You name the blog or publication and Charleston’s
Heather Barrie of Gathering Floral and Events. and
Anne Dabney of Charleston Stems have had their centerpieces, bouquets, installations, and more showcased. In true Holy City spirit, the two formed
Charleston Flower Workshop to share their secrets, tips, and know-how with attendees. Their most recent collaboration focused on tabletop arrangements. After demos from both pros, students tackled their own creations. “We are always delighted to see the varying creative ways people use the materials they are provided,” says Anne. “We joke that it’s like giving a personality test: inevitably some arrangements are very loose and wild and some are more tight and controlled.”
Attempting wedding florals on your own? Consider these tips first.
❶ Attend a workshop. Ask your instructor ahead of time what portion of the class is demo, practice, and Q&A. Will supplies be provided? Is there one-on-one time to get answers specific to your wedding? Will you leave with an arrangement?
❷ Take notes. Snap photos of the tools, process, and more for visual direction in addition to taking step-by-step written notes.
❸
Source materials. Ask your instructor to share their sources—be those local or online suppliers—for ordering blooms, greens, tools, and vessels. Local lead: Try
Whole Foods Market for fresh flowers.
❹ Try this recipe for success. Craft the centerpieces seen here with these "ingredients." Meyer lemon, daffodil, hyacinth, hellebore, white ranunculus, yellow mimosa, sword fern, Ming fern, yellow plumosa, feather fern, white lilac, clementine fruit, daffodil, orange ranunculus, green lisianthus, white amaryllis, and variegated Arbicola.
❺ Sign up. The next Charleston Flower Workshop session is the first weekend in December, when attendees will craft wreaths. Wreaths make great wedding décor and can transition from chapel door adornments to gate decorations, tabletop accents, or getaway car fodder.
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