Happy, Healthy Floristry: What Premium Service Florals look like Behind the Scenes
I’ve climbed up 6 feet ladders on little to no sleep, ripped my jeans - in the worst possible spot- during a flip*, dropped floral snips on my forehead, and still managed to get the job done.
It’s 2026, and to date I’ve designed florals for over one hundred brands and wedding clients collectively. I spent my first year freelancing for some of the best florists in Toronto, and learned what I like and more importantly, don’t like about the industry. This is a labour intensive industry! This is a beautiful industry! And through a lot of trial and error, I’ve found what works for me and my business.
When I’m well-rested, supported, and creatively energized, your flowers benefit, and so does your entire event day. The “Full Peach Approach” is all about keeping me, you, and your flowers happy!
The Full Peach Approach: Happy Florist = Happy Client
I’ve tried the "say yes to everything’ approach, and while that got me to where I am today, it’s also brought on a whole slew of not so proud moments. Less time with friends and family, serious exhaustion, mild burn out, more colds that I’d like to count, forgetfulness, stress, and a diet of coffee, string cheese, and smoothies.
What I know: whether you’re a wedding, brand, or workshop client, you spend a lot of money on your flowers. Flowers have a premium cost, and with that, my belief is that a premium service goes hand in hand with the price tag.
Here’s what I also know: a florist more in tune with hustle culture an Instagram addiction and 2016 Girlboss mentality isn’t gonna deliver a premium service. Good intentions, but it’s just not there.
And here’s what’s true: a well rested florist responds to your queries in a timely manner. A happy florist means better creativity for your out-of-the-box floral vision. A healthy florist means few errors, well-rested execution, and honestly, good freakin’ vibes on your event day! My best work thrives when my nervous system isn’t fried.
A fully loaded van, two bright eyed and bushy tailed florists, one exceptionally happy client!
That’s exactly why over the years I’ve dedicated myself to a quality over quantity mindset when running my business. When you book with me, you get my whole ass.🍑 That means taking on fewer events so I can show up fully - for your wedding, your vision, and for myself. After all, they’re just flowers, right? Flowers you paid for, and flowers that deserve a good experience too!
🧠 Fewer events = deeper focus
✏️ Time to plan + source thoughtfully
🌈 Less burnout = more joy in the work I do
💖 I want to still love flowers in 10 years!
What Premium Services Looks like Behind the Scenes
Before your flowers show off at your event, there’s a whole slew of practices, boundaries, and standards that I take seriously. It allows me to show up as my best self: for you, the flowers, and of course, me too!
Mind + Body Care
It’s annoyingly true what the experts say: movement really is good for your physical and mental health! Here’s my line up of best practices to keep my mind & body blooming. See what I did there?
Strength Training for carrying heavy buckets and balancing installations up ladders. Added bonus? The community members I see on a twice weekly basis - they remind me there’s more to life than just work! Going to the gym is a non-negotiable for me.
Stretching, yoga and long walks through Toronto streets. I mainly use Classpass to try out different studios, but Sequins, Om Yoga, and Yogaspace are on my regular rotation. In the summer I’ll ride my bicycle almost anywhere, but I really do love a long walk home at the end of a long day to zone out, and admire what this city has to offer. Bonus if it’s with a pal.
Therapy. Let’s be real: running a business is not small potatoes. There’s added stress, boundaries get pushed, and even this gal looses her cool sometimes. My therapy practice helps me manage all the ups and downs of big projects, life curveballs, and everything in-between.
Sleep. Need I say more? Florals is a labour intensive job: with early mornings, long days in the studio, and a lot of schlepping from the studio to the event space and back again. Rest is part of the work.
Zooming through Toronto on my orange bicycle is one of my favourite self-care practices.
Professional Boundaries
Oof, boundaries; a word with so much weight. But, absolutely necessary when running a small business! Upholding my boundaries shows up for me in more ways than one, and somehow is always challenging me, week after week. Here are my top 5:
9 weddings in a calendar year. My goal was 10 for the past 3 years but I recently shifted this to 9 because I am very much a believer in less is more.
Evenings are email and Instagram free. I do my best work when the sun is shining and I’m caffeinated. Just like my auto responder says: “when I'm not responding to emails, I'm working on your project.” And sometimes that means resting, working out, or furiously looking at your flower order!
My wellbeing is not compromised for the sake of making a client happy - or to make money. My fellow hustlers, this is a rallying cry! See above for “Happy Florist = Happy Client.” I’ve said yes to way too many last minute / out of scope / under budget projects than I’d like to admit - all for the idea to get scrapped and my exhaustion to peak. The best work comes from inspired and intentional practices. Pinky promise.
Incoming Projects must meet 2 of these 3 categories:
Inspiring vision
Aligned growth opportunity
Meet my minimum spend
I was so inspired by this “criteria checklist” created by my friend and sound therapist, Bianca Lee, that I put it into practice for my own business!
🎈Never, ever work on my birthday. No matter how cool the project is, or what opportunity this could lead to down the pipeline. I’ve learned the hard way, and no, it didn’t make all my birthday wishes come true. I believe we all deserve to be celebrated, and what better way to kick off the celebrations than with not working?!
Sustainable Practices
Aside from the prevent burnout aspect of running a sustainable business, there’s also the literal sense of sustainable floristry. What happens to the flowers after an event? Where do the flowers come from? What practices do we follow when designing? Here are my commitments to Make Lemonade’s Sustainable Floral Practice:
In the studio: designing a tabletop arrangement using a sustainable practice with a floral frog.
We don’t use floral foam. We’re conscious about our materials and we’re not in the business of using floral foam, ever. Although easy to work with, floral foam breaks down into microplastics that will never leave this earth. As a business owner who works with flowers, it just feels wrong to use it. Make Lemonade’s solution? Chicken wire, water tubes, and moss. We are crafty, scrappy, and me always guarantee fresh flowers, looking their best, designed in sustainable, smart, mechanics.
Flowers get a second life. Each event is different; sometimes, all the guests will scoop up 5 arrangements to enjoy at home, while other events every single flower is left on the table. Before the event, myself and the client will decide what happens with the flowers - because tossing blooms that still have life in time, just feels wrong! My favourite alternative to guests taking them home? Making a donation to Princess Margaret Hospital.
Maybe this is a given, but we recycle. When picking up flowers from the wholesalers, they come wrapped in plastic, elastic bands, and packed in big cardboard boxes. There’s a lot! Floral stems get sorted to organics and all recycling goods are sorted.
Business Standards
If you’ve been on the Make Lemonade journey since our inception (we started as a coworking space in 2017), then you know that friendly professionalism is kind of our thing. It’s a skill I’ve been refining for years - how to be warm, while also running a tight, respectful, well-organized ship. My standards aren’t about being rigid. They’re about creating the conditions for really good work.
Where every floral project begins: at my desk, candle lit, mug of tea, and a spreadsheet.
I require a minimum of 6 - 4 weeks’ notice to bring a project to life. Whether it’s bud vases on 5 dozen tables, a hundred hand-tied bouquets, or a gigantic green arch, this work takes real planning time. I live by the motto “you can always get flowers” - but if you’re reaching out 10 days before your event, they may not be your first choice blooms. Ample lead time allowed me to:
Source the best flowers for your event
Secure the appropriate van
Book trusted freelancers and support
Design thoughtfully instead of reactively
All of that results in the best flowers, smoother logistics, and a much calmer experience for everyone involved.
Real Pricing that reflects Value and Labour. Floristry is a fine blend of creativity, logistics, physical labour, and professionalism. Our pricing reflects not just the flowers themselves, but the time, care, planning, and experience required to execute them beautifully. For Toronto couples, our Wedding Pricing Calculator offers the most up-to-date and transparent reflection of our pricing. It’s designed to set clear expectations early: no surprises, no awkward conversations later, and the best possible value for your event.
Strong Backend Systems (So You Feel Cared For). A calm, organized backend is one of the most underrated parts of a great floral experience. Clear contracts, thoughtful timelines, organized proposals, and consistent communication mean you’re never left wondering what’s happening or what comes next. When the systems are strong, I can be fully present where it matters most: designing your flowers and showing up for your event with clarity, confidence, and joy.
What You Get as the Client
So, what does this really mean for you, the client? The newly engaged couple, the busy event planner who’s agency just landed a new brand client, the corporate office manager who needs a team building workshop.
Flowers designed with a (healthy) obsession, care, and intentional time. You know we’re not gonna haphazardly rush through your designs.
A chilled-out, tuned in, well rested design team on your wedding or event day.
A fully present floral instructor, excited to lead your colleagues through the art of floral design.
Thoughtful flower sourcing - we’re not about last-minute chaos.
A team that’s fully present and not overcommitted. No half-assin’ here!
Premium quality work from a floral team who enjoys the whole process.
Totally on, lit up, and serving guests corsages for an exclusive Bridgerton experience in Toronto. A career highlight!
💐💘✏️🍑
Artful, foam-free florals for people who value intention, quality, and professionalism. ‘Cause Your event deserves my whole ass, not half.
Fewer events. Better flowers. Happier florist. Happiest clients.
At the end of the day, floristry isn’t just about flowers - it’s about the people behind them. When I show up for your event, I bring my full heart, full attention, and the systems that keep me healthy and creative year-round. If this approach resonates with you and you’re ready for intentional, thoughtful, and joyful florals, I’d love to hear from you. Let’s make something beautiful together. 🌼
