Don’t know your peonies from your poppies for your wedding day flowers? Julia Long of Hey Bud! Flowers, an exclusive bespoke floral business in San Diego, California, is here to give brides her top tips and tricks – from picking seasonal flowers to preserving bouquets after the big day.
All flower images courtesy Hey Bud!
How did you first become interested in being a florist?
Julia I love everything about working with flowers — the peace and energy it gives me, and the joy it brings to others.
As the American Botanist Luther Burbank said, “Flowers always make people better, happier, more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.” I’ve always believed that flowers shouldn’t just be for special occasions — they have the ability to brighten any day just by existing, and should be celebrated for that on a regular basis!
I started Hey, Bud! in Fall 2012, after moving to Toronto, Canada from Los Angeles. Running a florist business in Canada was not easy– flowers are expensive and not widely available, but are sorely needed, especially in the arctic winters!
I am now running Hey, Bud on a commission basis from my home in the South Park neighborhood of San Diego.
What’s your floral design aesthetic?
Julia: Flowers are an intrinsic part of my life. If there are none in my home, it simply does not feel like home! I especially love flowers with strong scents, like jasmine and lilacs.
I believe in arranging flowers in a way that allows each one to look its best, and I love using unexpected color combinations and add-ins to create arrangements that are interesting from every angle and provide little surprises the closer you look. My interests in history and art have helped to shape my inspiration and references in my work with flowers, in composition and color placement.
I’ve also started to think seriously about how I could run my business more sustainably. I love the freedom that floral foam offers, but am not a fan of its non-biodegradable and potentially unhealthy properties. I’ve been experimenting with other methods of arranging in the hope of eliminating foam from Hey, Bud.
As I’m located in California, it’s fairly easy for me to focus on procuring locally-grown flowers, and I enjoy building relationships with growers. It’s wonderful to have fresh flowers around, but it’s also important to keep in mind that without ecologically-sound practices, there won’t be any more flowers!
What floral trends are on the horizon for the 2014 bride?
Julia: Some of the most popular trends for this year include more organic, loose, wild-looking arrangements and bouquets. Trailing eucalyptus and succulents are all over the place, and they can both be used in interesting ways to offset and complement more traditional flowers.
In the same way, I’m seeing people use all kinds of feathers! For tables, many couples are choosing to use multiple small, mismatched containers to hold arrangements. Braided hair is big right now, which offers brides and their ladies the opportunity to include flowers woven into their hair.
I also love flower crowns, which are all over the place right now. I often suggest to brides that they carry a bouquet for the ceremony and photos, but then switch to a flower crown and/or corsage for the reception. This allows for hands-free partying and dancing all night, and also means that the bouquet can either be displayed in a vase of water for the reception, or immediately hung to start drying, if desired.
What are your favourite flowers to work with in different seasons?
Julia: I try to work as seasonally as possible, both because it’s better for the environment and because it tends to be cheaper, which is always a nice benefit.
Price-wise, it’s best to buy as seasonally as possible. My favorite method of working is to visit a farmer’s market/flower market/grocery store/ corner store (really anywhere that I can find with a decent selection) and choose the colors/scents/shapes that inspire me. Each arrangement is unique, because it is created organically from these spurts of inspiration. I find that I’m repeatedly attracted to Dahlias, Peonies, Ranunculus, Anemones, and Eucalyptus, but I also love discovering and experimenting with new sources of inspiration.
What are your top tips for designing a bouquet?
Julia: I like to make bouquets as personal and special as possible. The bride’s bouquet is special, because so many people choose to dry it or press some of the individual flowers from it.
It can include favorite flowers and colors, of course, but I also like to play with the Language of Flowers, and it’s become popular to include one of the “somethings” in the bouquet (old, new, borrowed, blue).
These “somethings” often include antique ribbon or fabric from a family member’s wedding gown, a brooch or other piece of heirloom jewelry, or even something like a small toy that represents something special for the couple.
The idea of using symbolism in the bouquet is far from a novel one, but it’s a trend that is experiencing a bit of a renaissance right now. A lot of brides have been inspired by Kate Middleton’s bouquet, which included Sweet William (in reference to her own sweet William) as well as other flowers that held symbolic and personal meanings.
It’s important to think about colors – how they look together, against the dresses (bride’s and bridesmaids’), as well as in photographs. Most florists will work with you ahead of time to create practice or model bouquets, so you can get an idea for what the final product will look and feel like.
What should you do to have a good relationship with your florist?
Julia: From a florist’s perspective, I would say that it’s nice when any client respects the artistry of floral arranging. My favorite commissions are the ones where the client gives me free rein to “make something pretty”
Obviously, most brides have specific ideas of what they want, so I would advise that finding a florist who shares a similar aesthetic is particularly helpful. That way, you can work together to create something the bride is happy with and the florist can feel proud of. Florists are able to create all kinds of styles of arrangements, but most of us have specific styles we’re most comfortable in.
What are your favourite ways to decorate celebration spaces?
Julia: I like creating flower garlands and wreaths for decorations, and branches can be used in some really fun ways too. I love weaving flowers into chandeliers and other lighting fixtures (as long as they’re not open flames!)
Potted trees or plants lend a touch of magical aura, with the added bonus of surviving past the wedding day! Never underestimate the importance of strategic lighting, whether it be fairy lights, candles, lanterns, or natural sunlight.
How can brides keep floral costs down?
Julia: Some brides choose to do a lot of the flowers themselves, or have a friend or family member take on the job as a way of saving money. This can work out quite well, but there are some tips to keep in mind if this is your chosen route.
If you’re near a wholesale flower market, research their opening hours and public entry rules. These places are goldmines, as they have huge selections at great prices. A lot of the individual sellers will actually do weddings, so always inquire at the source. Definitely also check out farmers’ markets.
If you’re working with a florist, shop around a lot before deciding. Many florists will work with you on costs, and can probably suggest some accent greenery that will still look beautiful but keep costs lower than if you just buy larger, individual flowers (like roses, peonies, tulips, etc). Using large amounts of greenery and smaller amounts of in-season flowers creates an end-product that is still just as stunning at a fraction of the cost.
What are good ways to keep flowers fresh on the big day, and preserve them afterwards?
Julia: It’s important to keep in mind that flowers begin to wilt as soon as they are cut, and the longer they are out of water, the more wilted they will get. Many florists do not stay with the wedding party throughout the celebration, so it’s a good idea to put one of your bridesmaids or family members on “spritzing duty”. Make sure they have a spray bottle full of water, so bouquets, boutonnieres, and corsages can be kept as fresh as possible.
These should also be refrigerated until the last possible moment. Most flowers are not going to look as pretty by the end of the reception, so make sure you place bouquets you want to keep in water as soon as possible, and refrigerate any corsages and boutonnieres you want to last a little longer.
If you want to dry your bouquet, hang it upside-down in a cool, dry, dark place. After it dries, place it in a box lined with tissue paper, or display it in your home. Hydrangeas and roses look particularly good when dried. If you don’t want to preserve the whole thing, press individual blooms between parchment paper in a dictionary or other large, heavy book.
Are there any neglected flowers/botanicals that you’d like to single out for brides’ attention?
Julia: I’ve seen some very interesting and incredibly elegant arrangements lately with carnations and baby’s breath, which are probably the two most maligned flowers out there! It just goes to show you that each flower is beautiful, but that some need a little extra help in the manner of strategic arranging to help them shine.
Keep an open mind when it comes to choosing the flowers for your wedding — your florist just might surprise you with something you never anticipated!
Hey Bud! flowers can be found at heybudflowers.com. Julia Long works predominantly on weddings in the US and Canada but is also available to consult with Australian brides looking for advice for their wedding day.