Connecting with bridal couples

Specialist and wedding florist Claire van der Velden from Beyond Blossom explains how she connects with her bridal couples.

“The first meeting with the brides and grooms always takes place face-to-face. We drink tea from a wineglass and chat informally about the look and feel of their big day. Based on this I make an offer. If one of the couple doesn’t come from the Netherlands, I always ask about their origins. I like to incorporate flowers from the country of origin into the theme of the wedding. This is always appreciated. I also ask about the favourite flowers of family members; these can also play an important role during this special day. I often go to the growers so that I can tell about the flower’s story and its origins to the customer. The bridal couples always really like that! 

I’m always there on the day itself to make sure that the flowers are in tiptop condition. During the ceremony the flowers are placed along the aisle, and later I move them to the dining table and the photo booth, for example. This way, the guests can enjoy the flowers the entire day. I also take other jobs off their hands, such as placing name cards on the dining table, along with a pretty napkin with a small flower on top.”