'Mono is trending. The purer, the better'

‘My love for flowers started when I was a little girl,’ says florist Claire van der Velden. ‘That passion has brought me to where I am now. After years of experience as a business manager and running my own store in Delft, I found my passion in bridal floral work by creating unique creations for the most special day in life with my company De Bruidsbloemist: the wedding. This has now grown into Beyond Blossom, with which we are going one step further. Beyond Blossom gives me the chance to make my dreams come true: putting together wedding designs that are not only beautiful, but also unique and personal.’

‘I get inspiration from my travels to Kenya, Thailand, and Sri Lanka, among other places. My style is playful and generous. I also love working with rare and special flowers. In addition to ribbons, mono arrangements are a trend for bridal work in 2025; the purer, the better.’

‘Flowers are an experience’

'There is nothing like the beauty of flowers in their purest form,' says floral designer Johan Martens. 'As a floral arranger, I see daily how powerful and expressive flowers can be. For years I have worked for companies at home and abroad, where I create floral designs with great love and dedication that touch, surprise and connect.'

'My style is recognizable by combining decorative shapes with natural lines and structures of plants. No excess, but rather the power of simplicity and respect for the natural growth of each flower or branch. That balance creates arrangements that breathe. Sometimes they are playful, sometimes subdued, but always in harmony with the environment and with the moment.'

'The greatest pleasure in my profession? Making people happy, especially at special and emotional moments such as a wedding, where flowers often say more than a thousand words. Each creation is unique, tailored to the people and their story. Flowers are not decoration, they are an experience.'

'Compared to nature, I remain a student'

‘Inspiration is everywhere,’ says floral designer Max van de Sluis, ‘but for me, nature remains the most important source. If you look closely, you can learn so much from nature. Not only how plants grow and bloom, but also about their lines, about transparency, or the lack thereof. But above all, you can find special color combinations in nature, often unexpected but actually always in a certain harmony.’

‘You sometimes see flowers in multiple together, but also in a solitary group. I then try to capture and isolate this emotion, sometimes to perfect it. But in the end, I remain a student in relation to nature – no matter how hard I try.’

‘I also use all this inspiration for my bridal work. I often apply it in small portions, for example, in the combinations of form and material or natural movements. All this with the aim of making the bride even more beautiful and completing this special day.’

Shining star

At every wedding, the bride is the radiant star. She is the most beautiful of the day, with festive clothing, a beautiful hairstyle and make-up, and with flowers that seem to tell the story of a long and happy marriage.

Online masterclass Flower Crowns by Hitomi Gilliam

From May 16th to 18th, the internationally renowned floral designer Hitomi Gilliam will conduct a three-day online masterclass themed Ephemera: Creating One-of-a-kind Flower Crowns.

Keukenhof looks back on a radiant season

Keukenhof successfully concludes the 2025 season. Over 1.4 million visitors from all corners of the world enjoyed the colorful spring park between March 20 and May 11. Keukenhof was rated by visitors with a score of 8.7, a wonderful compliment for a colorful experience.