Interactive, Hands-On Workshops

1. "Floral Consultant" [2-3 meetings] Planning to DIY? On $700 or less? Not sure where to start? Gain the insight of a professional event florist! We will meet across 3 one-hour sessions to:

• develop your floral vision and assess your design needs 
• plan flower types and quantities
• strategize flower prep, design recipes, and arranging processes.

We will use our first consultation to walk through your vision, nail down your ideal design list, and discuss timing. You walk away with a plan and design recipes that you can execute to shop for and design your own floral vision. "Floral Consultant" is specifically for Brides with a $900 or lower budget who are willing to design for their own wedding the week prior and are open to using locally grown and/or store-bought bouquets. The cost of these sessions is invaluable in saving time learning which flowers and how many are needed for all your designs and how to keep those flowers fresh and in learning to time your designs with efficient techniques.

2. "Design Workshop" [2-3 meetings + 1 workshop] The design workshop jumps over all the DIY hurdles and goes straight to a friendly, low-stress workshop model. You provide the space and the people, and I provide the flowers and floral design instruction.

We will meet across 2-3 one-hour sessions to:

• create floral vision and assess design needs
• plan flower types and quantities
• prepare a floral design workshop the week of your wedding

We work to develop your floral vision over 2-3 sessions and to host a workshop at which I will instruct your bridesmaids and/or friends to design their own bouquets while I design the bridal bouquet. Clients can choose whether to prepare the flowers themselves (I provide instructions) or to have me prep and transport flowers to the workshop ready to go. This option tends to save Brides a lot of labor costs and to have a fun activity for out-of-town guests to gather and create memories. Workshop is conducted the day or two prior to your wedding.

3. "Teach Me to Design" [3-5 meetings + 1 workshop] DIY and Design Like the Pro's! Teach Me to Design provides 3-5 one-hour sessions. 

Our goal is to equip you to:

• develop a floral vision
• plan flower and supply needs, get design recipes
• beyond strategy, I will teach you to design bouquets, corsages, and boutonnieres in a 1-2 session trial run

This allows a Beautiful Bride to work with me to develop her wedding floral vision, strategize about how to make it happen, and learn how to design that vision like a professional florist. During 3 to 5 planning and design instruction sessions, I empower a Bride to make her DIY wedding floral vision happen. In sessions #3, #4, and if needed, #5, we will practice and hone the techniques of design that will achieve your vision so that timing and design mechanics are not guesswork. 

Either way!

Mel is happy to meet in-person within 50 miles of Fairfax, VA. 

Online sessions via video conference are a perfect space for us to accomplish everything you need to empower you to create your floral vision on your own. Workshops can be done online!

Many Beautiful Brides would like to achieve their wedding floral vision, but the costs associated with that vision can be enormous. The DIY route is promising, except for the biggest challenge - figuring out which flowers, how many flowers, which designs, and how to ensure the flowers are at peak bloom on the day of your wedding. That's a lot to handle while also preparing to get married. The biggest benefit of a floral consult is to be able to execute a DIY plan with the expertise of a florist guiding you in order to minimize stress, to maximize time, and to create your wedding floral vision on your own. As a floral consultant, I work to empower Beautiful Brides to achieve what they envision well within their budget. Work with me, and we'll make it happen.

The consult is scheduled based on mutual availability and will be conducted typically on a weekday afternoon or evening.

Typically, 1-3 days prior to your event, I will encourage you to set up a space where you and your bridesmaids, family, and friends can work with scissors, flowers, and water. 

As the Floral Consultant, I get to equip you for this. 

Did you know, my entire floral shop fits into one toolbox and generally costs less than $50? Most of the supplies we need are the tools of a gardener and craft hobbyist. 

I provide lists of tools, supplies, and flowers. 

3 in 3

Every consulting client receives the following 3 things over 2-3 meetings:

1. A statement of your floral vision along with a list of designs you need. Inspiration photos, sketches, or a mood board may be included in this.
2. A quote of all flower varieties and bunch quantities you will be purchasing as well as a list of any supplies and the costs thereof.
3. A realistic and low-stress plan for creating your wedding floral vision that includes cutting/keeping flowers fresh, recipes for each type of design, and design instructions with time estimates.