“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.”
Flowers for a personal touch
The most beautiful day of your life calls for floral arrangements that go beyond mere decoration: it calls for a piece that tells a story and enhances the wearer’s personality. In this in-depth special from DPK Floral Magazine
we DPK Floral Magazine how the boundaries of the
traditional bridal bouquet are blurring, giving way to floral art.
“Don’t just create—add value”
For floral designer Max van de Sluis, the process doesn’t always begin with a form or technique, but with a single flower. “A flower that demands attention, that calls for a moment of pause, that invites you to understand its character. In this series, I let that principle guide me: observe, delve deeper, and enhance. Always from my own perspective, but with respect for what the flower already possesses.”
From that starting point, bouquets emerge that are more than just a collection of materials. “They have a voice of their own, a presence of their own. And it is precisely in that connection that the encounter with the bride takes place. Sometimes you find a bouquet that reflects her; other times, the bouquet serves to amplify who she is or wants to be at that moment. In that interaction, something unique emerges: personal, layered, and meaningful. Perhaps that is the essence of our craft: not just creating, but adding. Offering an extra dimension, which enhances not only the work but also the person carrying it. A bouquet that doesn’t just adorn, but tells a story.”
“And yet, time and again, it all starts with something seemingly simple: communication. The ability to listen, to interpret, and then to demonstrate with conviction what is possible. Because only when a vision is shared can it truly come to fruition.”
Vibrant arrangements bursting with summer flowers
For floral designers, summer is one of the most bountiful seasons of the year. From the first peonies in late spring to dahlias that herald the arrival of fall, the selection is wide, colorful, and full of character. Yet this period calls for creativity. Due to vacations, hot weather, and shifting consumer behavior, summer is not the easiest sales season.