-Who are you, what you do and who you serve?
Academy Florist opened its doors in Winnipeg, Manitoba over 40 years ago. Under the same ownership since day one, we pride ourselves in not only our expertise as professional florists but also our love and passion for floral design. Your wedding florals are a staple focus in all your wedding photos and will be something your family and friends talk about for months or even years after your big day. Academy Florist has built a reputation for being a reliable, competitively priced wedding florist and we are consistently looking at new trends, ideas, and ways to be creative!
- How and when did you get started in the industry?
I started as the Wedding and Event Coordinator with Academy Florist in November of 2019. I have always been really interested in the industry and absolutely love being creative and continuously stepping out of my comfort zone to brainstorm new ideas with our clients. The flowers are usually the finishing touches on the wedding day and its beautiful to see everything come together.
- Where are you based and where do you meet with clients?
We operate a cozy, trendy storefront on Corydon Avenue in River Heights. With the current climate, we conduct initial consultations and follow up meetings virtually, but we look forward to the day where we can host in-shop consultations again.
- What services do you offer?to come, there is nothing that needs to be updated).
Academy Florist offers a full range of services that will accommodate both small intimate ceremonies and large, upscale events! Along with one of a kind floral creations, we offer delivery, set-up, take down, rentals and free initial consultations to all our brides. Whatever your vision is, we would love to flex our creative muscles and put the finishing touches on your big day.
- What is the biggest trend you have seen since being in the industry?
The biggest floral trend I have seen since beginning with Academy is the incorporation of dried elements. Whether we mix them with fresh florals or make entirely dried pieces, this request is becoming more and more common. Adding bunny tails, pampas grass or bleached ruscus gives the finished product a boho, whimsical feel and we're here for it!
- Which venue do you work in the most frequently?
One of the most exciting parts of our job is being able to visit so many different venues during the wedding season. Both indoor and outdoor locations present different opportunities and inspire new takes on classic designs. Some of our favourites this past year were The Cloakroom, Hawthorne Estates, and the unique backyard locations we were exposed to.
- How far in advance do your clients typically book you?
Clients usually inquire about our services for 6-8 months in advance. Over the past year, we have seen brides book their florist as early as 12-15 months in advance to secure their wedding date.
- Can you give us one of your industry tips that brides or grooms don't often know?
Couples are often surprised by how much wedding florals cost. I would love to reframe how we discuss pricing and refrain from thinking of bouquets and arrangements on a stem by stem basis. Our wedding designers utilize years of experience to bring your vision boards to life meaning that the cost includes more than just flowers, it accounts for time and expertise as well. Leaving your designers with a level of freedom and creativity is bound to produce pieces beyond your imagination. Be sure to budget according to the size of your wedding party and guest count to accommodate for personal florals and centrepieces.
- How you do stand out?
Not only do we have a wonderful team of wedding designers who all bring something different to the table, but our shop also has over 40 years of knowledge of the industry! This allows us to offer different design styles, colour palettes and various techniques that are tailored to each individual bride and their vision for their big day. Academy is known for our soft, pastel garden-style bouquets but we love working with big pops of colour and dried elements.
Want to see more of Academy Florist? Check out their Instagram, Facebook & Pinterest.
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