Interview With One Of Marbella’s Trusted Wedding Florists

Wedding Florists: Tie The Knot With A Bow & A Bouquet…

There are many things to consider when planning your wedding in the south of Spain – from venues and catering, to entertainment and photography. But do you know what makes your day truly unique? The details and special touches – and that includes flowers and decoration!

Deseos florists has been supplying the Costa del Sol with beautiful blooms for over twenty years. Based in Nueva Andalucia, Marbella, their stunning table centres and bouquets have been wowing brides and wedding guests for many years.

We spoke with owner and top florist Karen about choosing the right flowers for your special day, and why she loves being a florist in Spain.

Hi Karen, thanks for speaking to us today. Your flower displays have been transforming weddings along the Costa del Sol for over twenty years. How did you become a florist in Spain?

I come from quite an eclectic creative background, so I’ve always been involved in some type of artistic genre from an early age including painting, sculpture and ceramics. Design, colour and form has always been a very important facet of my life. Deseos came up for sale ten years ago and I saw it as a challenge to get back into another creative industry. I then went on to complete floristry courses in Madrid to have a good base of the technical aspect of the business.

Getting married in the south of Spain invariably means celebrating in the sunshine. Are there are considerations bridal couples should make when choosing their flowers for a sunny wedding? Are there any types of flowers that aren’t available or are only seasonal?

There are some flowers that are seasonal, one of the most important being the Peony rose as it has a short season between May and late July for the best quality blooms. Spain has a very extensive flower growing industry and produces excellent flowers. What is not available locally can be obtained from suppliers in Holland. Most of the roses are from Ecuador, although there are also growers in Kenya, Holland and beautiful English Garden roses. Couples are fortunate to be able to obtain nearly all flower varieties for their weddings in Southern Spain.

Many times, floral arrangements are seen as simply an added extra to the special day. Why do you think flowers are so important? And how can couples incorporate them into their theming?

Floral choices are important as when carefully chosen they set the mood for the decoration and can change a wedding theme from chic and elegant, to shabby chic or bohemian. The shape, form and colour of flowers has a huge impact on the overall appearance and feel of the wedding. Flowers carry a heavy sentimental value and historical significance in bridal ceremonies too They add softness, fragrance and a beautiful connection to nature on a very special occasion.

You’ve worked on hundreds of weddings over the years. Which wedding has been the grandest or most difficult in terms of floral decoration?

I was very privileged to be asked to put together a team of 16 florists for a 600-guest wedding in June 2018 at La Finca de la Concepcion. It was a florist’s dream to be able to work with the variety of flowers and colours that arrived from Holland in huge refrigerated trucks. It was a challenge, but a fantastic experience for my team. We decorated a chuppah built over the swimming pool on an elevated platform which needed thousands of flowers. It took eight people eight hours to create!

The design company from Tel Aviv borrowed two of my team members to recreate the same chuppah in a New York Hotel ten days later – a very special experience for them and a massive compliment to the Deseos team.

Can you give us an insight into floral trends for 2019/2020?

There are no huge changes from year to year, but a natural progression in style , design and colour combination. I think there is a much wider selection of possibilities and designs to choose from this year which allows for couples to make very individual choices that express their personal taste and individual expression. Materials, lighting and glassware etc evolve, which also means a wide choice. The shape of bridal arches has changed and now there are inclinations towards tepee, round and irregular shapes – moving away from the classic styles.

And lastly, if you could plan your ideal wedding, what flowers would you choose for the bouquets, in what style, and how would you decorate the venue?

I think it’s important to take into consideration the style of the venue, your own style, budget and favourite flowers and colours. I am keen on neutral tones for myself but love it when a bride steps out and goes for bright vibrant colours. In Spain we are very fortunate to be able to offer open air venues with magnificent foliage and views. Flowers are a compliment, more often than not, and not the main players. Yet a wedding without flowers is missing something essential, in my humble opinion.

To find out more about Deseos Florists, or to discuss your wedding decorations further, please contact one of our team at Sunshine Weddings Spain. We love to make weddings as pretty as possible and truly memorable for years to come!