As a micro flower farmer, there's nothing more disheartening than encountering a locally minded bride with a vision which far outstrips what you can provide. It would be so easy to give a gracious no-thank-you and move on. Lucky for me, the bride, Victoria, was not so easily swayed! With heart and creativity, she decided to book Everbloom for her personal flowers and for centerpiece vignettes while outsourcing the larger installation pieces to another floral company. The result was that she not only supported her local flower farmer but also had the wedding of her dreams. Though her wedding took place several years ago, she has been such an inspiration to me and I think of her often. While our farm has a strong commitment to locally grown or US grown only, we embrace working with brides who enlist other florists to help meet their needs. Don't be afraid of a hybrid wedding. It might just be the perfect one!
Victoria and I only ever communicated via e-mail. It is possible for a tiny flower farm to provide luscious wedding flowers with a simple process. In our communication, I could tell she trusted me so I felt comfortable sending her a contract. Not every bride is a good fit for a micro flower farmer to work with, but if you're completely honest about what you can provide and what you cannot, you might be surprised to find how lovely a bride is! Don't be afraid of the big wedding, just be very clear with your communication. Victoria was the absolute best and when I handed her the bridal bouquet, it was a magical moment!
I have no idea who the other florist was but I love that we unknowingly worked together to make Victoria's day so special. We should normalize hybrid weddings and give them the spotlight they deserve.