Vendor Highlight | Stems Flower Design
STEMS FLOWER DESIGN
If you’ve followed me for a while, you know that wedding florals are quite often my favorite details to photograph! Flowers have an incredible impact on your wedding photography because they’re usually in the bulk of your photos; you’ll see bouquets and boutonnieres in your portraits, elegant designs in your ceremony photos, centerpieces in your reception photos… the list goes on.
Arturo and I know many talented floral designers, but each time we have a wedding with Stems Flower Design, we know the flowers for those weddings are going to be jaw-dropping! Careth Leining, owner and designer of Stems Flower Design, is a Connecticut-based wedding florist. We first worked with her last summer, and are so excited to have more weddings together this year!
Careth’s wedding floral designs are lush and vibrant, and I’m consistently amazed at the beauty she creates for her couples. I love a good pop of color, and Careth’s work never disappoints! I’m so excited to be sharing more about Careth, her work, and Stems Flower Design with you today!
Tell me a bit about you and your business! How did you get started in the wedding industry?
"I started out helping my mom to arrange flowers as a summer job, and later on I worked at flower shops designing weddings while I attended college. One day my mom and I decided to start our own wedding floral design business. I’ve always loved art and had experience arranging flowers all my life, so it felt like a good career choice.”
What do you love most about being a floral designer for weddings?
"While I’ve always enjoyed working with flowers, it wasn’t until recently that I began to really love designing! We wanted to use more textures and create some whimsical designs. Now, our clients come to us because they want this type of artful design and style. Most couples now just give us a color palette and let us do whatever we want to do. These are completely our dream clients because it makes the process so much fun for us and the flowers really come to life because of that.”
What should couples know about your process and about working with you?
"There really isn’t a formal process when a couple chooses to work with us. Flowers are beautiful and floral arrangements are an art form that should bring a tablescape to life! I’m a very easy-going person, and in the end, we really just want every client to be super happy!”
What is your favorite part about working with couples who are planning their wedding day?
"After we set up the space and see our couples’ visions come to life is one of my favorite things! Having the opportunity to watch our clients’ reactions when they walk into the room and see everything for the first time is the best!”
What (or who) inspires your creativity?
"There’s so much around me that I draw inspiration from. Everything about life: the things we experience, emotions, travel, everything that we see, touch, or taste truly inspires me.”
How early should couples book you to ensure you'll be available for their wedding day?
"Everything has changed post-Covid. The wedding industry is so much different now. It’s harder to get certain types of flowers and there’s less certainty. While inflation plays a huge roll in the floral industry, there’s also more demand for flowers. I would definitely suggest booking a florist early in your vendor search, maybe a year or more out.”
What is one tip or piece of advice you'd give a couple for their wedding day?
"The biggest piece of advice I would give couples on their wedding day is to just relax and enjoy! The day is going to go by so quickly, so I would personally just let every detail and every thought go. Have a drink, enjoy the food, laugh, and make some great memories!
The second piece of advice I would give is to splurge on flowers! When you and your guests walk into a reception space, you’re not going to remember the napkin or what fork you used, but a gorgeous centerpiece on the table is really going to stand out!”
If you don't already, be sure to follow Careth to stay up to date with her latest projects!
Facebook: Stems Flower Design
Instagram: @stemsflowerdesign
I hope you enjoyed getting to know Careth of Stems Flower Design! What unique floral designs do you envision for your wedding day?
