“Vintage adds character and elegance to the bridal bouquet”
Aymeric Chaouche is a young French florist. He earned his master’s degree in floristry in Lyon, France. Because Belgium is renowned for its floral artistry and out of admiration for Belgian master florists, Aymeric decided to continue his career as a freelance florist in Belgium.
Together with Sören Van Laer, he founded Atelier Sören Van Laer. They began by organizing workshops, collaborating at events, giving demonstrations, and teaching, both nationally and internationally. When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted their activities in 2020, they decided to launch an online store. It quickly expanded with pop-up shops in Brussels and Bornem. Now, all their core activities are based in a full-fledged flower shop in the center of Bornem. Aymeric has a great passion for competitions. He has participated in EuroSkills and WorldSkills multiple times, and in 2022 he won the Belgian Junior Floral Art Championship.
“I draw constant inspiration from nature. I express my creativity through natural materials and enjoy experimenting with color combinations and shapes. I love browsing through flea markets and antique fairs—that’s where I find my inspiration. I also often buy vintage items there to incorporate them in innovative wedding arrangements.”
“An extra dimension”
What sets master florist Sören van Laer apart is his ability to try new things with existing materials, to experiment, and to put his own spin on them. “For bridal bouquets, it can be very meaningful to breathe new life into materials that hold a special memory.”
Sören studied horticulture and completed his training with a year-long specialization in floral design. At school, he mastered the most important basic techniques. During his internship with Geert Pattyn in Geluwe, Sören learned many new techniques. Together with his partner, florist Aymeric Chaouche, he runs a thriving flower shop in the heart of Bornem. In addition, Sören and Aymeric regularly host workshops for flower enthusiasts, teach florists, and decorate events.
“I incorporated elements with sentimental value into every bridal bouquet. They add an extra dimension to the bouquets.”
“The Bride in the Spotlight”
Seda Virabian, a floral designer of Armenian descent, has lived in Belgium since she was ten. “I’ve always loved flowers. I could spend hours looking at them, smelling them, and admiring them.”
In 2017, she launched a pop-up shop, which was an instant hit. This spring, she moved her shop to a new location in downtown Kortrijk. Seda organizes individual and group workshops and decorates store windows, parties, and weddings. Still, her dream remains to take on even more artistic commissions. “I hope that someday there will be a TV show for florists, which will lead to greater understanding and appreciation for our wonderful profession!”
For her bridal work, Seda draws inspiration from paintings by artists such as the Pre-Raphaelites, who highlight the beauty of women. Through floral crowns, Seda seeks to express a woman’s inner beauty. In doing so, she pays close attention to her clients’ floral preferences and personality traits. “Floral crowns can be a perfect alternative to bridal bouquets. The bride herself essentially becomes the bridal bouquet.”
“Wedding arrangements are floral jewels”
Belgian floral designer Chantal Post completed the master’s program in Floral Art in Vught. As president of the Belgian florists’ association Be-Florist, she has been working since 2021 to promote the floristry profession and support florists.
In 2024, she won the title of Belgian National Champion at Féerie Florale in Alden Biesen. This victory immediately earned her a spot in the World Cup Floral Art in The Hague (2025), where she placed eighth.
“I love refined techniques, luxurious materials, and beautiful, unique flowers. To me, bridal bouquets are the epitome of sophistication. My bridal creations become floral jewels that add an extra dimension to the bride and her wedding dress.”
“With passion and a love for the craft”
I always find it truly special to be able to contribute to one of the highlights of someone’s life. How wonderful is it that, through your passion and love for your craft, you get to create the ultimate experience that contributes to what many consider “the best day of their lives”?!
From the broad concepts that the couple or the wedding planner has come up with themselves, right down to the smallest details—such as incorporating a piece of jewelry that belonged to a deceased loved one into the bridal bouquet. I love taking on that challenge time and time again.
These days, more and more brides are coming into the shop with fully detailed mood boards from Pinterest. Sometimes they’re real “bridezillas,” but they gradually warm up once you show them that you have the knowledge and expertise to make their dream a reality. Here, too, it’s crucial that you exude professionalism and clearly explain your process. This is exactly where you can set yourself apart as a florist!
“Flowers Take Center Stage”
Floral designer Jan de Ridder believes it is important to listen carefully to what the customer wants when interacting with them, while still adding his own personal touch.
“In every bouquet, the flowers come first. The frame is really just a secondary element, meant only to make the flowers stand out more.”
Jan loves bold colors, such as gold, burgundy, blue, or ochre. “A strong accent like that makes a bouquet striking and leaves a lasting impression on people. Color combinations are also important: if a bride chooses lilac, I stick to that color. If you pair it with pink, for example, it actually tones down the lilac.”
Jan doesn’t have a preference for specific flowers, but he prefers to work with seasonal flowers. “I like it when you can tell what season it is just by looking at the bouquet. So in winter I choose hellebores, in summer dahlias, and in May lily of the valley. Although that always depends on availability.”