floriffic flowers

Mel, how many years have you been a florist for?

I started out 27 years ago in this crazy profession, but it still amazes me after all this time, the way flowers are used to express different emotions. From the excitement of a new baby to the happiest of wishes for a birthday, the sadness of a bereavement to the beauty of that special moment of love, a wedding.

How many weddings would you do in a weekend?

To be able to give my brides the full attention they deserve, I am able to do up to four weddings a weekend. I am really lucky to have a great supportive staff who helps me make this possible. This year I have about 85 weddings which is very humbling, as the numbers have steadily risen over the past few years as my work has become known.

How far in advance do brides need to book?

Ultimately 6 months before is a good time to start looking for a florist, but if a bride is planning a wedding in one of the busier periods 10 – 12 months is advisable. With our beautiful weather I am finding the busier times are around Easter – March to May and then for the Spring season, August – October. But this year every month is quite busy.

Any tips for our brides on making their wedding flower choices?

Brides need to remember that although all the wedding magazines show absolutely beautiful bouquets, decisions need to be made about weather and seasonal availability of some flowers. Wedding designers should be able to direct brides to the most suitable flowers for the time of year the wedding is planned for, as well as their availability or if suited to the chosen theme.

With that in mind, are all your flowers sourced locally?

We try to source some items locally but we don’t really have much of a choice as there aren’t too many local farmers in Central Queensland. I have a couple of great suppliers who source a lot of my flowers from growers in the south of the state.

How do you keep your bouquets in such pristine condition?

With most weddings needing to be delivered around lunchtime on the wedding day, I try to keep the flowers in my cool fridges until almost the last minute. I educate my brides beforehand on how the flowers need to be kept once I have delivered them. My bouquets are always delivered boxed up securely and if need be with cold packs, whether they are going just around the corner or making a trip to Eungella, Airlie or the Islands.

What are the themes you are currently seeing in wedding flowers?

A lot of brides are starting to design reception themes around lots of flowers, lots of crystals, candles and bling. It’s a lot of fun creating designs that compliment the bride’s style and character and the couple’s personality. I really enjoy when both the bride and groom have input in the wedding details, it helps me make the wedding designs more personal. I try to also understand what theme the couple are using, from invitations to ceremony and decorator plans. This all makes for a great amalgamation of ideas. It’s the little things that are memorable, a butterfly or heart here and there or a few simple diamantes carefully placed in a bouquet can make all the difference.

What gives you the most satisfaction in your job?

It’s really special having been there for some of my customers (now friends), from the special moments dating, to helping with wedding flowers and just recently a few babies. I have also found it very special helping a family convey their love and memories in their time of loss.

But I have to say weddings are my passion. Helping to make a bride’s ideas and dreams become a reality is fantastic. The look on a bride’s face when she first sees her bouquet makes all the hard work and preparation worthwhile.

For 27 years Mel of Flori�c Flowers has been busy helping brides to be chose the perfect wedding bouquet and why she loves what she does.

www.�ori�c.com.au | info@�ori�c.com.au | 11 Grendon Street, North Mackay | 07 4957 2133

floriffic flowers

www.�ori�c.com.au | info@�ori�c.com.au | 11 Grendon Street, North Mackay | 07 4957 2133

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