Vendor Spotlight: Swiftwater Floral Co
Floral is one of the major areas of design for your wedding. It can help transform your venue into an oasis and into your absolute dream. Picking a florist is important because you want to make sure that your style is similar to theirs so they can help make your wedding vision become a reality. Swiftwater Floral Co. does a great job with this! Keep reading to find out more about Swiftwater Floral Co. and what they do!
How did you become interested in floral design?
As a kid, I remember every corner of our yard had either a flower bed or vegetable garden in it. It brought so much joy to my mom as she tended to those blooms every season and while weeding wasn’t my favorite part of the job, I was always in awe of the beautiful blooms nature created. Fast forward a few years, and after my first-ever flower arranging class with some girlfriends over wine, flowers found me again. Having worked in the PR and Advertising industry (hello, event planning!) for more than a decade, I decided I wanted to flex my creative muscles in a different way. I started to enlist in design workshops from some of my favorite designers in the Twin Cities and attended classes at a local floristry institute. It all took off from there!
How did you get into wedding flowers specifically?
For me, there’s no grander stage for flowers than a wedding! I first started out by helping friends and family design arrangements for their large events and weddings. Little by little, I started putting my work out into the universe and sharing as much as I could, specifically on Instagram. That led to several collaborations on styled shoots and building a portfolio, which then led to interested brides! After my first few weddings and working with some incredible couples, it further solidified my decision to focus on the wedding industry! I’ve loved every minute since!
What do you feel sets you apart from other florists in the wedding industry?
I love working with couples not only on their floral choices but their overall creative vision. Having worked with creative teams in the advertising industry for more than ten years, it’s like second nature to me. I thrive on helping couples create that WOW factor for their guests.
I’m a supporter of the local floral community and love to incorporate Midwest-grown, seasonal flowers into arrangements whenever possible. Not only are you getting fresh, organic blooms, but you’re helping support sustainable practices, local farmers and the overall regional floral economy. There are so many gorgeous blooms you can take advantage of that were grown less than 50 miles from your backyard!
What are your favorite wedding flower trends right now?
A few that are top of mind for me right now include:
1. Sustainably-minded florists (and clients!). Not only is the floral industry becoming more aware of our footprint, but couples are, too! Just like in other aspects of our lives, clients are becoming more conscious about their wedding flowers, including where and how they’re grown. Seasonal and locally-sourced flowers are easy ways to adopt a more eco-friendly approach to your big day. Many florists are also foraging their own materials, giving arrangements a garden-inspired and environmentally-friendly feel.
2. Mixing dried and fresh flowers. Beautifully bleached greenery and dried blooms are showing up in more and more bouquets and arrangements. This washed-out look is equal parts bohemian and ethereal and is often found in monochromatic palettes. And the best part is that your wedding flowers are already preserved and can easily become keepsakes after the big day!
3. Tropicals, tropicals, tropicals! From monstera leaves to sun palms to anthurium, say hello to the newest statement floral. These types of ingredients can be incorporated into almost any aesthetic, from bohemian to classic to minimalist.
What advice do you have for couples about choosing a florist?
While floral designers can typically accommodate varying styles, they do tend to have a certain aesthetic. Make sure it aligns with yours! A quick and easy way to do that is to take a look at the last nine squares on any florist’s Instagram feed that you’re considering. Like what you see? Then they might be the one for you! If you find a designer whose aesthetic matches yours, putting a little trust in them and giving them creative freedom to design means you’ll end up with something truly unique to you.
Anything else you want to share with us?!
I get asked a lot about the origin of my business’s name, Swiftwater Floral Co. It’s named after a place that is very near and dear to my heart, Swiftwater Farm—a cabin that was in my family for several generations and was a place of true beauty.
Photo Credit: Marit Williams Photography
Photo Credit: Katy Rose Photo
Photo Credit: Jennifer Togal Photography