As wedding trends rise and fall every year, one thing’s for certain: wedding flowers will always, always, remain in style. And no other decoration says ‘wedding’ more than the beautiful flowers! They can be just in the wedding party’s boutonnieres and bouquets. They line the center of tables at the reception as centerpieces, and on the altar, or so much more!

The simple fact is that brides often have hundreds of ideas on what colors or styles of flowers they want, but they don’t always know what’s in season or even the names of specific blooms. Working with an experienced wedding florist will assist every step of the way. Through experience, florists have an eye for knowing what works together. They can take your vision and make it a reality!

Table of Contents

Q&A with Amy Garrett

If you’ve been following my recent blog posts, you’ll know that I have started a new blog series called ‘Vendor Highlight’ whereby I am interviewing different top local vendors from across the wedding industry.

Today we have Professional Edwardsville florist Amy Garrett from The Secret Gardeners. Thank you so much to Amy for taking the time to join my new interview series. Enjoy reading through below!

1. What common mistakes do you see couples making?

I would say a common mistake (in my personal opinion) couples make is not using the florals they may have splurged on in multiple ways. I often suggest, rather than using your bridesmaids bouquets on the head table, use them as centerpieces as well. You can also move your ceremony florals to different areas of your reception, so you’re able to enjoy them throughout your day.

2. What’s the best tip you have for a couple planning a wedding?

Make it personal to you as a couple! What do you love to do together? What’s your favorite music? Where have you traveled together? There are lots of ways you can incorporate and personalize your day to make it unique from any other wedding you might attend.

I worked with a couple who loved reading and visiting libraries together. For their centerpieces, we found vintage books and made custom floral arrangements to fit inside them. It was adorable.

3. What don’t couples know about your business that they need to know?

I love working with couples to create and make their day amazing and unique for them. I also love using unique and new designs and trends. I really just love what I do, and I believe that it shows in our events.

4. What questions should couples be asking that they don’t know to ask?

Don’t discredit silk flowers! We love working with high end, permanent (silk) botanicals in new and modern designs. We actually offer them

as rental options which allow couples to get the most out of their budget without splurging on a perishable product.

5. What your best piece of advice for couples planning a wedding?

Find vendors that you can trust & have a good feeling about when you talk to them. You can relax and enjoy your day knowing that you have people who want things to be just as amazing as you do.

6. What’s the most unusual wedding you ever did?

I did a wedding at a beautiful historic St. Louis cemetery in 2018. When the bride told me where they were doing their ceremony, I was definitely taken aback.

She told me that she had sadly lost her mom a few years prior, and this was where she was laid to rest. She wanted her mom to be there. It was very sweet and emotional. It was also a really beautiful setting.

7. What was the most memorable wedding you ever worked, and why?

I worked with an adorable couple at Silver Lake Chateau in 2019. I was asked to stay and help flip the ceremony space on the day of their wedding. Throughout the afternoon, I was able to actually catch a lot of really sweet moments that I normally don’t get to see, such as the bride waiting to walk down the aisle with her dad.

Wrap Up!

I’ve had the privilege of working with Amy Garrett a few times now and she is always one of my first recommendations to brides looking for a florist. She is incredibly talented, but not only that — her care and intentionality towards her clients + her heart behind her work, and her flowers are just not something you get all the time. She truly loves what she does, and it shows in the magic she creates.

If you are looking for an experienced wedding florist and would like to discuss your ideas, please get in touch with Amy. I know she would love to hear from you. You can contact her at:

Website: https://thesecretgardenersflorist.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secretgardeners

Facebook: https://facebook.com/yoursecretgardeners