When you’re planning your Nashville wedding, it’s all about the details, and your flowers are one of the most visible and memorable parts of the day. At Frances and Jane Floral Design, we’re committed to making sure your flowers are as fresh, vibrant, and full of life as possible all wedding long.
So, if you’ve ever wondered what it takes to keep wedding florals looking their best once we pick them up from our wholesaler, here’s a behind-the-scenes look at our process!
After we arrive at our flower wholesaler, we double-check to make sure you’re getting the best blooms possible. If any of the flowers in your order appear bruised or lackluster, we won’t hesitate to swap them out for the freshest picks.
Timing is everything when it comes to making sure we keep your wedding flowers fresh for your big day. That’s why we pick them up just one or two days before your wedding. Flowers are living things, and the closer we can get them to your wedding day, the better!
After we take them back to our studio, we don’t just plop them into a bucket and call it a day. We thoroughly check every stem for quality and process each bloom. Processing involves a few steps including trimming the stems at an angle, removing excess foliage and thorns, and discarding any damaged blooms.
This not only helps the flowers hydrate better, but it also prevents any leaves from rotting in the water—a seemingly small detail, but one that makes a significant difference in keeping your flowers fresh.
Now, let’s talk about wedding flower storage. Proper storage is key to keeping wedding flowers fresh, and it makes all the difference in how they’ll look after they’re designed. Flowers are very delicate, and to stay fresh, they need the right environment. As soon as we finish processing the flowers, they go into clean buckets of water without any leaves or petals that could lead to decay.
We keep the flowers in our studio, which is cool, draft-free, and away from direct sunlight. Cut flowers thrive in cooler temperatures, and keeping them in an environment that’s too hot (or even too cold) can greatly shorten their lifespan. If your wedding is happening on a hot Nashville summer day, we’re extra mindful about keeping the blooms cool and hydrated until the last possible moment.
Hydration is everything when it comes to flowers, and there are some types that require extra attention. Blooms like hydrangeas are particularly tricky—they’re notorious for wilting without constant hydration. It’s in the name, after all! When using more complicated flowers like these, we take extra care to ensure they stay hydrated throughout the process.
When it comes to actually arranging your flowers, freshness remains a top priority. For smaller, transportable designs like bouquets, boutonnieres, and table centerpieces, we start designing the day before your wedding. This gives us plenty of time to perfect each design without compromising the quality of the flowers. These designs are kept in our temperature-regulated studio until we head out for your big day, so they’re in the best condition possible when they arrive.
For larger installations—think aisle flowers, ceremony features, and statement arrangements—we take a different approach. We’ll often create the form of the design ahead of time using hardier greenery and filler flowers, but we save the most delicate and show-stopping blooms for on-site installation. This means that those gorgeous garden roses you’ve been dreaming of won’t become bruised or wilted in transit.
On-site, we handle the flowers with as much care as we do in the studio. When needed, we mist them with water to keep them looking fresh and full, and we give bouquets a final trim before handing them off for photos. It’s the small things, like keeping stems long to combat wet ribbons, that really make a difference. We’re meticulous about these details because it’s essential to keep wedding flowers fresh throughout the design process, and we want your flowers to look perfect as much as you do!
This may come as a surprise, but packing your wedding flowers is no small feat, and it’s a critical part of the process! Once your flowers are designed and ready to go, we carefully pack them up for transport. If the weather is in our favor (ideally between 33 and 50 degrees), we might pack them up the night before. Otherwise, we load up on the morning of your wedding to make sure the flowers are in the freshest possible condition.
Packing is an art form in itself, and Ella, our lead florist, has mastered it! We secure each arrangement in our vehicle or our trailer in a way that protects the flowers without crushing them. It’s a delicate balance—too much space and the arrangements could tip over, too little and they could get crushed. We’ve got years of experience behind us, so we know just how to pack everything to keep the flowers safe during transport.
Once we arrive at your venue, we immediately unload and set up our workspace. We’ll give you your personal flowers, start placing candles and table arrangements, and get to work on your larger designs like aisle flowers and ceiling greenery.
For larger installations like floral arches, we work efficiently to have every stem in place well before the ceremony starts. This is where our attention to detail really shines. We’re constantly misting the flowers with water to keep them looking their best, and we make any necessary last-minute adjustments to ensure everything is picture-perfect.
As your wedding day approaches, we fully immerse ourselves in the details to ensure your florals stay fresh and beautiful. Here’s a quick peek at how we prepare behind the scenes:
By taking these steps, we ensure your flowers are beautiful and in perfect condition for your wedding day.
On the day of your wedding, we wake up bright and early to pack everything up before heading to your venue. As soon as we arrive, we start setting up, misting the flowers to keep them fresh, and placing each arrangement exactly where it needs to go. Whether we’re creating a romantic ceremony arch or adding the final touches to your reception centerpieces, we’re dedicated to making sure every flower looks perfect.
Once we set everything up, we take a moment to step back, capture a few photos, and allow your flowers to work their magic in making your wedding day beautiful and unforgettable.
If you’re ready to elevate your wedding floral design with our intentional, garden-inspired floral designs, we invite you to inquire with us today. Together, we can bring together the perfect floral vision tailored to your wedding’s aesthetic and unique vision.
For more insights into our approach and the thoughtful care we put into every detail, explore our blog posts about what we do during your wedding week and our sustainable practices. If you’re curious about how much Nashville wedding flowers cost, check out this post!