'Anything that exudes warmth and coziness'

In September, Chantal Post took gold at the Belgian championships. 'It was quite a tough competition. As Stefan van Berlo's assistant, I had already participated in the European Championships in Poland which is really comparable to the Belgian championships in terms of style: challenging, exciting and full of positive stress.'

'What I like most about a competition like this is the whole creative process - from the genesis of the idea to the full elaboration. I have learned an enormous amount from my own experiments and from the coaching I enjoyed in preparation. Exchanging ideas and experience with internationally renowned florists is incredibly enriching where you get a new and broader vision of the floral world. An opportunity to enrich my own style, develop myself further and delve even deeper into floral design - which now makes me even more passionate about my craft!'

'Christmas means family time. Outside it is cold and dark, and then it is important to bring coziness and warmth into the house. Christmas is also a time of traditions - which have only become more important after Covid. Red and green are more 'in' than ever. As well as gold, copper and natural materials:
anything that radiates warmth and coziness.'

'A little exoticism should not be missing'

Sören Van Laer won the First Mastery Competition of Belgium in September, allowing him to now call himself First Florist of Belgium. 'It is quite an honor to be the first to bear the title of First Florist of Belgium. This title is a real crowning glory of our profession as florists. To be a good florist you not only have to master floral techniques, you also have to be creative, be able to organize and plan well and have business talent
have. Together with my partner Aymeric Chaouche and supported by the team, we have worked hard to achieve this title. I am proud of my team. Together, we will continue to strive to put Belgium on the map in terms of floral art.

In the run-up to Christmas, Atelier Sören Van Laer
invariably organizes a Christmas Open Door. 'Feasting and festive decorating is in our DNA. We love pure natural materials like pine branches, pine cones, pine needles, berries. Classic shapes like wreaths and stars are part of the Christmas tradition, but I also like to experiment with other shapes. Glitter and lights add a festive touch to these creations. A little exoticism should not be missing either. Special
orchids or other exotic flowers and materials.'

Luxury in harmony with nature

In the theme Luxury in harmony with nature, connection with nature plays a leading role. The arrangers have chosen mostly traditional techniques and natural materials. The appearance is that of grandeur and exclusivity. Festive yet understated. Serene but also cozy and warm.

'Funeral work may also be very colorful'

Florist Mélodie Mahin of La Mélodie des Fleurs flower store in Libin, Belgium, received her training at the Institut Horticole de Gembloux, she attended the Fleur Talent! training project with ten young florists and regularly participates in competitions in Alden Biesen and Beloeil. She also decorates weddings and parties and is renowned for her workshops and children's parties.

In addition to the daily colorful arrangements for her customers in the flower store, farewell flower arrangements also have an important place in Mélodie's work. 'A personal farewell is the birth of a beautiful memory. That's why I like to help provide the most beautiful farewell possible.'

'That can be an arrangement in very neutral colors, white and green, and with classic funeral flowers like chrysanthemums. But funeral arrangements can and may also be very colorful. There are also different possibilities in terms of form. A flower cushion remains a classic, but I also like to choose other shapes or a combination of different small creations.'

'There is so much more than traditional decorations'

For floral designer Chantal Post, funeral arrangements mean a very personal tribute to the deceased. 'The choice of flowers is often related to the character of that person. A conversation with the family ensures that you get to know the specific characteristics of the deceased, the sensitivities, the favorite flowers.'

'It is a challenge to make use of more or less known symbolism. This allows you as a florist to give more depth to your funeral arrangements. For example, a cylinder is open at both ends, reason that this shape symbolizes communication between two worlds: the physical world and the spiritual world.'

'In this contribution I especially wanted to show different techniques and different forms of coffin decorations. So much more is possible than traditional decorations. For example, I used paper coffee filters to make a structure that gives the impression of a soft pillow. That creates a lot of possibilities. Moreover, the paper structure has a voluminous effect of its own, so relatively few flowers are needed to create a large arrangement.'

'Each flower and color has its own message'

Master binders Sofia Tavares and Marc Noël met while working in a flower store. They decided to start a flower store together and in 2015 started Moments Subtils in Bastogne, Belgium. June 2023 their second flower store, with the same name, opens in downtown Brussels. Also, Sofia and Marc find challenge in decorating events and participating in competitions. In September, they are both participants in the Belgian Flower Arranging Championships.

The pair has a passion for the beauty of nature and for flowers. 'Floristry for us is a language of flowers to pass on all the beauty. We find inspiration in a walk in the woods, in a city and its architecture or simply in a flower or a moment of wonder.'

The significance of funeral arrangements for Sofia and Marc? 'Words can bring comfort, but flowers have the extra power to express emotions stronger than in words. For us, all flowers and all colors can be used in funeral arrangements, because each flower and color has its own message.'

Moments Subtils is the name of two flower stores in Bastogne, Belgium, and in the heart of Brussels.