Do you have a passion for flowers and all things botanical? Would you love a career that allows you to incorporate work with flowers?
If you’re a creative type looking for a fun and fulfilling career that ties in your love for florals then read on and find out more about the role of a floral designer and how to become one!
So what is a floral designer?
Good question. The role of a floral designer is slightly different from that of a traditional florist. Like a florist, you’ll be working with flowers so it is essential that you gain knowledge of flowers and floristry skills.But the role of an event floral designer is so much more than just flower arranging!
At its simplest, a floral designer is a creative who arranges cut flowers and greenery to create a beautiful decorative display. Where an event floral designer may differ from a florist is in the context of how they work and the scale at which they work.Event floral designers will work on large one-off projects such as weddings and special events and will often specialise in these types of events.Unlike a florist, you will not have a shop front and you won’t be offering the additional day to day services including one off small arrangements and standard bouquets. In this way setting up as a floral designer is far easier; you don’t need to invest in retail premises, you only have to order in specific florals and you will have taken a deposit before you have to make those orders.
Do you have the making of a floral designer?
So now you know what a floral designer does let’s delve a little deeper and look at what qualities and skills you need to make a success of a career in floral design.- You need to be creative and have an eye for colour and design. Your designs must look good and appeal to your ideal client. You need to be a good communicator as you will be translating your client’s vision into reality. Organisational skills are a MUST as there is a huge amount of prep involved when you are working on an event and long hours and lots of lifting will be involved. You are working with fresh produce so you can’t prep too far in advance which can mean longer hours just before an event.
What do I need to do to become a floral designer?
When it comes to floral design there are skills that will need to be learned. You CANNOT just purchase some flowers and wing it on a client’s wedding or event because you love flowers and have made some lovely arrangements for your dining table. Firstly, you will need to gain the required fundamental knowledge and develop the floristry techniques that will allow you to create floral arrangements and installations that will not only wow your clients but importantly last the duration of the event.- You’ll need to gain some form of training that will mean you can confidently:
- Order wholesale cut flowers and foliage
- Take delivery of flowers and foliage, and condition the flowers ready to be designed
- Advise clients on the best choice of flowers and the seasonal availability of the flowers
- Create inspiring mood boards for your clients
- Create client proposals and price up all floral elements
- Work to a client’s budget
- Deliver and install finished floral designs
- Manage breakdowns including collecting any containers or props such as candelabra, vases, backdrops, pedestals, plinths etc
