Floral Calm, Hidden Hustle
The beauty, effort, and family magic behind a wedding that bloomed by the Bay
Today on the Flowerlogue… a post a little different from my usual musings. This post is a behind-the-scenes look at a recent native flower wedding I flowered for. I hope this post will shed some light on a common question I often hear - why do wedding flowers cost so much? Once you’ve read what’s involved, I think you’ll have a new appreciation for the time, care, and detail that goes into creating something truly bespoke, beautiful, and memorable. All photos taken by me.
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Last weekend, I flowered for a riverside wedding - and yes, I know I’ve said before that I don’t do weddings. But I made another exception (the first being my nephew’s). This one was for the son of an old friend. The wedding spanned four days, took place just down the road from my home, and I could manage it solo. Plus, I had the opportunity to work with locally grown Australian and South African flowers. It ticked a lot of positive boxes.
Though I often freelance for weddings, I rarely take them on under my own business Cerina Floral Atelier, due to my travel-heavy schedule, and the size of the event, and the limited time I have to create the florals on my own. But this time, it felt right.
Ten days on, I’ve yet to received the professional photos, so all I have is a handful of iPhone snaps and videos. At 2am, whilst finishing off the bouquets, taking photos were not exactly top of mind, so unfortunately I don’t have any bouquet photographs either.
The Couple and the Wedding
The couple were young, modern, and wonderfully multicultural - a South African bride and an Australian-born Muslim groom with a love for native flora (his family garden is filled entirely with Australian natives). Though they live interstate, and many of their loved ones had travelled from overseas, they chose to marry in my hometown of Perth, Western Australia.
The ceremony and reception took place at the beautiful Matilda Bay Restaurant, nestled along the grassy, tree-lined banks of the Swan River. With boats gently bobbing in the water and the city skyline glistening in the background, it was the perfect setting for a morning wedding. The weather couldn’t have been more kind: sunny, a clear blue sky, and a warm 29 degrees.
Everything about the day felt intentional. The couple blended their cultural traditions with a relaxed, casual atmosphere that made guests feel instantly at home. It was casual, family-focused, and deeply personal - just as a wedding should be.
The Plan
This was the largest event I’ve ever managed completely on my own. No husband to lift heavy vases, no daughter to help with bump-outs - just me, my clicky hip, and a body not quite in peak floral form. To make things even more challenging, we’d only just returned from a five-day wedding up north, where we were guests (plus a little floristry help on the side). That meant everything had to be prepped before we left: flower orders placed, hire vase orders confirmed, bouquet boxes lined with tissue, vases scrubbed clean, ground arrangement mechanics secured, chicken wire shaped and fitted into vases, kenzans fixed firmly in place. I even double-checked my timelines with the wedding planner in advance. There wasn’t room for error - only space for precision and planning, and a little good fortune.
Fun was had in the bouquet boxes
The Brief
The final floral proposal came together just two months before the big day - a late booking by wedding standards. Final designs weren’t confirmed until a month out, after countless texts, a flurry of emails, and two rejigs. Just the proposal alone took over ten hours of research, planning, and quoting - hours spent thinking through not only what would look beautiful, but what would feel right for the couple.
Flower selection brought its own little hurdles, though in the end, those limitations turned out to be a quiet gift. Autumn in Australia can be unpredictable. Our extended summer had thrown off the bloom cycle, and the small, delicate native flowers I’d normally reach for were nowhere to be found. Even the larger proteas - usually reliable - were patchy across suppliers. But I leaned into what was available. I let the season guide me. And slowly, it all came together - maybe not with endless options, but with intention and care.
With limited botanical options and a few last-minute substitutions, I had to lean heavily on both flexibility and instinct - and trust in my own floral style.
My Floral Style
For those unfamiliar, my design approach leans a little wild, a little sculptural. I favour asymmetry, contrasting textures and form, and a kind of curated looseness. My eye is always drawn to large, singular focal blooms - those bold, characterful flowers that hold space with quiet confidence. When I do use smaller elements, I prefer to group them. I like them to speak as a chorus rather than soloists. And I treat colour the same way - grouped and blended, like gentle transitions in a painting. Orange tones blend into soft pinks, which then melt into whites and greys. It’s a more painterly approach to colour placement, and it brings harmony and movement to each arrangement (to my eye at least), even when the ingredients are few.
The focal blooms I worked with were large and dramatic, so I balanced them with pockets of smaller grouped flowers and textured foliage. In many ways, the limitations brought out the best of my style - it asked me to be thoughtful and intentional, and in return, gave the arrangements a sense of calm and natural rhythm. I have lovely neighbours who let me forage their native garden for whatever I can find. Payback is simply any flowers I have leftover at the end of an event. My jewels of the day were complements of their garden, the pink flowering gum flowers (Corymbia ficifolia) and the quirky blooms of the Hakea laurina.
The overall style echoed the couple’s brief - relaxed, natural, and deeply personal. The bride requested a soft pastel palette: blush pinks, creamy whites, and silvery-grey foliage in her bouquet that reflected the riverside setting. To add warmth and a little energy, I wove in deeper pinks and soft pops of orange, bringing contrast without overpowering the mood.
The colour story, like much in floral design, was shaped by what was actually growing. Autumn in Australia can be unpredictable, and availability played a big part in the final look. In the end, I did bring in a few non-native blooms - carnations, snapdragons, and Queen Anne’s Lace. They weren’t just practical additions; they added form, filled gaps, and carried a quiet sentiment. The Queen Anne’s Lace in particular echoed the lace on the bride’s dress and softened the bud vases with their airy, romantic structure. Each stem had a reason, and each choice helped tell their story.
The Floral Lineup
Proteas (SA): Pink Ice, Donna, Susara
Strawflowers (Aus): White, pale pink, hot pink, watermelon orange
Grevillea Moonlight, Brunia, Corymbia ficifolia - pink flowering gum (Aus)
Asters Lutea (African), Leucadendron (SA)
Banksias (Aus): Burdetti, Speciosa
Kangaroo Paw (Aus)
Non-natives: Orange carnations, snapdragons, Queen Anne’s lace, sedum
Foliage (Aus): Wattle, wooly bush, silver dollar gum, seeded eucalyptus
Corymbia ficifolia and Hakea laurina from my generous neighbours
The Arrangements
Arrangements were created for both the groom’s home and the riverside venue:
Home florals: Extra large vases for the dining room, vases for the entryway, shelves, family room and bathrooms - all with purpose and personality
Ceremony & reception: A large ground arrangement, 56 bud vases, bar vases, and 4 eucalyptus arbors (later relocated to the reception tables) and re-purposed flowers from the home
Personal flowers: A bridal bouquet and two bridesmaid bouquets
Cake flowers: A final, delicate touch all food-safe prepped
Cake flowers food prepped ready for the cake maker
I’m proud to say that everything I created for this wedding was completely foam-free, dye-free, and flower paint-free. It’s important to me that my work reflects not just beauty, but care - for the environment, for the growers, and for the story the flowers are telling. I go to great lengths to source blooms grown locally or within Australia, and I’m always hesitant to use imported flowers unless absolutely necessary. There’s a certain honesty in working with what’s in season, close to home - it connects the work to place in such a meaningful way.
For structure, I used Sideau, a biodegradable rock wool alternative, covered with chicken wire and supported with kenzans for the larger, heavier stems in the ground arrangements. These mechanics gave me the stability I needed - especially with the warmer weather and the need to relocate many of the arrangements throughout the day. It’s these unseen details that make all the difference when working in a more sustainable, foam-free way. And while it can take a little more time and forethought, it’s always worth it.
When it came to vases, I chose off-white colours to create a neutral, timeless backdrop that would allow the flowers to shine. I purchased a few new ceramic vases and also hired them out knowing that they would be terrific for other events. Of course, I couldn't resist buying them in every possible size - just in case I needed them. Classic FOMO at its finest! But it worked out beautifully, as it gave me flexibility in my design. I hired the 60 glass bud vases for the reception and bar tables.
The mother of the groom also asked if I could incorporate two very sentimental vases into the home arrangements. One was a piece from a ceramicist friend of hers, and the other had been gifted by one of her sons. Including these vases not only added a personal touch to the wedding but also made the arrangements feel even more connected to the couple’s story. Those small details - things that hold meaning beyond the flowers - are often the ones that bring the most warmth and heart to an event.
The Eucalyptus Arbors
The one must-have requested by the wedding planner (a family member) were the eucalyptus arbors - four for the ceremony aisle, which were relocated to the ends of the 2 long tables at the reception. A nod to the groom’s love of trees and the family garden. I foraged half the foliage from the grooms home and the other half from a fallen branch in a nearby park. And with a bit of teamwork and a lot of cable ties, we created them onsite the morning of the wedding. They were simple and effective.
The Workshop – My Favourite Part
The highlight of the entire experience for me? Definitely the family flower workshop the day before the wedding. It was my very first proper flower workshop, and to say it was a crowd-pleaser would be an understatement. It wasn’t just about the flowers; it brought people together in such a meaningful, joyful way.
The groom’s mother had asked me for an activity to help the two families connect - especially as they hadn’t met before. With friends coming in from both Sydney and Spain, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to create something truly memorable. So, I suggested a relaxed, casual flower workshop at home, where everyone could contribute in a way that was both personal and part of the wedding’s story.
I set up a flower bar, laid out plenty of blooms, and the host took care of drinks and nibbles. It was the perfect mix - everyone was involved, chatting and laughing, and instead of sibling rivalry, there was nothing but mutual admiration as they worked together. They all took pride in their creations, and I loved seeing how the shared experience made the day before the wedding feel even more special. There was a real sense of community and connection as they helped each other out, and it set such a warm tone for the celebration ahead.
I gave 4 simple flower tips:
Trim stems on a 45 degree angle to increase water absorption
Remove all leaves below the water line
Stagger the heights of flower heads; and
Have fun!
Each guest created their own seven bud vases for the reception tables, and it was fascinating to watch how each person’s unique personality came through in their designs. The concentration, care, and pride they put into their work was truly something to behold. Some arranged with precision, others with a more playful, freeform approach - but all of them were deeply engaged in the process.
These weren’t just decorative pieces; they became real talking points during the reception. It was such a lovely way to involve everyone in the celebration and give them a piece of the day to take pride in. They became so much more than curated flowers in a jar by me.
The Flower Schedule
The flower delivery schedule spanned 4 days:
Thursday morning the house flowers were to be delivered and installed
Friday, the eucalyptus branches to be foraged
Saturday the flower workshop was to take place
Sunday 7am bright and early, the bouquets were to be delivered, the arbors created onsite at the ceremony, the bud vases and large house vases to be relocated to the reception
Following the ceremony, the bouquets and ground arrangement needed to be relocated to the reception
Following the reception, all vases needed to be relocated back to the house and the eucalyptus removed from the arbors
Lessons
Every event offers me something to learn - or sometimes, it simply reminds me of things I’ve forgotten over time:
Early preparation and great organisation are essential. The more you can plan ahead, the smoother everything goes.
Allow 20% more time for the unexpected - it’s never a waste, it’s just part of the process.
Last-minute substitutions are inevitable. They’ll happen, so being flexible and prepared for them is key.
Small, interesting accents can make a design pop and add dimension. Sometimes it’s those little touches that elevate the entire piece.
Try to maintain as much creative control as possible, but always ensure your client knows exactly what you’re proposing to avoid surprises down the line.
Design hiccups can always be resolved with experience and patience. Don’t panic - there’s always a solution.
If a design isn’t working, step away from it for a bit. Fresh eyes and a clear mind work wonders.
Let go of perfection and embrace the beauty of creativity - it’s in the imperfections that the magic often happens.
With experience, I know my clients will love the final result. Trusting in the process makes all the difference.
This wedding was a joy and a challenge, a reminder of what’s possible with passion, planning, and people. I may not take my own weddings often, but when I do - it’s with my whole heart (and a great deal of organisation).
Let me know if you’d like more stories like this. I’d love to share the BTS magic that lives behind the beauty.
This was such a delightful read! Never has there ever been a more appropriate title for a piece on wedding floristry than "Floral Calm, Hidden Hustle." That is spot on what it is like creating wedding florals. Every piece you created was beautiful and meaningful!
So beautiful.