7 Easy Steps to Starting your wedding flower business

So, you want to be a wedding florist? Well, hold on to your petals, because I’ve got 7 easy steps to help you bloom into a profitable business owner

So you are wondering how to start a wedding flower business. Well, hold onto your petals, because I've got seven easy steps that helped me in my business and these will help you to bloom into a profitable business owner:

STEP #1 Understand your Capacity & Skill Set

When I first started in the floristry business I had a full time job. I went to flower school in the evening which I throughly enjoyed. I was lucky that I had a flexible job that enabled me to start late which allowed me time to go to the wholesale market and learn more about flowers and build relationships. I n my first year I did 10 weddings and that was enough for me without stretching me - for I had a family and children to take care of too. These weddings were a huge learning curve for me from learning how to process specific flowers to transporting them without breaking the stems and damaging the designs. In the same way you can start slow and build your skills gradually.

STEP #2 Find your 'Why' for your business

My why was that I loved working with fresh flowers and creating a magical day for my couples. That "ooh-aah" moment when the bride walks in was and still is everything to me! And yes the extra income was also brilliant but at the time I did not price properly and was not making enough profit to grow into a sustainable business - this has happened over time as I have evaluated and re-evaluted my business and goals each step of the way. Be sure you need a deeper reason to keep you motivated through the ups and downs.Keep your "why" in mind as you grown your business.

STEP #3 Hone in on your design skills

The one thing I learnt was to practice practice practice as this is what made me good at my skill, good at understanding how much material I need and good at delivering an excellent service to my customers. Taking classes, watching videos, and reading books will help you develop your craft and propel you toward challenging arrangements that will make you more competitive. Take classes, watch videos, read books to learn but don't stop at learning, put the skills into practice and challenge yourself to create sunning arrangements.

STEP #4 Business Name

Pick a catchy business name. Don’t go for something bland like “Jane’s Flowers”. Get creative, get punny, and most importantly, make sure the domain name is available.

STEP #5 Portfolio Creation

When you start your business the most important thing is to build a portfolio of professional images that entice your customer to buy. This is the one thing I didn't do at all (I didn't have a mentor) Don't make the mistake of taking blurry phone pics like I did. Consider hiring a professional to capture your work in all it's blooming glory.

STEP #6 Build relationships with suppliers

When I first started I had my 'go-to' flower wholesaler and they were brilliant but then on one of my jobs they failed to deliver good quality produce and as a result my wedding did not go so well. Then forced me to look at other suppliers both locally and abroad. Your success depends on the quality of your materials, so don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Have a couple of go-to suppliers and foster good relationships with them.

STEP #7 Market like a boss

To get more clients you want to make sure you are telling people about your work and what you do. At flower school we were taught Pinterest marketing as instagram was not around then. But now using the different platforms is so important to growing your business and reaching new clients. Use social media platforms to showcase your work and reach new customers. And don’t be afraid to offer special promotions to get the ball rolling.

In the wedding flower business it can take a good 24 months to see results so having patience is key when evaluating where you are and how you are developing.

Starting a wedding flower business can be a challenging but rewarding experience. With the right planning, preparation, and hard work, you can create a successful business that provides beautiful floral arrangements for couples on their special day.

Ways to work with me

When I started my business I didn't really know what I was doing and made so many mistakes and went on a real roller coaster of a journey. Find out below how you can work with me to help you get started with your flower business and grow it without making crucial mistakes.

Get your Complete Wedding Florist Business Planner to help you create the business of your dreams and grow a six figure business
Download your free Guide "Creating Winning Proposals - Wedding Florist Edition"
Join the Petal Post - a regular newsletter keeping you up-to-date with tips and exclusive offers
My signature S.T.E.M.S course - This is the exact framework I used to build my 6-figure business. Click here to join the waiting list when it launches.
Shop Etsy - Behind the scenes there are lots of moving parts that you need. I am building a library of all the resources I use in my business and now you can get these at the click of a button
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WRITTEN BY

Sarita B

Sarita B is a is wedding florist and educator. She's built her own 6 figure wedding florist business and now also specialises in helping fellow budding and ambitious wedding and studio florist entrepreneurs get booked with the right clients.

Categories: : Business