What It's Like To Be... A Floral Decorator
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Aug 26, 2025 Join floral decorator Paul Hawkins, known for his stunning arrangements for weddings and even royalty, as he shares his experiences in the vibrant world of floral design. Discover the chaotic yet thrilling routine of 3am market runs and the pressure of high-end events. Paul reveals why mixing red and white flowers is a faux pas and shares his unique approach to balancing creativity with client demands. He also gives a peek into the emotional impact of his work, crafting fleeting masterpieces that leave lasting memories.
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Flowers As Live Performance
- Floral decoration is a performance-like art where the moment of the event is the climax and the work is intentionally ephemeral.
- Paul compares decorating to acting: years of preparation produce a few dramatic hours that live on in photos and memory.
Build From Structure First
- Start big arrangements with a sturdy urn, floral foam, chicken wire, and water-filled tubes to support many stems.
- Put foliage in first to get the shape right and then place star flowers and supporting cast flowers into the prepared tubes.
Use Star Performers And Grouping
- Have a loose plan: identify a star performer in the center and group supporting flowers around it.
- Treat table centres as sisters not twins so each uses the same ingredients but looks slightly different.