Get to Know: McBride Floral Design

Today I want to talk about all things floral! Flowers can arguably be considered one of the tougher things to budget for when you begin the wedding planning process because there are so many variables. For florists, it is not as easy as emailing off a list of packages for couples to choose from. Instead, they will ask you questions like… what kind of flowers do you want to see incorporated, how many bridesmaids/groomsmen do you have, do you want a cascading bouquet or a rounded one, how many tables needs centerpieces, etc., etc., etc. To help, I asked Emily McBride with McBride Floral Design to answer some of questions you may not have even known you had. Keep reading to get to know a little bit about her and her business, as well as learn some valuable information as you go through the wedding planning process!

Tell me about you, how your business started and how it has grown.

I started in the floral world when I was 19 and from there my passion blossomed for floral design. Every passing year I was becoming more and more adventurous with my creations and fell in love with everything involved with the floral industry. Owning a flower shop became my dream, but I also knew that starting up my own brick and mortar shop would be extremely hard and, financially, profits would be slim to none unless I was able to buy a pre-existing flower shop with an established clientele.

I decided to make my dreams a reality, but I needed to explore other options in the floral world. That is when I determined that I would focus solely on being a wedding and event florist, which I could do out of my home. I knew it would be difficult to get my name out there and get clients and become a trustworthy business, but I took the leap because, well… what did I have to lose?

Becoming part of the North Idaho wedding community has been amazing, everyone is so helpful and willing to help get your name out there and welcome you with open arms. I set myself a goal for my first “official” wedding season, and I have happily surpassed that. Interacting with all aspects of the wedding community via social media, and meeting vendors and planners has helped my business grow more than I expected in the first year and I could not be happier with the outcome. Having all the client and the wedding community support has been amazing and words cannot explain how excited I am for the future of my business.

What sets your business apart from others?

I think what sets me apart from other floral businesses and wedding designers is the passion I have for floral design and my honesty when I talk to clients. I always try to show what is actually possible for them to have, either within their budget or within the season they are getting married. I am also one of very few who only do weddings, most florists run day to day floral designs and deliveries.

Additionally, what sets me apart is that I love to learn new designs and styles for my customers, so that they can have the look they want for their wedding day without having to “settle” for what the designer can do. I think the fact that I do not run a day to day shop and can focus solely on my clients’ wedding day results in more of a personal touch because I don’t have the stress of everything else most businesses have to deal with. My wedding clients get my full attention! I am eager to help with ideas and I am available to get together so that my clients feel 100% comfortable with the choices they have made.

What is your favorite part of a wedding to design?

Arbor Pieces – they are without a doubt my favorite thing to design and create for a wedding. I think what I like most is the aspect of doing it onsite and designing an installation piece to fit the arch that is at the venue. My second favorite part would have to be the bridal bouquet, because each is special and different than the last. I try to always fit exactly what the clients wants. I will show my brides what I suggest for their bouquet and have them show me what they LOVE most, and then we collaborate to create a gorgeous combination of the two, making each design unique.

What are a couple important things to think about when choosing your wedding florist?

Style is one of the biggest things to consider when choosing a florist for your wedding day. I always suggest looking through a florist’s social media accounts to see examples of what they have done. This will help decide if they can give you exactly what you are wanting for your wedding day.

The second most important thing is the vibe you get when meeting and interacting with your florist. Never settle for a florist that you feel doesn’t “care” about your desires and wedding floral needs or doesn’t seem to have the time to interact with you. YOU should be important to all your vendors! Choose those vendors who you feel you can trust and who you feel are giving you adequate attention for your wedding day needs.

Generally, how much of your wedding budget should be allocated to flowers? (Centerpieces, bouquets, boutonnières, corsages, etc.)

Depending on the budget you are trying to stay within and how extravagant you want to go, I would suggest anywhere from 10 to 20 percent. To put it another way – for example, just the flowers for your wedding party usually cost between $800-$1,000, of course that can fluctuate slightly based on the size of the wedding party, the flowers you choose and style. Always keep in mind that if you can choose flowers that aren’t expensive or elaborate and if you choose flowers that are “in season” for the time of year of your wedding, you can stretch your budget much further and still look beautiful.

What are some tricks that can help make your wedding flowers last as long as possible after the wedding day?

The best advice I can give to help flowers last is to change the water at least every other day. When you change the water it also helps to re-cut the stems, you don’t have to cut off much, but make sure you are cutting with something sharp and not tearing the stems. Most people do not know that if you do not change the water in your flowers, the stale water will grow bacteria and that is why they don’t last as long as they should.

Do you have any additional tips or advice for engaged couples?

Don’t settle for anything. Yes, you may have to make some slight changes, but if there is a dream you have for your wedding day, there are always other options and it never hurts to continue to look around until you find exactly what YOU want. Never let someone else make your wedding day choices for you, this is for you and your fiancé to start the beginning of your life as husband and wife.

Also, from personal experience, I would suggest when looking for a venue it is beneficial to find one that includes post wedding clean-up in the package. It is not a deal breaker, but be aware that if you don’t have that, at the end of the night your family will be responsible to clean everything up.

Well, do you feel a little more equipped to start making decisions regarding your wedding floral? We sure hope so! To see more of Emily’s beautiful work head over to her Instagram or Facebook pages and scroll away! Still have more questions or want to get a quote? Click the email or message button at the top of her social media pages to get in touch or head over to her website. Floral pictures are some of my favorite to feature and some of my favorite to look back on from my own wedding, so make sure you find the florist who will not only meet your expectations but exceed them!

If you found this article helpful and want to learn more about what I can do to help make sure you have the vendor dream team for your wedding, head on over to the services page for packages and pricing information. If you have any questions, please contact me or leave a comment below!

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