January. Let’s be Having You.
Bored in January? Feeling Anxious in January? Generally January Can Be a Bit Dull.
Well, This Year I am Putting. few Things Into Practice In order To Survive the Longest Month of the Year.
Brighton Floristry Workshops, Vase Workshops Brighton, Bouquet Workshops Brighton, Wedding Florist Brighton
The Festive Season Has Passed, And January Usually Hits Like a Cannonball. Think Self Assessment Taxes, Proposals, Comparing Yourself On Instagram- The Works. So, How Am I Tackling january?
Last January, I remember feeling anxious and worried for the year to come. Ultimately, it ended up being a great year for Studio Dandelion and a monumental year for my personal life. We created the biggest wedding to date, we designed using fully 100% home grown flowers, made friends with 50% more farmers (so great) moved cities (bye London, Hello Brighton!, we had the biggest adventure holiday of our lives and so much more. But ultimately, I totally freaked out in January because it seems to last forever, and even though I saved and paid for my taxes it feels like such a worry. To break into the luxury market, your not supposed to talk about money unless there’s an abundance of it- so how do you get more luxury weddings, but also your business is feeling the pinch. Here’s a few things I am doing this January to help me maximise profit, stay sane and ultimately not dig myself into a compasrisonistis hole that makes me want to befriend the black dog.
My Brother is Getting Married.
Although he’s not wanting any flowers, that’s for his big wedding next year, I have had the pleasure on focusing on helping him find a hair and MUA for his fiancé and sourcing a local Brighton photographer- thrilled to say, they picked my first choices.
I am also now in charge in sourcing some beautiful pale pink stems for my sister-in-law-to-be’s bouquet. I’m hoping we can get our hands on some beautiful cyclamen or anemones (like the ones in this image, but in blush!) or maybe some seasonal Daphne- that was my granny’s name too!
Anyway, I’ll be immersing myself in their marriage in my new hometown, and enjoying spending time with new family and friends!
MAKING FRIENDS AND INCLUSIVE WEDDING PACKAGES
So, in December between the wreath workshops, the sickness (flu twice), the moving cities and generally feeling EXHAUSTED I updated and completely re-designed my website. It’s slick and very easy to navigate- wouldn’t you agree? Created by the wonderful Sara at Hatch Website Design.
I have decided this year, that we had an influx of micro wedding inquiries. Just a bouquet or two, and some floral flourishes in the form of buttonholes or bud vases or even hair flowers. The new Micro- Wedding package is available here, and free delivery in Brighton postcodes.
I want to focus on actually getting to know my surroundings, so hopefully meeting new wedding planners, suppliers and generally making friends. If you’re Brighton, Sussex or London based and would like to be pals- please get in touch. I love a chai latte and a dog walk on the beach!
WORKSHOPS
As a seasonal florist, there are really big markers in the year where I find it difficult to share work. For example, Valentine’s Day I won’t be making bouquets full of red roses, or any roses for that matter. But, my pal Bub made an excellent suggestion saying she and few friends would like to do a vase workshop, to learn how to arrange flowers… LIGHTBULB!
I do vase workshops for heaps of corporate companies, but never even thought about bringing it to people’s houses. I provided vases, scissors, mechanics and of course flowers and foliage and teach in a lovely 1.5hr course- and voila! You have a beautiful vase of flowers and you learn to arrange all the flowers you will receive from then on!
What do you think? Would you like to join our Valentine’s Make Your Own?
READING AND PRACTICE
I watched a programme about how therapy is considered dangerous in the UK because it’s not regulated. I decided to undergo a diploma in Therapy & Counselling 5 years ago and am coming to the end of my learning this year,
Floristry has been my main source of income for 15 years now, but in the pandemic I realised I wanted to incorporate flowers and therapeutic healing. Not in a wishy-washy way, but truly brining florals and design into homes and offices, to teach and allow expression. Even on Good Morning Britain, Andy Peters was taking part in a pottery class explaining how we, the general public, are so stressed these days that a two hour session in something like pottery, floral design etc can help calm and cleanse our anxieties.
Essentially, I’m reading loads of books on therapeutic practice and actually putting it into practice too. As well, as being a certified counsellor by July this year! Brighton Floral Workshops- here we come!
BEING GRATEFUL
I spent a lot of last year working through personal hurdles and trying to make sense of things before I gave them time to unfurl, or just to accept. The last few months have been hard in so many ways, but i have had so much support from Tommy, my partner and even our ruddy dog, Bozzy.
Spending this month telling them how grateful I am for them, the support we give each other and ultimately, listening to each other and the compassion and love that comes with that.
I have found working with flowers in the hardest times, genuinely, life saving. And then coming home to this mega babe makes it even better!
Where To Get Married In Brighton
Where to Get Married in Brighton? An Ongoing Post that Links some of my Favourite Venues in Brighton to get Married. We Love The Seaside, And Come Rain or Shine This is by Far One of The Best Places to Get Married in the UK.
From the Lanes, to the Pier, to Saltdean Lido- It’s got it all. Even a Soho House, although I don’t know I feel about that!
Wether you’re recently engaged, or it’s been on the cards for years getting married in Brighton is iconic. I am a new resident to the seaside town, with a small spat of living down here for a year about 11 years ago and since then a lot has changed.
My first wedding I did was along the coast near Rottingdean, it was a lovely pub and I just decorated the tables with bud vases and did a small hanging hoop from the outside flag pole. Now, we have so many venues in and around Brighton- but what suits you? Best to look at capacity, style, licensing and budget. This is a brief list of places, I think suit different weddings but ultimately most of the pubs, restaurants and even swimming pools will host your wedding- just make sure it suits you and the rest of your favourite suppliers!
J&T Outside Duke of York’s, Brighton/ photographer @kittywsphoto
DUKE OF YORK’S CINEMA- I am a huge cinema-going-lover. And so if there’s a chance someone is getting married at a cinema, and a cinema as special as Duke of York’s.. i want an invite. It hosts over 100 seat capacity, and you can rent it for the wedding ceremony and drinks after. Imagine, popcorn, a drink and watching your sister getting married- I LIVE! To me, the cinema is a great place to tie the knot, and you can even have a private screening of your own cute movie if you get your act together in time.
https://www.picturehouses.com/cinema/duke-of-york-s-picturehouse/venue-hire
G & L Walking Out from Brighton Town Hall/ photography @
2. BRIGHTON TOWN HALL- yes, it’s obvious but it needs to be told. I’ve got my brother’s wedding next week, their ‘small’ one and they’re having a small ceremony at the registry office and then onto a beautiful restaurant in Hove. We are all meeting for drinks in a nearby bar beforehand, but the convenience of it is IT IS RIGHT IN THE CENTRE OF TOWN, so close to the lanes and perfectly situated in between bars, restaurants and shops (most notably Dr Martens, in case you need to buy something new and that will suit your surroundings). You can pay for a registrar and your ceremony can be done in 30 minutes- signed, sealed, delivered!
Mingling before dinner service @ Patters/ photography @kittywsphoto
3. PATTERNS-seafront location with heaps of room. Fully licensed bar and catering, and you can most definitely fit your band in. There’s downstairs if you have an enormous party but ultimately turning the upstairs into a dance floor is the most fun. Such a wonderful location, central, on the coast and if it’s good weather (we can only hope), you can go for a post-first-dance-dip… anyone?
https://patternsbrighton.com/hire/weddings/
Jess & Clare just before the I do’s!
This is far from a comprehensive list, but it’s the start. And I will add to it the more weddings I do in my now hometown! If you are looking to get in touch about your wedding flowers, look no further!