Wedding Questions Answered: Wickham & Taylor

So today we chat to the wonderful Carole from Wickham & Taylor, a fresh Florist based in South Yorkshire to tell us what she’s been up to during the pandemic.

 Q: What have you been up to since lockdown started?

 I have been re-arranging weddings, looking at different ways of marketing, designing a new website which hopefully will be coming soon (it’s taking longer than we anticipated, holding Facebook Live demonstrations, holding  Zoom Flower Arranging Workshops and delivering bouquets and plants. 

 Q: How has it affected your business?

 I have most of my weddings postponed and the second one is hopefully in September (the first I did before lockdown). I am also an Area Demonstrator for NAFAS (National Association of Flower Arranging Societies) which is one of the biggest flower clubs and the demonstrations have been cancelled until next year. I also had numerous workshops and Health and Well Being flower clubs set up which have had to be cancelled.

On the positive side I have had to look at different ways of working and have come out of my ‘comfort zone’ in undertaking the Facebook Live demonstrations and Zoom workshops and I have since set up a YouTube Channel where it is my intention to post regular tutorials. I have also opened up an Etsy shop and I am selling dried flowers and other crafty things, as I sew as well. My Etsy shop is Crafty Florist Designs. My bouquet deliveries have increased and have kept me ticking over. I have been lucky with being studio based as I have been able to continue to work unlike other retail florists.

Q: How have your couples been with you?

My couples have been fabulous and I have been able to accommodate everyone of them with their new date. 

Q: Have you had many rescheduled weddings? If so how have you dealt with this?

So far I have rescheduled 22 weddings. This has been dealt with mainly by my couples contacting me asking if I can accommodate their new date. 

Q: Have you reopened since lockdown eased? how is your business operating differently?

Being studio based I have never really closed. Obviously I haven’t met with any couples but have been providing quotes by social media and emails. I have also offered Zoom, Facetime and Skype consultations. I had to close the first couple of weeks as the wholesalers closed down completely but then we had a weekly pre-bookable delivery and then it gradually increased. I am still not undertaking face to face consultations but I am looking to re-start this in the next few weeks. 

Q: Do you have anything else to add for people thinking of booking you for their wedding?

I provide a personal and creative service. My designs range from chic, elegant and traditional to funky and modern, whatever your taste. My natural and wild style brings a luxurious yet informal feel, finding inspiration from nature. Each bouquet, buttonhole, table centrepiece and floral arrangement is carefully considered and designed with the couples wedding day in mind, capturing their personalities.I am an award winning florist and have been a finalist in the IDO Wedding Awards for the last 3 years (including this one) and all my reviews are 5*. When couples are planning their wedding flowers, for what will surely, be one of the biggest days of their lives they can be assured that they are in creative, experienced and safe hands.

Huge thanks go to Carole for agreeing to chat with us about her experience; we hope she can start to meet her couples face to face soon. To find out more about Carole and her fresh flower artistry, go to her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/wickhamandtaylor/