If you’re already starting with preparation for your wedding, undoubtedly one of the first things you would have thought of are the flowers that will decorate your space, your bouquet, etc.
But we’re also sure that, apart from searching everywhere for inspiration to achieve the floral decoration you’ve always dreamed of, you also have a lot of doubts about the effects Covid has had on weddings and the flower industry.
However, here at Perfect Venue we always want to help you with everything you need to make your wedding exactly how you dreamt it and put aside the fear and uncertainty caused by COVID… So, we’ve contacted three great professionals from the sector and we’ve asked them the questions that currently most concern brides and grooms!
The professionals, whom we admire greatly for their work and ability to create bouquets of flowers, centrepieces, etc. who are here to tell us all about flowers for weddings are: A flor de…, Flores para Venus, Flores de la vida and De Blanco y Menta.
Don’t miss it! Because you’ll be so much more relaxed and confident that finding floral decoration for your wedding in times of COVID won’t have to worry you.
In the midst of this pandemic, how is your company doing?
A flor de…: The company is currently at a complete standstill as we are a studio/florist specialising in MICE events, seminars, weddings, communions, etc. and not a florist with a physical shop.
Flores para Venus: Our company is under constant renovation, adapting to the current situation, in the beginning Flores para Venus was a floral studio. Now we have a daily flower shop, commonly known as a florist.
Flores de la vida: I’m looking forward to and am excited that 2021 will bring normality to the sector, after a whole year without being able to decorate events and weddings, we’re looking forward to being able to resume all the commissions and projects that are on pause.
De Blanco y Menta: I think that, like all our colleagues in the sector, we’ve had a tough year, as we’ve not been able to work all the weddings we had been contracted for, nor book new clients. But at the same time, it has been a year that has allowed us to reinvent ourselves in many ways: we’ve become much more digital, opened up new paths of entrepreneurship and are offering our couples a much better service and consultancy, so they can have the wedding they dream of.
2. How have the florists adapted to the new normal?
A flor de…: From the beginning, we have continued to look after our future clients online (mail, messaging, meeting via Skype…). When it was possible to see clients physically in meetings, we adapted our office with all the necessary sanitary measures and with compulsory masks. In the meantime, we’ve been working on our online shop to continue offering even more centrepieces, bouquets and gifts at home or with collections at our studio.
Flores para Venus: We try to gain a strong understanding of our client’s needs. Depending on the season, we have different plants and flowers.
Flores de la vida: Day-to-day life in the shop is pretty much the same, apart from heightened hygiene measures, everything else remains the same. There has been an increase in telephone orders with home delivery, and a decrease in the number of people who visit the shop in person. There are also people who’ve realised how important it is to have plants and flowers at home after the months we were in lockdown…
De Blanco y Menta: In our line of work, in addition to the floral decorations we create, we also carry out an extensive decoration of the whole wedding. At the moment, when a couple contacts us, we speak with them and provide the option to video call so we can present our portfolio, answer any doubts and give them a chance to get to know us better. It’s not always easy to meet in person with lots of couples, but now it’s easier and simpler for everyone to communicate online. This way we don’t lose the close relationship with our clients and we can see each other.
3. How much has the pandemic affected the business?
A flor de…: It’s affected us a lot… All the staff is on ERTE and we still don’t know when we’ll be able to get back to work. At the moment, I only have one manager to attend to our clients and maintain our facilities. And all this without resources, which is the hardest part. We’ve resorted to an ICO loan to ensure we don’t run out of liquidity, as our turnover has fallen by about 82% in the financial year 2020. We’ve also had to take into account that in our case, we depend solely on the hospitality industry, a sector that’s been hard hit by the crisis. It’s a total economic uncertainty and an anxiety that is sometimes difficult to bear.
Flores para Venus: For our company, 90% of business was weddings and events, so as most events were discontinued, we radically changed our philosophy by creating our studio in a beautiful shop.
Flores de la vida: In our case, we’ve been able to keep our heads above water thanks to personal savings and support, as we’re a small company, we’ve been able to reduce expenses to a minimum this year, and that’s saved us.
De Blanco y Menta: We’ve had couples with family and friends who came from abroad for the big day. In these cases, we’ve had cancellations or postponements with no date in the near future to reschedule. We understand that these are situations of unforeseeable circumstance, which, with much regret to our couples, have completely changed their plans. Others of our weddings have been rescheduled for 2021 and 2022. Fortunately, some of them have been able to take place and it’s been a great joy for our couples, and for us to be able to help them.
4. Have you designed new bouquets or will you keep this season’s creations?
A flor de…: Yes, we’ve designed new bouquets and trends for the wedding sector, as it’s a sector that’s constantly evolving. We’ve taken the opportunity to carry out new photo shoots, inspirational shoots and online courses to keep up the great pace we managed to achieve before the pandemic.
Flores para Venus: Every week we have a different bouquet of the week for only 5,90€ so that all our customers can have fresh flowers every day.
Flores de la vida: Every bouquet or decoration I make is a new design, my catalogue is constantly changing.
De Blanco y Menta: Yes, we are designing new bridal bouquets. We’ve collaborated with different editorials this year that’s allowed us to create new designs with different materials, with both fresh and preserved flowers. We’re delighted to be able to continue to inspire brides who are looking for their bridal bouquet.
5. With the rise of online business, is it possible for you to sell bouquets online?
A flor de…: Yes, of course! We were doing it before, and we’ve continued to do it. With local and national deliveries.
Flores para Venus: We’re considering the possibility of creating an online shop, but it is something that needs time, which we never have. But it’s a pending subject that we know is essential right now.
Flores de la vida: I sell Plant-Based Jewellery in my online shop, handmade earrings and bracelets made from leaves and natural flowers. Also, plant-based paintings, “preserved gardens”, and some little bouquets, all with freeze-dried flowers and greens. With these products, the online shop works very well. What I don’t see working is for bouquets of fresh flowers, because this is something you have to do in the moment. I prefer that customers call me, as they’ve always done, talk, tell me what they like, who it is for, etc., then you make a design specific to them with the most beautiful flowers available that day and we take it to where they ask. It’s quicker and more convenient than buying online, and the bouquet will be much fresher, prettier and more original.
De Blanco y Menta: Yes, as a result of the pandemic we’ve opened up an online shop, thanks to the preserved flower designs we’re creating. We currently deliver all over mainland Spain. We’re also creating new designs of preserved flowers as table centrepieces, decorative items for the home and original gifts for the couple to give to their family or friends. We’re working on many original ideas and creations to send all over Spain.
6. What did you find most difficult about the pandemic?
A flor de…: Yes, on certain dates and at certain times of the year. We’ve created discount systems, competitions and various benefits in our wedding packs, for example.
Flores para Venus: We don’t have any kind of discount, but I have to note that in the work we do, we intensify our passion and effort to always have a perfect finish.
Flores de la vida: No, we don’t have a discount policy. We do have details for our regular clients who have supported us all this time. Fresh flowers are a living product and with the fall in demand, the original price of flowers has risen slightly. The whole sector is working hard to be able to stay in business and maintain the quality and prices to be as they were before the pandemic.
De Blanco y Menta: Yes, that’s right. In the middle of the pandemic, we wanted to do our bit to thank all the professionals who had to continue working. For some brides, we gifted them a headdress made of preserved flowers if they ordered their bridal bouquet from us. From there, and due to the good reception of the promotion, we wanted to continue uplifting more brides who were losing their enthusiasm for their wedding preparations. For this reason, we have carried out raffles and different promotions, with designs that we could send all over Spain. This has allowed us to meet many brides, hear many stories and above all, get many of them excited again through our flowers.
7. What did you find most difficult about the pandemic?
A flor de…: Many things, but especially the “tetris” we had to face in order to be able to postpone more than 70 weddings from 2020 to next year… There are 2 seasons in 1 for 2021 and some months are already more than full. But I have to say that I’m lucky to have understanding clients that support us a lot!
Flores para Venus: The hardest thing to deal with is the absence of clients.
Flores de la vida: Having to cancel or postpone the wedding and event decorations we had planned for 2020.
De Blanco y Menta: We love to help our bride and groom celebrate one of the most beautiful moments of their lives. Therefore, in the professional area, the most difficult thing has been to see the uncertainty of many of our brides, not knowing whether or not they would be able to celebrate their wedding.
8. How do you see the future of floristry in a few months?
A flor de…: In a few months, we hope that with the arrival of the vaccines we’ll be able to start working again from Spring 2021…. For the time being, we have an empty schedule of events until April 2021. That means that we’ll have to endure about 4 more months in this situation. For the time being.
Flores para Venus: The traditional florist’s shop, like many other sectors, will have to lend a hand and adapt to the new times. Like everyone else.
Flores de la vida: I hope it will improve and return to normality in terms of big celebrations. Flowers are fundamental in the most emotional moments of life and also in farewells. People need to be able to celebrate and ritualise the important events in our lives, and flowers will always be there to help us do so.
De Blanco y Menta: The world of decoration, especially floral decoration, is beautiful. We believe that we all need to continue celebrating life and love. In spite of how difficult these months have been, we all need that more than ever. That’s why we believe and hope that everything will improve, and that we can go back to decorating beautiful weddings and events, to get our hopes up again and to start thinking about all the good things that lie ahead.
9. What would you say to the couples who want to start thinking about their wedding flowers?
A flor de….: Don’t think about it too much if you already have a strong selection of essential suppliers for your wedding. As I mentioned before, next year there will be 2 seasons in 1. Many 2021 diaries are full for Wedding Planners, venues, photographers, caterers, etc. and sales for 2022 have been brought forward, and in the floral and decoration sector it’s very unusual to open the diaries almost 2 years in advance. Now that we have time during the quieter winter months, it’s time to look and compare. We’re all confident that vaccines and treatments will soon be available and that we’ll learn to live with pandemics, just as we have managed with many crises before. Don’t be afraid, we’re all looking forward to celebrating!
Flores para Venus: I try to assure peace of mind to all my couples that once it’s clear to us that their event can take place, we get to work on it with all our passion.
Flores de la vida: I would tell them to start as soon as possible because there’s a lot to think about and then everything speeds up and comes together in the last month. The final result is much better when we do a design with plenty of time, from the beginning of the project and in coordination with the rest of the suppliers, decoration, etc… When you leave the flowers to the last minute, it’s more difficult to do something special and coordinated. Also, there’s dates that we have already booked for a year in advance, so the earlier the better.
De Blanco y Menta: I would tell them it’s the perfect time. More than ever, the upcoming weddings will be incredible. For them, their families and friends, it will be a moment to reconnect and be together and happy again. And flowers are the perfect element to make those moments spectacular and unforgettable. We’ll be happy to help and advise you so that your decoration is unique and enjoyed by everyone.
Thank you very much to the florists: A flor de…, Flores para Venus, Flores de la vida and De Blanco y Menta for your time!
And don’t hesitate to visit us at Perfect Venue to start with the preparations for your wedding, we can put you in contact with any of these professionals and find the floral decoration that suits you best.
We look forward to seeing you!
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