Infusing Personal Style in your Floral Design

Q&A with Floral Designer Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht of Wild Bloom

Picking florals for your wedding can sometimes be a challenging and overwhelming experience. With various colors, shapes, and types available, it can be difficult to stay focused and nail down a design direction. Floral designer Kristen Griffith- VanderYacht of Wild Bloom in Seattle has a few tips to help make picking out your wedding flowers an inspiring and memorable experience.

Q. What are your favorite flowers to work with throughout the year?

There are so many amazing blooms to work with. And each flower has the ability to add a layer of curiosity to the overall design. Think of how a pâtissier needs sugar to bake. Essentially, there are some flowers that are absolute must-haves when it comes to an elevated design. All of the following come in a wide variety of shades and can transform an ordinary arrangement into something exquisite:

Winter: Garden Roses, Hellebore, and Tulips

Spring: Sweet Peas, Peonies, and Poppies

Summer: Clematis, Larkspur, and Anemones

Fall: Ranunculus, Scabiosa, and Dahlias

Q. What should brides and grooms consider when choosing their wedding flowers?

It’s important to remember that floral design is in no way a fixed art form. Flowers are a product of nature, and nature is unpredictable. I try to honor this by creating designs that pull from classical botanical and horticultural origins, embracing the fact that there are going to be variations and unexpected shapes within each arrangement. When my clients are able to appreciate this unpredictability, they feel empowered to make choices that are both informed and exciting.

Q. How can couples infuse personal style in their wedding flowers?

What I love most about flowers is their ability to translate feelings and tell stories. Sometimes, my clients will tell me stories of how flowers played a role in their relationship or other parts of their lives. For example, one of my clients had a very specific memory of a rose that his grandmother had in her garden that he saw every summer holiday. From there, we were able to use the color of that flower as the main inspiration for the floral design. It turned out to be a really special design because the couple had a personal connection to the elements we used in the arrangements.

Q. What should clients bring to a consultation with their florist?

A readiness to collaborate and an open mind. Be ready to share your inspiration for all the elements of your wedding.

Whether you have a collection of favorite images from magazines and blogs or simply a description of your dream day. Let your floral designer provide recommendations that will elevate your design, combining all of your inspirations into a cohesive composition. Your florist, like all of your vendors, is an expert in their field and comes equipped with a solid technique and an understanding of their craft. Above all, your florist is there to be a collaborator and guide — so don’t be afraid to explore options and ask questions.

About Wild Bloom: Wild Bloom specializes in creating inspirational floral arrangements that celebrate the blooms which enchant us. Our design philosophy combines an editorial eye with an organic sensibility. Owner and Creative Director Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht takes pride in working on all of the details. For more information, please visit wildbloomfloral.com.