An Explosion of Joy & Colour.

This was a very personal experience for me, as I had the opportunity to help plan the floral arrangements for some dear friends' wedding.

During my university years, I made friendships that I still cherish for year to come, and being able to contribute to my friends' special day meant more to me than anything else.

Andrea, the bride, is known for her love of colour and when we began planning the wedding flowers, it was clear that she wanted to incorporate bright and vibrant hues.

Together, they have a love for vibrant colours, and I can only imagine seeing a new rainbow of colours in their future, as they are a true power couple who can accomplish anything they set their minds too.

I was thrilled to be a part of the planning process, especially since the wedding was in the stunning Garden Route, and it would be my first time traveling with flowers over such a distance.

However, on my way to the wedding, I received news that my flower supply company had mistakenly delivered the flowers to my studio in Cape Town, five hours away from the wedding location. This caused a great deal of stress and anxiety, but I managed to pull everything together and we managed to get all the flowers to the venue in good time.

I learned an important lesson from this experience: when traveling for a wedding setup, it's important to choose hardy flowers that can withstand being without water for some time if they are being delivered by a courier company. Fortunately, I had made good choices and as I have traveled with the flowers that needed to be in water the entire time.

In addition to the unexpected flower delivery mishap, I also had to deal with the fact that 80% of the flowers I had planned to use were no longer available, which added even more stress to the situation. As a florist, these are the kinds of challenges we face behind the scenes, but despite the obstacles, I was still able to create something beautiful for my friends' wedding. Fortunately, I had the freedom to choose most of the flowers without any restrictions.

It's important to be prepared for unforeseen circumstances when it comes to planning a wedding, especially when it comes to using natural products like flowers. As a florist, I always advise my brides that even up to two weeks prior to the wedding day, things can happen that might prevent us from using certain flowers, such as weather conditions or disease. I make sure to plan for these events and offer substitutes when necessary, while still aiming to deliver what the bride desires. Being open to substitutes is key in ensuring a beautiful and successful wedding day.

One of my favorite parts of the day was delivering the bridal arrangements to the happy couple. Being a part of their special day was an experience that I will always treasure. I will always look back on this memorable day with fondness, recalling the love, laughter, and joy that radiated from the happy couple.

To my dear friends, I love you both and you will always have a special place in my heart. May your lives together be filled with love, laughter, and endless happiness.

Photo credit: Cathe Pienaar Photography

Decore: SRT Functions