Floral fantasy We interview local florists We love flowers here at Your West Midlands Wedding, but with so many gorgeous blooms to choose from, it can be a bit overwhelming. There are several ways of incorporating flowers into your day, such as bouquets, buttonholes, centrepieces and pew ends, to name but a few. To give you some ideas and help you decide on a florist, we’ve asked local suppliers more about their companies... MEET DEAN SHARPE FROM DEAN SHARPE’S FLORAL STUDIO Tell us about your background – how did you become a florist? I always had a creative flair growing up and a real passion for flowers, but it wasn’t until I turned 30 that I decided I wanted to work in floristry. I’d had various jobs prior to becoming a trained florist, generally involving some form of creativity, but once I began my floristry training, I knew that this was going to be the industry I wanted to remain in. I studied at the amazing Moreton Morrell College, then opened my business in 2017, which has continued to grow from strength to strength. What should couples expect when booking your services? I offer a personalised service to my couples, and I’m always happy to work around them. They can come to me with lots of ideas or no ideas at all, and I know what questions to ask to make sure we create something special together. There are so many different factors to consider when organising your wedding that any supplier must be flexible and take the time to fully understand what the couple is looking for. It’s never one size fits all with wedding flowers, and that’s why I ensure each couple has a one-on-one consultation with me, whether it be an initial phone call, video call or meeting in person, to allow them to really get to know me and my business. What’s your favourite wedding arrangement that you’ve made and why? Wow, that’s a really hard question as I’ve done so many different weddings over the years. I would say I always love making the bridal bouquet, as it’s unique to each bride and is the first time they get to see the flowers after all the planning. It can sometimes be a tissue moment, so the make-up artists don’t always love me for that! How long before the wedding should couples book? I recommend that couples actively start searching for their florist once they have secured their date and venue for the big day. Weddings are often years in the making, and therefore it’s best to get in touch with all of your suppliers as early as possible to save the date and ultimately avoid disappointment by not being able to have your first choice. What’s your favourite part of the job? I love interacting with couples throughout the whole process. There is something really special about playing a small part in their special day and helping them bring their ideas to life. My absolute favourite part has to be seeing the bride/groom on the morning of their wedding – it’s always full of happy emotions! Do you have any top tips for couples looking for a florist? Book early and do your research! You only get one shot at the big day, so you want to make sure you have a trusted florist working with you to create something beautiful. Check their websites, social media pages, and look at pictures of their work, but most importantly, check previous customer reviews. The social media pages for floristry businesses can often play a big part in couples choosing their wedding florist, but always make sure that the content displayed on their pages (and website) is their own work. Staffordshire 07584 281 915 info@deansharpesfloralstudio.co.uk www.deansharpesfloralstudio.co.uk www.hbaphotography.com www.fearphotography.com www.frasermcgeefoto.com www.claralouphotography.co.uk FLOWERS 47
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