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Meet the Florist – Nicola from Cherry Blossom Flowers

Let’s talk about wedding flowers!  Flowers are an important part of your wedding day (just like the cake!!) and really bring everything together.  Sometimes it can be a little daunting when you are starting out on your wedding planning journey though.  So I caught up with my good friend Nicola from Cherry Blossom Flowers to get all the inside information to get you started.

Nicola from Cherry Blossom flowers working on flowers

FOR ANYONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOU AND HOW YOU GOT INTO THE WORLD OF FLOWERS?

I’m a mum, wife and florist living in Ballymoney in Northern Ireland.  With two young children I manage a busy household so flowers are my escape!  Flowers weren’t always the plan though.  When I was at school I really didn’t know what I wanted to do.  It sounds like a cliche but it’s always so hard to know at a young age what you want to do with your life.  I was very creative, I just wasn’t sure where I was going to use the creativity.  On finishing school I decided to study food and completed my degree but I soon discovered it wasn’t for me.  I think I thought I would be using my creative side more but I just wasn’t.  When I was planning my wedding I really enjoyed the creative side of it all and the pulling together of all the little details and colours!  In my head, I had two options, cakes or flowers.  Since I had always enjoyed being in the garden when I was younger, I went with flowers.  So I started with an online course.  Quickly I realised I needed more hands on experience so off I went to Greenmount and studied part time for two years to get my floristry certificate.  All whilst training in two florist shops for the hands on experience.

Close up of brides bouquet

How would you describe your style of floral design?

In floristry once you gain the training and experience your style really evolves.  My style is quite natural.  I like things to look oversized and modern using different ingredients.  And I absolutely love to play with colour!  So yes, my style would be very natural and unstructured.  I can do structured and traditional too but it’s just not something I’m drawn to so much.  

Bride's bouquet by Cherry Blossom flowers

WHAT ARE THE ABSOLUTE ESSENTIALS A COUPLE WOULD NEED FROM YOU ON THEIR WEDDING DAY?

Most people are a little unsure of exactly what they need or want on their day.  They just don’t know where to start.  This is totally normal.  We start at the very beginning and take them through everything step by step.  Beginning with your bridal party.  We then move onto your ceremony flowers, followed by anything you will need for your reception.  Every wedding is totally unique and each couple wants different elements.  Not everyone needs everything and there is no package that will suit everyone.  Therefore, I put together your own individual price to suit your needs.  The bare essentials are things like the brides and bridesmaid bouquets and buttonholes for the groom and bridal party.

Floral display by Cherry Blossom Flowers

What other options to you offer?

It depends on how much the couples want to do.  We offer things like alter displays, pew ends, pedestals, arches, arrangements outside, even dressing of windows.  There are also some hire items, moon gates, lanterns, churns, trees etc.  

pew end from Cherry Blossom flowers
Top table display at Drenagh Estate

I'M GUESSING YOU WILL GUIDE PEOPLE ON WHAT FLOWERS ARE IN SEASON AT THE TIME OF THEIR WEDDING?

Yes I will run through exactly what is available for their chosen season.  Given the the time we are in, the cost of flowers is at an all time high.  I think going forward a great way to keep costs down is for the couple to give me their colour palette of choice and let me source the types of flowers that are going to most cost effective.  Still obviously beautiful but in keeping with their budget.  I will guide them through this to come up with something that is the best value for them.  Of course if there’s something they have their heart set on I can try to source.    Although there are some colour palettes that are classed as luxury and will always be more expensive.  

Bride and Groom at Drenagh Estate

IF YOUR COUPLE HAVE A BUDGET FOR WEDDING FLOWERS CAN YOU WORK TO IT? (WITHIN REASON)

Yes prices can be negotiated.  The price of flowers can shock people, especially at the moment.   Since the pandemic a lot of growers have ceased business.  This means there is a lack of flowers, naturally this means the price is higher for us florists.  It’s very difficult, we obviously need to ensure our business makes a profit and we are covering our time.  If the couple can give me a realistic budget I am happy to try and work with them to find something to suit.

Bride and bridesmaids at Drenagh Estate

WHAT IS YOUR PROCESS WHEN IT COMES TO WORKING WITH A COUPLE?

Generally we like people to be booked in as soon as possible so we can plan our year ahead.  Around a year before the wedding is a good time.  We are limited with the number of weddings we take on each week during the year.  So the best thing to do is get your deposit down to secure your date.  We can chat over email about a year before the big day and bounce ideas back and forward.  However the entire style of your wedding doesn’t come together until about 3-6 months before your wedding.  This is where we will sit down together to finalise all the details. 

Bridesmaids with flowers,

DO YOU GO TO THE CEREMONY AND RECEPTION VENUE ON THE DAY OF THE WEDDING?

Yes we offer a delivery, set up and transfer service.  We deliver to the bride first thing, then set up at the Church/Chapel.  If you require a transfer from the ceremony to the reception we can do this too.  We also offer a collection service for smaller weddings where you can come to our studio in Ballymoney and collect.

Flowers at church

LASTLY, HOW DO PEOPLE BOOK WITH YOU?

You can contact us through our website/email.  Deposit can be paid via bank transfer.  Or if you’ve checked our availability you can go onto our website and use our new ‘save the date’ button to pay.  Final balance is then made prior to the wedding via bank transfer or you can call in with cash to our studio.

Wow....

Huge thank you to Nicola for all this valuable information.  I feel like it’s given me a huge insight into the world of wedding flowers.  Also thank you to Emma Kenny, Wedding Photographer for the beautiful images from the wedding of Emma & Ryan at Drenagh Estate.  If you’re one of my couples you will recognise this cake picture.  I always show it at my appointments as I loved the flowers Nicola provided me with for the cake.  Thank too to Raw Creative NI for the picture of Nicola hard at work.  Lastly I recommend you head over to Nicola’s gorgeous new website and dive into all the information and colour over there.  It’s beautiful!  I’ll be back in a couple of weeks with another stunning real wedding.

Gemma x

Wedding cake set up at the stairs at Drenagh Estate

If you think you would like to work with us please check availability via our contact form.