On August 6, the Flower Department at Green Mountain Floral Supply was transformed into a welcoming hub of inspiration and camaraderie for the Petals & Best Practices: Conversation Among Floral Pros event, co-hosted with Vermont Weddings. Nearly 30 florists and wedding designers from across New England gathered to step away from the daily hustle, recharge their creativity, and share ideas with their peers.
Guests checked in at the name badge table—designed to spark introductions and new connections—before browsing an attendee directory, 32 different rose varieties, and enjoying a colorful spread of flower-themed appetizers, spritzers, and wine.
A Unique Conversation Format
Attendees settled in at round tables and began a series of four lively discussion rounds. Each table selected its discussion topic at random from an envelope, diving into one of five categories:
- Promoting Your Business & Social Media
- Problem Solving
- Contracts & Pricing
- Buying Practices
- Professional Development
After each conversation, participants jotted down their favorite takeaways and posted them to the Petals of Wisdom Wall under the matching topic. At the conclusion of the four rounds, attendees browsed the wall and placed heart stickers next to the ideas that resonated most—creating a visual record of the evening’s collective wisdom.
Highlights from the Petals of Wisdom Wall
Promoting Your Business & Social Media
From using pets as floral “spokesmodels” to sending arrangements to local businesses, attendees shared dozens of creative ways to market their services. Scheduling posts ahead, keeping captions personal, and blending social media with traditional outlets like newspaper ads were top strategies. A consistent message emerged: focus your content on the work you want more of and think of Instagram as a living portfolio.
Problem Solving
Staffing challenges, weather worries, and the ever-tricky hydrangea care all made the list. Florists recommended keeping a collection of client thank-you notes for motivation, using Canva for mood boards with restricted editing access, and even chilling pillar candles before use for better performance.
Contracts & Pricing
Participants discussed firm cut-off dates for changes, tiered deposits, and strategies to protect proprietary mood boards. Many shared pricing approaches, from markups on stem costs to factoring in labor padding for weddings.
Buying Practices
Placing floral orders 30–45 days ahead was widely encouraged, though indecisive clients sometimes made that challenging. Clear communication—via color charts, images, and consistent follow-ups—proved essential. Rentals emerged as a profitable add-on, with some florists creating catalogs for easy client browsing.
Professional Development
From following industry peers on Instagram to attending design seminars, attendees emphasized continuous learning. Many expressed interest in future education on social media, pricing strategies, and retail operations, underscoring the value of ongoing professional growth.
A Night to Remember
Exciting raffle
The evening concluded with a raffle for an exciting prize courtesy of Green Mountain Floral Supply: a one-year Vermont Weddings Floral Membership valued at $750, including marketing support, vendor networking, and features across VermontWeddings.com and social media.
Congratulations to Emily of Everyday Flowers in Poultney, Vermont who was our randomly chosen winner!
As the last conversations wound down, it was clear the event’s real prize was the strengthened connections, shared solutions, and renewed enthusiasm for the artistry of floral design.
We hope everyone left feeling lighter, inspired, and reminded that you are part of something bigger than the day-to-day whirlwind of blooms, buckets, and bridal timelines. In the heart of summer—when Vermont stands as the nation’s #2 wedding destination and your calendars are overflowing—you carved out two rare hours just for yourselves. Thirty creative souls in one room, sharing hard-won wisdom and stories that usually only surface in those fleeting moments when you lend a hand at someone else’s wedding. The petals of wisdom shared will keep blooming well beyond this evening—and we can’t wait to welcome you back for the next Petals & Best Practices.
Photo Credit: JGD Photography
