Ask a Wedding Florist: Frequently Asked Questions Vol. 2

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:

• Harlene Events

• Meag Breanne Events

• Jacinda Weddings & Events

• Small Blue Planet

• Stafford Creative & Co

• Lorelle Events

• Olivia Grace Events

• Riley Loves Lulu

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.

7 Tips for Creating Your Wedding Moodboard

Newly engaged or planning a wedding!? You likely fall into one of three camps: 

1. Your wedding Pinterest board has been done for approximately five years 

2. You’re officially engaged so technically speaking, you can now start your wedding moodboard 

3. Even the thought of the above gives you anxiety. You have no idea where to start!

Regardless of which camp you fall into, you may wonder why is a moodboard important? In this blogpost about vision boarding, I bring up the Law of Attraction which is the ability to attract into our lives whatever we are focusing on. Images can be used as tools to send messages to the universe about your hopes and dreams. Sounds a little woo-woo, so let me bring this back to wedding planning. Photos are powerful. When it comes to planning a wedding, a moodboard is the #1 tool for drawing inspiration and clearly communicating your wedding style to vendors. This in turn allows your vendors to collaborate to bring your wedding day vision to life!

Here are 7 quick tips that will help you create a curated moodboard for your wedding and get you closer to that vision.

1 - KNOW WHERE TO START WITH WEDDING INSPIRATION

As a platform, Pinterest can be overwhelming. Simply start saving images that are beautiful to you. Be consistent and only pin the stuff you truly love, and look for their ‘More Ideas’ feature. Over time, Pinterest will get to know you better through their algorithm, and suggest better and better content to you. 

Once you know more specifics of what you’re looking for, avoid vague search terms such as ‘wedding flowers’ and opt for keywords that match the exact thing you have in mind, e.g. ‘minimalistic and contemporary wedding table flowers.’

If browsing Pinterest doesn’t work for you, that’s okay too! Add the 'Pin It' button to your browser (instructions here), which will allow you to quickly and easily pin images from other websites as you find inspiration along the way. Here are a few other inspiration sites I love:

• Hello May

• Lane

• Harpers Bazaar 

• Style Me Pretty

• Martha Weddings

• Green Wedding Shoes

• Ruffled Blog

2 - DUMP PINTEREST FOR INSTAGRAM

While it can be argued we don’t need *more* reasons to scroll IG, your feed is likely already curated with images relevant to you, your style, and your aesthetic. Instagram’s Save feature comes in handy if you stumble upon imagery you love. Save everything you love in one spot or separate folders -- e.g. wedding flowers, wedding bands, wedding dresses. 

3 - GO BEYOND SOCIAL MEDIA FOR INSPIRATION

The opposite of everything I’ve said above, right!? But it’s really easy to go down a rabbit hole and be influenced by what everyone else’s wedding looks like. Don’t limit yourself to what you see on social media. Look to the architecture around you, scenic views, music, books, magazines, and photos from your travels. 

4 - SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY YOUR VISION 

This might sound counterintuitive, but by limiting the number of images to the select few that *truly* speak to you, you’ll prevent yourself from feeling overwhelmed and leave more space for imagination. I find it helpful to create one overarching ‘Our Wedding’ board that’s limited to 10-20 images max of your *overall vision*, making sure they’re both aspirational but also realistic for your day and budget. Try 1-2 images for each of these elements:

• Venue vibe (e.g. the indoor or outdoor spaces you’re using or envisioning/whatever elements made you fall in love with that venue, images there that speak to the season — fall, winter, spring, summer) 

• Florals (e.g. either the floral palette, or a few images you’re drawn to for table flowers, a focal flower installation, your bouquet, etc.) 

• Table settings (e.g. flower-full or candle heavy, tablecloths or bare wood, modern flatware or traditional) 

• Furniture (e.g. tables, chairs, lounge furniture)

• Lighting (e.g. market lights, candlelight, pendants)  

• Fashion (e.g. your dream dress or tux) 

• Hair/makeup (e.g. an overall look you’re digging) 

• Paper suite (e.g. an invite, menu, or escort cards) 

• Photography (e.g. an image that evokes the style you’re drawn to, and a moment you’d love to experience on your day)

• Something unique to you (e.g. that icecream truck you’d love to have, or dream signature cocktail) 

These images should be less about specific details you’re aiming for, but images that evoke how you want your day to *feel* overall. 

Once you’ve locked that in, you can always create sub-boards (aka a ‘Section’ within a board if you’re using Pinterest) for each element, following the same practice of limiting each to 10-20 images.

5 - TIDY IT UP 

Once you’ve really honed in your initial vision and start making decisions, delete anything off your board that no longer speaks to you or fits with your day. Ask yourself:

• Do I love this image?

• Why did I pin this in the first place?

• Are there other images on my board that are super similar?

If you were to share your board with others, they should be able to pick up on your vibe and style immediately. By keeping your boards as curated as possible, you avoid confusing yourself and vendors about the intended design direction. 

6 - SHARE YOUR MOODBOARD WITH WEDDING VENDORS 

Share your moodboard with all of your design-centric vendors (e.g. planner, rental company, florist, cake, hair/makeup). Explain specific things you like *and don’t like* about certain images. Then leave it to the pros to take it from there! Your wedding day should be uniquely you, meaning the moodboard should only act as initial guidance as your vendor team seeks to up-level it way beyond that. 

7 - JUST WALK AWAY FROM ALL WEDDING INSPIRATION 

My *biggest* piece of advice if you want it? If you’re prone to indecision or feeling overwhelmed, walk away once you’ve reached this step. Shut it down -- no more Pinterest browsing, no more Instagram scrolling. Delete the apps if you need to! I did this myself when planning my own wedding and it was the best way to bring about peace of mind. Stay confident in your decisions and don’t second guess yourself. You have so much more to focus on looking forward to, like marrying the love of your life!

LET’S CHAT

For more planning tips, head back to my blog for posts like tips for finding your perfect wedding florist. I am currently accepting wedding inquiries for 2022. Schedule a complimentary floral consultation here. I’d love to hear more about your day!

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.