FOCUS ON FLORIST Belli Fiori
FOCUS ON FLORIST By Amy Zimmerman | Photos by White Klump Photography We checked in with local floral designers to find out how they survived quarantine, where they find inspiration, and what they are most looking forward to in floral trends for the wedding season.
LISA MOLITOR
any kind of design if we’re really good.
Owner and Principal Designer, Belli Fiori What has been your most difficult challenge during quarantine? Not being able to do the work that I love has been difficult. I thought about it the other day and I am never going to complain about working on a Saturday again. I miss delivering flowers, seeing the looks on my clients’ faces, and participating in the joy of their day. Having to pivot and do things that aren’t our first love is not as rewarding. How do you describe your design style? Personally, I really love classic design, the soft and romantic feel, with and without greenery. But any great designer should be able to work with clients to discover what they want without pushing our design preferences onto them. We can adapt to 146
WWW.BRIDESTL.COM • FALL/WINTER 2020
What is your favorite flower? I love tulips in the spring and sunflowers in the fall. Where do you look for inspiration? I like to see what is happening on the east and west coasts. A lot of times that starts to trickle into our market one to two years later. I also like to see what is going on in home décor and jewelry. That often reveals which metallic and color palates are popular. There is a correlation between those industries and floral design. What current trend in wedding flowers do you appreciate? I noticed color shifting with lavender making a little bit of a comeback. I’m not seeing a lot of it, but more than normal. The thing that I love is tints in florals, such as
tinted baby’s breath and tinted greenery. As a florist, I love the look because it is so different and interesting. I used tinted baby’s breath in a design and the guests didn’t even know what it was. The flowers were tinted lavender and people kept asking what kind of lilacs were in the arrangement. It’s not just purple tint but other interesting colors such as orange and pink. What advice do you have for brides and grooms? This pandemic is forcing us to look at things in a different way. Why not look at your wedding differently, too? Don’t be afraid to try something new like a brunch wedding or a smaller, more intimate wedding. We did two weddings last year on Wednesdays. Do a brunch wedding with more guests and a smaller, more intimate dinner with family and friends that night. It’s fun to try something different.
