral designer for weddings and events in the San Francisco Bay Area.
We know that life’s biggest celebrations aren’t about playing it safe. So for couples who want to surprise and delight their guests, we offer a full-service floral experience that goes beyond expectations.
In collaboration with your planner and vendor team, we craft a one-of-a-kind floral vision that feels intentional, personal, and beyond imagination. From artful bouquets and personal florals to detailed tablescapes and dramatic large-scale installations, we thoughtfully design every detail. Our goal is that our clients’ wedding florals are more than just beautiful; they’re unforgettable.
Here’s a bit of a behind the scenes peek at what goes into our design process.
THE DESIGN PROCESS
1 - Do you work with event planners and designers?
Yes! Every wedding, event, and corporate client I work with has a planner or designer who leads the overall design aesthetic, then brings in vendors who align with that vision. We’ll collaborate closely to create a floral design that feels cohesive and intentional. Here are some of my favorite planners in the San Francisco Bay Area/Northern California to partner with time and time again:
2 - What does the design process look like from inquiry to event day?
The process kicks off with a consultation meeting where I’ll ask questions like:
What mood would you like the flowers to evoke?
Is there anything specific you want to avoid?
What’s your personal style?
What inspires you/your event?
What will you be wearing?
What are your biggest fears when it comes to your floral designs?
What sort of experience do you want for your guests?
Most clients have a Pinterest board or design deck as a starting point. I don’t like to copy and paste so I’ll evolve that vision, apply color theory, gather inspiration, and let ideas marinate before presenting a custom floral design concept. From there, we refine it together — ingredient selection, vessels, candles, rentals — until it’s time to bring it all to life.
3 - Do you sketch or mock up designs before creating them?
Often! A lot of my ideas don’t exist on Pinterest, so a sketch or rendering is a really helpful tool for communicating my vision to my clients and my team.
For some events we’ll do what is called a ‘mockup’ (a curated preview of the event’s florals, usually a tablescape) to refine details like palette, textures, size, and overall vibe. It’s a great way to ensure everyone is aligned before event day.
Here’s a digital rendering I created for a wedding tablescape with Meag Breanne Events.
And here’s how it turned out IRL:
Photography: Chelsea Gee Photography | Planning: Meag Breanne Events
4 - How do you choose which flowers to use in a design?
The season and palette always determine my starting point. I’ll use a mix of tools (like this book and the color wheel), chat with my suppliers, and browse the market in person to get inspired. I’ll go back to the client’s goals and objectives and focus on choosing blooms that match that. I am specifically looking for:
The star of the show — one super special bloom to set the tone for the palette
Two-toned blooms — a flower with two colors from the palette for harmonious color blending
An added ‘pop’ — usually a complementary color or unexpected texture for contrast
Non-floral elements — think plants, fruits/vegetables, rocks, moss, and textiles, for an artful look
That’s all for today! Up Next: The Logistics Behind Wedding & Event Florals — including a look at what it’s like transporting thousands of dollars of fresh florals on a hot summer day, what happens to flowers after an event, and more. Got a burning question? Send me a DM or share it in the comments here, and I’ll be sure to answer in a future post!
Let’s Bring Your Floral Vision to Life!
With us, every design is an original work of art. And every event gets our undivided attention. Whether it’s a showstopping ceremony installation or a nuanced tablescape moment, we design experiences that will have your guests talking long after the event ends and have you focusing on the moments, not the details.
Inquire here to schedule a consultation, and we can start a journey together that will elevate your vision beyond the imaginable.
Ask a Wedding Florist: Frequently Asked Questions Vol. 1
I'm pulling back the curtain! If you’ve ever wondered what a wedding and event florist REALLY does besides playing with beautiful flowers, this series is for you! This post covers questions like "What does a wedding florist actually do?" to “How much do wedding flowers cost?” to “Where do you get your flowers?” and more.
If you’ve ever wondered what a wedding florist REALLY does (besides playing with beautiful flowers all day — because spoiler, there’s more), this series is for you!
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be answering the most common (and surprising) questions I get about my work as a floral designer for weddings and events in the San Francisco Bay Area. From pricing to logistics to design process, I’m pulling back the curtain on the sometimes-illusive career of floral design.
I’m kicking things off with the basics. If you have any burning questions, drop them in the comments and I will answer them in an upcoming post!
1. What does a wedding florist actually do?
A wedding florist conceptualizes, sources, designs, delivers, and installs all floral elements for weddings. This includes everything from bouquets and centerpieces to larger-scale installations like a ceremony arch. While a lot of the hands-on work happens the week of the wedding, 6-12 months of pre-planning involves proposals, design decks, supplier orders, budgeting, logistics and timelines, sourcing other rental items like vases and candles, and staffing.
2. How much do wedding flowers cost?
It varies! A common guideline is to allocate 10-15% of the total wedding budget to florals. My clients typically spend between $20-45K on florals. And if you’re curious what goes into the expense of wedding flowers, check out this blogpost I wrote here.
3. Where do you get your flowers?
I source my flowers from the San Francisco Flower Market (one of the largest wholesale flower markets in the US!), as well as a few local Bay Area flower farms. I prioritize small growers and collectives when possible to source the freshest, most unique seasonal blooms while supporting sustainable floristry.
4. What’s the hardest part about wedding floristry?
I’d say the physical demands (early morning market runs, long hours on your feet, lifting heavy buckets, climbing ladders for installations) paired with the unpredictability of the business (perishable product, time constraints, sourcing surprises, tricky weather). Lots of coffee, flexibility, and problem solving!
5. What’s the best part of wedding floristry?
Of course, being surrounded by beautiful flowers is a dream—but what truly makes it rewarding for me is the ability to take a vision, refine and elevate it, and use color theory and design to transform a space in ways my clients never imagined. I also thrive on the teamwork and collaboration with planners and other vendors, the energy of a fast-paced event day, and delivering a seamless, thoughtful client experience. That’s at the heart of my business and where I shine the most!
6. What are your favorite flowers to work with?
I cannot possibly pick one but here are some favorites by season. All photos via GC Collective.
WINTER & SPRING
SUMMER
FALL
If you have any specific questions, drop them here as a comment :) I will answer in an upcoming post!
Let’s Bring Your Floral Vision to Life!
Wedding flowers aren’t just a line item; they’re a work of art that powerfully sets the tone – transforming your venue and creating lasting impressions for your guests.
Inquire here to schedule a consultation, and we can start a journey together that will elevate your vision beyond the imaginable.
My Journey into the World of Flowers + How I'm Evolving my Craft
The details of where exactly my journey into the world of flowers began, and how I've committed to evolving my craft over the last 19 (!!!) years.
I hardly ever share the full details of where exactly my journey into the world of flowers began, and how I've approached honing my craft over the last 19 (!!!) years. But today I’m sharing it all!
Below are the three main avenues of flowers I've explored along the way, including how I commit myself to continually evolving my craft.
1 - The Flower Shop
My first-ever job was as a salesperson at my local flower shop back in Pennsylvania. I worked there through high school and college, taking phone orders, memorizing flower names, sweeping floors, and breaking down flower boxes. Eventually I graduated to designing handheld bouquets, refining their website, and taking simple wedding orders. The hands-on experience was invaluable. It gave me an ego-free launch into the elusive and seemingly glamorous world of flowers. Don’t be fooled! I relate running a flower shop to running a restaurant — It’s exhausting. It’s dirty work. There are kind customers, then not-so-kind customers. But at the end of each day, the profuse scent of fresh flowers would follow me to my car and back home and I’d think to myself — how lucky am I to be able to work with my hands (and flowers) each day.
2 - Freelancing Part-Time
After I moved to San Francisco from Philadelphia for a career in tech, I rediscovered the world of flowers via freelancing and booked jobs with other wedding and event florists on weekends. Freelancing taught me so much about different techniques, styles, and Bay Area wedding venues, all while expanding a very supportive network in the floral community that I still rely on! I always recommend freelancing to anyone getting started, as it gives you a real life behind-the-scenes experience of what it means to be a wedding and event florist without the commitment of running your own business with your own clients. Ultimately I knew I always wanted to run my own business (both of my parents were small business owners and I grew up appreciating what comes with that lifestyle) — so once I had a few of my own bookings under my belt I launched my business (more on that story another time!).
3 - Investment in education
A mix of 1:1 workshops, semesters with a local community college, online flower courses, and ongoing business coaching/mentorship have evolved my designs, techniques, and business processes. I make it a goal to invest in a few of these each year so that I constantly learn and evolve, and never get stuck or stagnant in set ways. Additionally, every single client and planner collaboration allows me to expand and stretch my imagination — and I feel so grateful to have the opportunity to share my art with each.
May we never stop learning and evolving!
Moodboard: Mocha Mousse
A peak into my design process and inspiration behind an event design inspired by the Pantone Color of the Year: Mocha Mousse.
My first event of the year is inspired by the 2025 Pantone Color of the Year Mocha Mousse. It’s such a versatile color, ranging from relaxed and mellow to indulgent and rich.
For this event — hosted at The Charter Oak in St. Helena — we’re leaning into sensorial sophistication. Think: vibey lighting, rich velvet upholstery, silky draping and tassels, funky candles. I’ll be pairing this with classic blooms like tulips, callas, and anemones in mono-floral arrangements.
Often for event and wedding floral designs, the planner shares a design deck with the general idea of the floral vibe already determined, to which I’ll then add my spin. But for this event, Harlene Events and I have been collaborating closely from the beginning which has given me a lot of opportunity to get really creative. We’re really leaning into the theme — and nothing can stop a good florist-planner duo! I always recommend working with a planner, because they’ll really take the design to the next level in collaboration with key vendors (not to mention keeping the event smooth, on-track, and most importantly — super fun and relaxed for their clients.
I can’t wait to share more from this event, but for now wanted to share a bit more behind the design process. I want to hear from you though — any questions about my design process or things you’d like to see more of?
xo
Anastasia
Colorful and Modern San Francisco Doorstep Elopement
A contemporary take on autumn for Jordyn + Nik’s San Francisco doorstep elopement.
If we’ve gained anything from this pandemic, it’s been creative ways to celebrate life’s biggest moments. We’ve seen virtual engagement parties, drive-by bridal showers, zoom weddings, you name it. But I particularly love the concept of doorstep celebrations -- from the safety of your home, you can get super creative and unique to your style, and invite friends, family, neighbors, and all sorts of passersby in on the action. You may have seen this Brooklyn stoop wedding (and those flowers!?), which is what really got me thinking.
Courtney of Photoflood Studio and I got to brainstorming, and set out to transform a classic San Francisco doorstep for Jordyn and Nik’s elopement portrait session. Since Jordyn and Nik were so flexible and open to ideas, we had extra fun with this one and decided to use it as a way to serve up inspiration for anyone looking to host drive-by celebrations -- whether it be a baby shower, birthday party, bridal shower, elopement, etc.
When I envision city doorsteps in the fall season, my mind goes straight to clusters of pumpkins, hay bails, and mum plants. But for this I aimed for a contemporary twist on the traditional autumnal setting.
I incorporated vibrant hues via a color blocking technique, in shades of orange, yellow, pink, and gold. To keep *some* tradition, I included the mums, but then layered in bright orange marigolds, pink anthuriums, fluffy celosia, bubblegum pink orchids, and tall golden lace hydrangea to add some unexpected ingredients and textures.
My goal was to create this entire installation foam-free, using sustainable mechanics only. All mums were left in their original pots and repurposed afterward, and the rest of the installation was designed using kenzan pins in shallow dishes to maintain a water source.
For Jordyn’s bouquet, I challenged myself to use one ingredient, and one ingredient alone -- lace hydrangea. There’s a short window where these are in season, and as they start to turn, their soft delicate petals turn crisp and golden and dry permanently that way. By far one of my favorite ingredients to work with!
So what are your thoughts -- would you host a doorstep event!?
VENDORS
Photography: Photoflood Studio
Floral Design: Anastasia Andenmatten
Anastasia Andenmatten is a floral design studio based in the San Francisco Bay Area with a modern approach to customizing florals for weddings, businesses, and events.
Romantic Berkeley Hills Backyard Wedding
A foggy fall day in October served as the perfect setting for this backyard wedding in the Berkeley Hills. Read on for how the bride’s grandmother’s gardens inspired a ground-up floral installation.
Look no further than the bride’s grandmother’s Berkeley Hills backyard for an intimate wedding! Celeste and Mark exchanged their wedding vows on a foggy fall day in October, with their closest friends and family gathered by their sides.
For their floral design, I drew inspiration from the beautiful on-site gardens meticulously looked after by the bride’s grandmother. Their garden-side ceremony centered around a focal ground-up installation of antique hydrangea, roses, and autumnal foliage. Dainty centerpieces, bud vases, potted herbs, and plentiful candlelight lined one long family-style dinner that sat beneath market lights. I still can’t get over that powder blue linen table runner from La Tavola.
Apollo Fotografie captured their day so well. Here are some of my favorites.
VENDORS
Photography: Apollo Fotografie
Planner: KLDC Events
Floral Design: Anastasia Andenmatten
Rentals: La Tavola Linen
HMU: Marisa Perel
Catering: Anaviv Catering
Anastasia Andenmatten is a floral design studio based in the San Francisco Bay Area with a modern approach to customizing florals for weddings, businesses, and events.
Intimate Summer Elopement at Lands End
A few selects from Taryn & Jeff’s elopement. One of the more adventurous setups for me and my crew -- we hiked the ceremony floral installation, piece by piece, down the hills of Sutro Baths in some crazy winds! So worth it.
When Taryn and Jeff were forced to postpone their original wedding plans, they were bummed, of course. But then they got the idea to elope at their favorite beach not too far from their home and have their best friend officiate. They felt a lil rebellious and were excited for their day all over again!
The couple chose a cove tucked into the cliffside for their ceremony spot. Here I drew inspiration from the blooming hillsides to create a grounding element. A low floral installation of rudbeckia, geranium leaves, queen anne's lace, honeysuckle, yarrow, and bunnytail grasses framed them in a semicircle shape, and danced in the ocean breeze as they exchanged their vows. The installation was entirely foam-free and designed with blooms locally sourced from Bluma Farm. This was one of the more adventurous setups for me and my crew -- we hiked the ceremony floral installation, piece by piece, down the hills of Sutro Baths in some crazy winds! So worth it.
For Taryn’s bouquet, I used bright and airy ingredients to keep the bouquet light and delicate. Buttery butterfly ranunculus, cheery queen lime orange zinnias, dancey white cosmos -- plus yarrow and hydrangea for dynamic texture. One of my favorite bouquets of 2020!
Nat & Co Events put together the sweetest picnic for the two tucked into a eucalyptus grove at Lands End, complete with champagne, a charcuterie board, and a cake by Blooms End. For their tablescape, I created an ikebana-style arrangement of rudbekia accented by a fruitscape of blackberries, apricots, and citrus fruits.
One of my favorite parts about Taryn & Jeff’s elopement was that they invited friends to join them beachside that evening for a bonfire party, where they repurposed their ceremony installation florals for added decor. I love how sustainable design gives in so many ways!
Ellie Koleen Photography captured Taryn & Jeff’s day beautifully. Here are some of my favorites!
VENDORS
Photography: Ellie Koleen Photography
Planner: Nat & Co Events
Floral Design: Anastasia Andenmatten
Cake: Blooms End
We’re currently booking 2022 weddings and events! Inquire here.
A Wintry Wedding at Cavallo Point
An intimate elopement, breathtaking views, and soft, wintry blooms at one of my favorite Bay Area venues — Cavallo Point Lodge in Sausalito.
Cavallo Point Lodge in Sausalito is easily one of my favorite venues in the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California overall. Breathtaking views of the Golden Gate bridge, the bay, the San Francisco skyline, AND the Marin hills -- all from one spot. The setting is historic, and accommodations are pure luxury (I love that couples and their guests can spend the night here, so convenient). All of this to say, this was a super sweet spot for Maria and Matt’s intimate elopement celebration.
For Maria’s bridal bouquet I started with panda anemones (her favorite!) as a focal flower, then incorporated softer wintry tones. I used autumn eucalyptus as an ode to the many eucalyptus trees found around the Cavallo Point property, brown lisianthus, white sweetpeas, scabiosa, and a pop of berry-like elements for texture. Light and airy bud vases and centerpieces in warm metallic pedestal vases added the perfect amount of warmth to their al fresco candlelight dinner.
California elopement photographer Natalie N captured their day so well. Scroll tot see some of my favorites!
VENDORS
Photography: Natalie N
Floral Design: Anastasia Andenmatten
Venue: Cavallo Point Lodge
Anastasia Andenmatten is a floral design studio based in the San Francisco Bay Area with a modern approach to customizing florals for weddings, businesses, and events.
A Parisian-Inspired Autumn Wedding at Filoli Gardens
Paris meets California for this autumn wedding at the iconic Filoli Gardens.
Filoli Gardens in Woodside, California is hands down one of the most magical and iconic wedding venues in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. With perfectly manicured grounds, vivid gardens, old world architecture, and winding brick pathways, a wedding day here has guests traveling gracefully from ceremony, to cocktail hour, to dinner and dancing.
When I was tapped by luxury wedding planner Erica Estrada Design to create florals for an intimate autumn wedding there, I couldn’t wait to get started. For the day’s design we aimed to bring Parisian influence to the California garden setting. The bride’s custom Vera Wang gown very much added to that inspiration, and Erica curated a stellar team of luxury wedding vendors to bring the rest of the vision to life.
For the bride’s bouquet, I chose a monochromatic palette of creamy white blooms to complement the bride’s luxe gown and limited the number of ingredients to add a contemporary twist. The bride and groom chose to celebrate with their guests over an intimate meal in the lush ‘Yew Alley’, which is beautifully lined with Irish Yews, apple and peach trees. So for the tablescape, I incorporated rich copper tones as a nod to California’s autumn season and to bring warmth to the vivid greenery of the grounds. The old world-inspired stationary suite by Casa de Perrin juxtaposed with new world tabletop items brought an unexpected element to the design. Parisian-inspired furniture from The Copper Rose was the prettiest final touch to bring everything together.
Fine art film photographer Sean Thomas Photography perfectly captured the day. Below I’m sharing some of my favorite moments. See the full feature on Style Me Pretty here.
VENDORS
Wedding Venue: Filoli Gardens
Photography: Sean Thomas Weddings
Cinematography: Hugo Film Co
Event Design: Erica Estrada Design
Floral Design: Anastasia Andenmatten
Wedding Dress: Vera Wang
Cake: What's More Cake
Invitations: Epoch Designs
Wedding Bands: Cartier
Hair: Bridal Buns
Groom's Attire: Suit Supply
Rentals: The Copper Rose
