I got to meet with Sophie Islip of Florette and I had a great time getting to know her and learn more about her business.

Originally from the UK, Sophie has lived all over the world but now resides in the beautiful mountains of Park City, Utah. Having had a creative streak her whole life, this led her to flower design school in London at the prestigious McQueens School of Floristry. As a top luxury floral brand and school, Sophie learned all aspects of design from weddings and corporate design to huge installation pieces. I asked Sophie about her most frequently asked questions, and here are her responses:

What process should brides expect from the inquiry?

"I usually start with a consultation and meet with the couple at a local cafe. I like to get to know my bride and groom. I ask what they like and dislike and what flowers they love. I also want to get to know the couple's 'story.' From there I start to build a picture in my head of what their wedding may look like. Then I make a visual proposal, which helps the couple see what the flowers could look like. This is also a good time to gauge if we are all on the same page. Next I put together a quote to see if we are on budget. I usually ask for a 25% deposit to secure a date. When everything is finalized we wait for the big day!!!

What are some non-traditional bouquet shapes, installations, centerpieces, or cake florals?

"Well, I love asymmetrical designs in bouquets. I also really like unexpected tablescapes with lots of candles. For installations, I love wild and floral arches using lots of different textures and asymmetrical designs."

How can a couple add personal touches on the wedding day?

" I'm a storyteller. I like telling stories of the couple to make it more personable. Did they have a favorite flower growing up? Did they love their grandma's flower garden? Perhaps they love the smell of lavender or rosemary? I think it's really important to weave a narrative into weddings."

Should a bride plan everything out or let the florist have creative freedom?

I think both the florist and the bride should plan the florals together. However, if the bride gives creative freedom to the florist this is great too!

What are some fun places to add florals on the wedding day?

"Well I love flower arches and I think they make a big impact. They complete a ceremony but they also serve as a backdrop for family photos. You can get creative and do unusual shapes and textures. I am also a big fan of flower aisle pieces running upto the arch. This really makes it a fairytale wedding. Alternatively adding flower installations with candles to mantels or staircases can really add drama."

Do they need to know what their exact budget is, or a range?

"It is great if the bride knows how much they can spend and if they are flexible with the budget. Flowers are very expensive and I usually say that a bride will need a minimum of $2500 for wedding flowers. This includes bridal flowers and reception flowers."

Pinterest is great for inspiration, how realistic is it to expect a replica?

"Pinterest has some amazing photos of installations at weddings. These are great for ideas and inspiration. However, sometimes these installations cost thousands of dollars which is not achievable for some budgets. So it is up to the florist to explain what the bride can achieve with her/his budget."

Is greenery less expensive than blooms? Should I do a garland instead of a centerpiece?

"People often think that greenery and garlands will be cheaper. However, garlands take a huge amount of product and labor which is costly. A cheaper alternative would be to do a tablescape with flower bud vases."

What can be repurposed on the wedding day and what shouldn't be?

“The bridal bouquet and the bridesmaids’ bouquet can often be repurposed as centerpieces. Also, aisle pieces can be reused and put around the bandstand or in the reception hall. The arch generally cannot be repurposed but serves as a great 'Instagram moment' for guests during the reception."

Do brides need a plan B if the flower they want has a variable season?

"Most definitely! Flowers are unpredictable and sometimes they don't bloom in time or there may be a problem with the distribution and unfortunately, this leads to shortages. So having a Plan B is important! I usually talk through alternatives with the bride to see what they may like if their preferred flower is not available."

We loved chatting with Sophie! We can’t wait to work with her again. Visit her site to learn more about her business.