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There are so many reasons we love wedding season in the flower industry: the chance to flex our creative muscles, challenge ourselves, and delight our customers by bringing their visions to life — just to name a few! Over the years, wedding floral displays have continuously become grander and more extravagant, and this summer will be no exception. Lucky for us, our 2024 Featured Florist is an expert in big projects!
Travis Mills of Calyx Floral Design has been at the top of the Alberta flower game for over 15 years and has made a name for herself with her showstopping mixed floral arches. Whether it be for an altar overlooking a mountain lake, a photo wall at a big event, or the entryway to her studio in Red Deer, she puts the same amount of care and expertise into each one.
We picked her brain and gathered some tips and tricks to help you expand your portfolio or improve on something you already offer. Read on to learn more about the product, the process, and how important it is to practice!
Q: How long does it take to set up a standard arch?
A: LOL. There’s really no ’standard’ arch, although Erin [my assistant of 11 years] and I did time ourselves last weekend and had a pre-designed arch up and attached in 4 minutes and 21 seconds! Typically, we allot about 10-15 minutes of design time for a 3’ section of flowers.
Q: How long did it take you to do your very first arch versus your most recent?
A: The first time we did a large-scale arch installation was the giant heart we designed with permanent botanicals around our storefront entrance, and it took three of us a whole 8-hour day to complete it. The next year, I designed the same arch by myself in about three hours. Not kidding when they say practice, practice, practice!!
Q: What’s the best base to use? (Your favourite kind, as well as the easiest to build on)
A: I prefer floral foam wrapped in chicken wire as my base. They’re definitely the most flexible choice for designing. If we’re making just a small piece or need to have a quick installation time, we use floral cages.
Q: Do you prefer circular or flat-sided arches? Is one easier than the other to build?
A: Circles are not my best friend! Even though they look amazing, sometimes your foam slips on the arch and getting it to stay in place can be a bit of a hassle. Pro-tip: large glue strips under your zip ties are the best fix for this!
Q: What’s the biggest arch you’ve ever created?
A: This one was a doozy! Designed with the inspiration of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s wedding arch, we created a beautiful fresh flower design in the Banff Springs Hotel standing over 14 feet tall and with a base so wide you couldn’t reach your arms around it. This one was massive!!!
Q: On average, how many total flowers go into an arch?
A: There’s no real recipe for this, unfortunately. It depends on if the arch is designed in fresh flowers or permanent botanicals, if it is flower-focused or has a greenery base, and the size of the blooms we are using. When creating a recipe, I usually break it down to one-foot sections and figure out how many flowers I need to fill that area, then multiply by how large the arch will be.
Q: Three-to-five best flowers to use?
A: 1. A base of permanent hydrangeas — we rent them to our brides and get them back after the wedding. They take up so much space and add a ton of color to the design without a huge cost increase!
2. Roses – reflex them and they become twice as large!
3. Artificial Cherry Blossoms – add amazing movement and colour.
4. Italian Ruscus – best greenery ever!
Q: Any tips for keeping them fresh once they’re built?
A: Get one of those garden sprayer bottles and fill it with crowning glory, then spray the heck out of your fresh flower design!
Q: How long do they typically last?
A: When we design for a wedding, that’s it! When we design with permanents for our outdoor displays, we have had them up for up to 3 months.
Q: Any tips for someone before they try a project like this for the first time?
A: Start small, get comfortable with a small section of archway, then just multiply it!!
Follow Travis and her team @calyxfloraldesign to see all the amazing arches and other projects they’re working on this season.
We’re also very excited to announce that this fall we will be hosting Netherland-based floral artist and educator, Anne van Midden! She specializes in natural, foam-free floral designs and large-scale installations, and will be joining us for design shows and workshops in Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver this October. Head to our events page for more info!