Plan Your Central Florida Wedding

Unique Ways to Include Flowers in Your Wedding

April 22, 2020 Orange Blossom Bride
Plan Your Central Florida Wedding
Unique Ways to Include Flowers in Your Wedding
Show Notes Transcript

Weddings are one of those events that flowers thrive. From bouquets to table centerpieces and everywhere in between, flowers can definitely add that special celebratory touch to your wedding. In this episode, we are talking with Afton Johnson of Fern and Curl Designs about unique ways to include flowers into your wedding. 

Afton Johnson:   0:00
Focus of what they want their goal to be and everything. And then they kind of go "Okay, Would you want to do? And then I got a kind of search and look through things. And it's just one random thing that I see you know. I don't see that a ton on Pinterest or something like that. So then I'm like "let's do this."

Amanda Schmidt:   0:27
Welcome to the Plan Your Central Florida Wedding Podcasts. I'm your host, Amanda Schmidt, editor of Greater Orlando's top wedding publication, Orange Blossom Bride. I'm sure when you said yes, you had no idea you were jumping on this roller coaster that is wedding planning goal of this podcast is to make the wedding planning process less stressful and more fun. We'll provide you with great tips and ideas, along with expert advice from some of the area's top wedding pros. So let's get started planning your Central Florida wedding!

Amanda Schmidt:   0:58
Weddings are one of those events that flowers thrive! From bouquets to table centerpieces and everywhere in between, flowers can definitely add that special celebratory touch to your wedding. In this episode, we're talking to Afton Johnson of Fern and Curl Designs about unique ways to include your flowers into your wedding. Afton is your unconventional tiny tattoo, traveling florist. When she isn't creating one of a kind floral pieces for her couples, you confined her flying in the air at Cirque athletics at the beach or spending time with her furbabies. Afton  let you in on all the behind the scenes action of her business and life in her Insta Stories and seriously, guys, if you aren't following her, jump over to Instagram. Pause this podcast and go and do it. I promise you will be entertained. So welcome. Afton.  

Afton Johnson:   1:49
Hello.  

Amanda Schmidt:   1:51
So excited to have you afternoon.  

Afton Johnson:   1:55
Thanks. Glad to be here.  

Amanda Schmidt:   1:57
So let's jump right into it because you are known around the Orlando/Central Florida area for really being unique with your florals. Not too long ago, you had posted on your instagram that you created a floral beard. Now that might not be something that most grooms will want to do. But it just goes to show your creativity with your floral arrangements. So what are some suggestions or maybe unique things that couples may not know to include in their wedding

Afton Johnson:   2:28
So it's something that I've seen kind of circulating for. A different idea for boot nears and stuff would be what I'm gonna call a pocket boot near. So most of the time suits, especially if you're wearing a suit jacket. This is something to kind of maybe think about, Um, you have that little pocket, and sometimes you do pocket squares in it or something like that. What I've tried now for two photoshoots that air super under lock and key, an insert with flowers all across it. So that would be something really fun to do, maybe for the groom's boot, because for the groom's boot near, I always try to do it different than the rest of the groomsmen. Same thing for bridesmaids. Groomsmen and bridesmaids are generally the same. Bride and groom are a little bit more standout ish and everything. There's not the same flowers that I use for the groomsmen and the groom. It's usually cohesive with their counterparts, so that would be something really super fun to make your groom standout, especially if you have a jacket. If not, then we gotta think about something else. But, um, that would be super fun to start seeing circulates, especially for, um, the guys, um, doing different stuff for bouquets as far as like, the bride's means, like I've only done it in photo shoots, but like the hoops, the macro may hoops and doing those guys for the bridesmaids because those can actually be repurposed for the chairs or somewhere else on a table or something like that. Um, those would be a lot of fun to kind of see get circulated also.

Amanda Schmidt:   4:13
Well, a couple things you mentioned there, the first being with the shoots that you've only done those in shoots. But that's because it is such a creative thing that people may not be thinking about. It's not like it's all over Pinterest or anything yet that's a great opportunity to show couples what they could have.

Afton Johnson:   4:31
Right? Exactly. And I mean, I love doing the photoshoots and showing the different ideas that are out there because usually it's the planners, you know, they have the main focus of what they want their gold to be in everything, and then they kind of go Okay, Would you want to do. And then I got a kind of search and look through things. And it's just one random thing that I see you know. I don't see that a tone on Pinterest or something like that. So then I'm like let's do this.

Amanda Schmidt:   5:00
And seriously, Afton's done. Oh, I'm gonna go back to your Instagram because it's done your Instagram so great as far as your feed goes. I mean, are your stories are  just amazing for many reasons, but when it comes to your feed, you really give a great taste of you know all that you can do. You got a good mix of style shoots there as well as your work for real weddings. But you had mentioned when it comes to repurpose ing and I'm gonna bring that into budget as well, because that could be a huge budget saver when they're repurposing the different pieces from, like, ceremony into the reception.

Afton Johnson:   5:36
0h 100%. And usually a lot of the times I get asked about like the sweetheart table Well, sweetheart table, I always have a vase for your bouquet. And like the girls and stuff. So there's one thing. If your sweetheart table's not huge or anything, which I have seen before is you took the arch arrangements. So if you have arch arrangements out on either the pergola, the arch, whatever it is that you're using, you can take those off you. I create them on a paddle is what I call it, and it zip tied. So it's super easy to take off. And then you just looked place it on the table, and today you now have decoration on your table, even for the bridesmaids' bouquets. I've done weddings where we have bases in place on the table, and it's like, Okay, somebody's got to tell them they know their spot and have an empty vase on these tables throughout the wedding. In though, their bouquets are meant to go in those vases. So at least there's some sort of table decoration if they want it, whether it be on rounds or on farmhouse tables or something. I mean, even if it's one farmhouse table that that's their table, where they put their bouquets or something could totally do that, um, the same thing, like if there's arch Garland Garland is on the art. You can take that bad boy off, put it on the sweetheart table, Um, and then the aisle arrangements to a lot of the times. I do ah, greenery bunches and that's just a small bunch of greenery, usually tied with ribbons on to the ends of the pews or the chairs or shepherd hooks. There is a lot of repurposing that can be done between the ceremony and reception, especially when the budget is a factor.

Amanda Schmidt:   7:20
And I think that probably just goes into saying communication. Right? So being honest with the budget

Afton Johnson:   7:27
oh, 100% in my questionnaire, I have you know, what is your budget and in parentheses is that this really helps me know what kind of flowers I can use because I have created quotes where they're kind of like I'm not sure. And so I'm like, all right, we're going for it and I just kind of create whatever. I think we'll turn out magical, and then either I get a heart attack response or I get ghosted completely tore.

Amanda Schmidt:   7:53
I mean and it comes to just sticker shock with weddings across the board and I talked to vendors a lot about This is like couples most likely have never planned a wedding before. It's not necessarily that they're saying it's outrageous. They just don't know what's the right price for things or what things go for. So being honest with your florist or whoever you're working with your baker, whoever it maybe is definitely gonna be beneficial and help the process a little bit smoother and not waste anybody's time, too, because you don't want to be going back and forth with emails both on your end but on the couples in trying to figure that out,

Afton Johnson:   8:32
We don't want to hunt you down and be like, Hey, do you want to work together? Hey, do you wanna work together and bother you? Because it's not what we're trying to do. We're trying to make everything work cohesively and tried to bring our best foot forward while meeting you with your budget, and when you're honest about it, it's like, Okay, this is what I can do for you. So here's what we can do to compromise. I mean, that's like a relationship in general compromise.

Amanda Schmidt:   8:59
It's a precursor to marriage, right? It is just communication just across the board is extremely important. Just this little side note here, what is your favorite thing right now? What are you absolutely loving to dofor couples?  

Afton Johnson:   9:19
Um, well, if you are seeing my Instagram story this past weekend, that would 100% be rose petals in your hotel room, so groom's if you're sneaking enough and you know you remember is probably more the key point here, holler at me. Then we get this all set up and basically after I set up the entire wedding. Then I go back to the hotel room and I destroy it with our bows.

Amanda Schmidt:   9:47
Housekeeping doesn't like her, but she does.

Afton Johnson:   9:50
I did have a couple tell me that they definitely tip housekeeping more. And I'm really good about being really fast when I sneak in. So nobody really sees. Like, I have this giant bucket of flower petals on the elevator. Okay, by and then run away. And you do those quite often, though, because I see those in your stories that seems like quite a bit. Yeah, I just did. I did one in January, and then I just did it this past weekend. And then I actually had somebody whose wedding is coming up, and they tagged their cousin to tag her fiance to be like, "Hey, let's do this" kind of thing cracks me up. And I have all of the magical electronic payments so she doesn't have to see it come from something. I also get my boyfriend involved. 

Afton Johnson:   10:37
and that's a nice fun touch, like at the end of the night. Like not expected, you know, 

Afton Johnson:   10:43
Yes 100%. I mean, I wish I could see the reaction because, you know, they're tired and everything, and they're just like part of them. Probably just glad it's, like all over with, because I hear that a lot, too. I just want it to be over with him like, Okay on. And then I get you know,  I'm able to do that, so I think that it's like, Oh, like it's a nice into the evening.

Amanda Schmidt:   11:05
So if couples were interested in booking your service is what do you offer different types of packages that they can do if they're not looking to go crazy. You work with them through all that.

Afton Johnson:   11:15
Correct. No, I always say that I work with your budget, and that's the biggest part about being honest and communicating is telling me and being honest about what your budget is. So, um, I don't have packages. I've learned that it just works better for me just to ask what your budget is. But I have come to the realization that I need to explain what you get with what? So, um, the amazing Akili and I have added a section to my website explaining different price points. Get you different things, obviously. So we've labeled it YOLO Gucci Swag because that is a hash tag that I have used for a very long time now. And I was like, Can we use this? It's just a cat, of course, was like Okay, cool, because that's part of you know, my unconventional nous. So YOLO is the top tier of everything, and it includes riel flower centerpieces. So that's your real fire Senator faces for your reception, you know, 8 10 tables, 15 tables, whatever. It's all real flower centerpieces and then your ceremony, which would usually include I'll arrangements all that jazz sort of stuff. So, um, there's that and that that's obviously the top, and that that is, um, about I would say, I don't know about three grand and up essentially is what you need to budget for for me, for something like that. Now, if we're doing travel stuff, you have to consider that, too, because if I am, if I have to go more than two hours away from Melbourne, then I asked you. I asked for an Airbnb stay and then if pickup is involved, too. That's another thing that we need to consider. So and then it goes down from there as faras Gucci bud vases and cylinder bases with, like floating candles and stuff. And then the rest of the ceremony. And then swag would essentially just be your bridal party.

Amanda Schmidt:   13:11
So many different options. And like you say, you customize those and just little Sino. Akili works with sassy ala mode, and she did your website correct?

Afton Johnson:   13:20
Correct. Yes, she ah brand developer and all that jazz in website guru because I'd had no idea how to do it on my own. And I was like, help me

Amanda Schmidt:   13:30
If they want to contact you now, they're watching you on the stories they have. Like, you have to do my wedding. What was that? I'm sorry. Side note. I was gonna add the Afton Sprinkles. Oh, my gosh. Okay, so that's a hashtag for you now?

Afton Johnson:   13:51
I need to start it. Yes, you.  

Amanda Schmidt:   13:53
So! For those that are listening, she had a bride who had been following her for a long time. Right on.

Afton Johnson:   14:00
Oh, my God. She was amusing. And I'm friends with her now on Facebook, and it's great. And I love it so frickin much. And she was just her email came across so authentic. And I told her even if I was booked, I would do this for you just because of your email because she talked. So, riel, if you can't tell I am not you're hardly Tony who kind of vendor. Like I thrive in the realness and rawness and unapologetically you-ness. So, uh, I embrace that and I embrace when you embrace that so it's even more fun when you know you come across your like girl OMG I know that stuff. So she told me that she needed some afternoon Sprinkles on her wedding day

Amanda Schmidt:   14:47
and Afton made it happen.  

Afton Johnson:   14:50
Oh, my God. I thought that was just It was so great. I need to get her pictures. I think she has her picture, so I need to definitely gives, um 

Amanda Schmidt:   14:58
it was so funny, cause I think I read it when you posted it on Facebook. And I could just I could hear you saying as I was reading it so great. Well, of course it is through knowing you, but through watching your stories, people just feel like they know you. So if they are interested in booking your service is and finding out how they can have their Afton Sprinkles on their wedding day, how would they do that?

Amanda Schmidt:   15:23
E mail me. I know that everybody loves to go through instagram and being message me and these giant messages and stuff. But if we like, I just had this happen and I'm like, oh, rap, because somebody messaged me and I never talked to them before. And Instagram World, if you've never talked to somebody They have to. They can accept, reject or like, block your message. And it was during a wedding set up. Of course, it was Friday and Saturday. I had weddings, and I briefly saw it. And now it's gone. And I don't know who you are or anything like that. And I'm like, it'd provide my stories all you want. Yeah, that's cool. But if you want me to do your wedding, please go through email. I have a submission spot on my website too. So but email him only.

Amanda Schmidt:   16:10
So what is the website? 

Afton Johnson:   16:12
It's fernandcurldesigns.com

Amanda Schmidt:   16:15
Okay, perfect. And email.

Afton Johnson:   16:17
Yes, ma'am. It's fernandcurldesigns@gmail.com.

Amanda Schmidt:   16:21
Perfect. All right, well, thank you so much for spending time with us Afton.  

Afton Johnson:   16:26
Yeah, thanks for having me.  

Amanda Schmidt:   16:29
Thank you so much for listening at this episode of the Plan Your Central Florida wedding podcast. For more Orlando wedding inspiration and tips, head on over to orangeblossombride.com. And if you're looking for amazing wedding pros to help bring your wedding day together, make sure to check out our wedding vendor directory until next time. Happy Planning!