While the American Institute of Floral Designers’ 2010 National Symposium was a florist’s dream, there were countless opportunities for wedding and party enthusiasts to pick up some fabulous ideas. After all, we’re all creative people who love a good soiree! The AIFD florists and planners seemed to have brought an unlimited supply of creativity to Boston. They used everything from hot glue drippings to chicken wire to great stunning works that would be welcome in any wedding or party. Flowers were certainly taken to the ‘next level’ at this year’s event!
The amazing team of volunteers and featured designers worked for hours upon hours in a secret work room that we were lucky enough to get to visit. Inside, dozens of designers were hunched over tables, sitting in the floor, and standing on chairs to put the final touches on that day’s arrangements to be featured onstage and during the symposium’s extravagant meals.
No detail was overlooked. Even as I was exiting the symposium, I noticed someone had meticulously glued tiny flowers onto the glass railing leading back to the elevator. The coffee station even had its very own display! This was truly the time for these talented designers to shine–and boy did they ever.
Rows of designs lined the hallways leading to the ballrooms where the presentations and meals were held. People walked slowly to the next event, taking time to get one more photo of a design or to observe a designer’s handiwork. The vast arrangements made it difficult to focus during meals, because there was so much to see!
This year, florists made it a point to use what they had. Sure, they had dozens and dozens of spectacular flowers at their disposal, but the majority chose humble materials, such as cardboard and wire, to construct their visions. It was a tribute to both their creativity and the desire to focus not on how much an arrangement cost, but to create something beautiful and touching.
Many of the presenters’ inspirations were something close to their hearts. A holiday memory or a dear friend lead the way to designs that evoked feelings, as well as oohs and ahhs. Like many professional artists, it was clear that this was how they “spoke.” Each told a story through their work.
Even as a non-florist, there were plenty of take-aways to be had at the symposium. Simply being among so many dedicated and talented designers made me think in new ways and see flowers and their possibilities in a new light. There is a reason why flowers appear during life’s most important events, and these florists continue to honor that tradition with a deep devotion and love of their craft.
This symposium taught me that what florists do on a daily basis goes far beyond arranging flowers. Bringing a florist’s work into a wedding or event is bringing something beautiful and powerful into the atmosphere of your occasion. As with all great design, floral design is about communication. It’s about sharing an idea, and most importantly, it’s about reaching out to someone in a meaninful way.
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