Ask the Wedding Expert
Ainsley Poirier, Fresh Look Design Inc./ The Floral Studio Co.
Ainsley Poirier is the Owner and Lead Designer at Fresh Look Designs Inc., and The Floral Studio Co. in Kitchener. Together with her team of wedding and event specialists, she has been providing remarkable and unforgettable moments to couples for over 15 years.
Whether working with clients to develop their entire concept, or creating their wedding vision through a single element such as florals, Ainsley works to create a stunning composition that perfectly tells each couple’s story.
When asked why she enjoys working in Waterloo Region, Ainsley says, “We are fortunate to work with some of the most beautiful wedding venues in Ontario, including Langdon Hall, Whistle Bear Golf Course, Cambridge Mill, The Walper Hotel, and Roseville Estate. These unique venues provide a perfect backdrop where we can design events that are veiled in layers of breathtaking beauty.”
1) Are you seeing any floral trends for Fall 2020 weddings?
Ainsley: Couples are moving away from clean, classic looks, and opting for weddings that depict more moody and intimate feelings. Neutrals, nudes and oranges are important colours for this year’s fall florals. Couples are asking for organic florals, and are also incorporating grasses and coloured foliage into their wedding designs. Pampass grass has been super popular! Dried flowers are also popular, as is using aroma elements such as lavender, rosemary and other herbs.
I’m seeing two trends when it comes to bridal bouquets: long stems, and ‘messy’ chic bouquets that are loose, unstructured and often feature long sheer ribbons.
Florals are also being used to create structures (such as archways), as well as other non-traditional or ‘out-of-the-box’ designs.
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2) What tips can you share with couples to keep in mind when choosing their wedding florals?
Ainsley: For brides, match your florals to your personality – your bouquet is the definition of you. For example, I had a couple who both loved craft beer, so I incorporated hops into their florals! Be creative and push boundaries: don’t be afraid to stand out!
It’s okay to be specific about what you want – but it’s also okay to give a florist free range to be creative. If you need ideas for your florals, your designer can come up with something unique and beautiful – maybe even something you had never dreamed of, but love when you see it!
And, once you have the floral look you love, don’t forget to find a way to preserve it. Flowers are a beautiful memory piece that are truly magical to look back on to remember the best day of your life.
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3) More and more couples are interested in sustainability and eco-weddings. What should couples keep in mind when it comes to florals for their wedding, and sustainability?
Ainsley: Using florals that are local and in season is important. For example for a fall wedding, mums, berries and foliage are all in season, and are easy to source locally. They don’t have to be transported thousands of miles, which creates a bigger carbon footprint.
At Floral Studio Co., we are part of an initiative where fresh florals can be re-purposed after your wedding. If a couple decides to leave any of their florals after the wedding, we take them back to our office, re-purpose them into new arrangements, and donate them to local hospitals or hospices where they will add some beauty into someone else’s day. We also sell some bouquets and donate a large portion of the proceeds to a different charity each month. And, if there are any florals left after everything has been re-purposed, we make sure they are properly composted instead of ending up in the garbage.
4) Besides bouquets and boutonnieres, how else are you seeing couples incorporate florals into their weddings?
Ainsley: Couples are really getting creative with their florals! They’re adding real florals on to their wedding cakes instead of frosted florals.
I’ve also been asked to design hanging floral pieces that can be used as a venue decoration, as well as floral backdrops.
In addition to bouquets, brides are asking us to design floral hair pieces and crowns they can wear. We’re also incorporating florals into veils – a unique trend that adds colour and whimsy to your perfect fall wedding!
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