Vendor: Foraged Florals
Carol and Susan grow seasonally and sustainably using permaculture practices on their tiny-by-intention, grown from the heart, flower farm just outside New Ross, Nova Scotia. They specialize in creating artful floral arrangements for events, providing space and expertise for workshops, and even hosting visitors in their off-grid cabin.
Location: Harriston, NS
Capacity: 12 (for workshops)
Price Point: $$
Accommodations: off grid cabin sleeps 2 - airBNB
Perfect for the bare-foot nature lovers looking for whimsy and something unique.
Let’s hear a brief description of your business and what you do.
We are a tiny-by-intention floral design studio and sustainable flower farm. We design unique seasonal floral arrangements for weddings and events, be it intimate or grand. This slow, sustainable approach to design makes us champions of the environment and affords us the pleasure to create a few exclusive events yearly.
Tell us about your creative process.
In a word, multifaceted. We start with attentive listening. We have learned people, like flowers, are wildly unique. Once we learn your heart space and spirit, the style and design start to emerge, and the individual uniqueness appears. We listen for the touchstones that strike your heart's chord. It could be anything – the colour of someone's eyes, the great grandfather's tie, family flowers grown for generations, or a particular colour of green. We represent this with flowers.
I love to visit a venue and take measurements when possible. I can then walk around the venue in my mind and visualize the elements needed to strengthen the story and to stay true to the vision, moving elements around freely in my mind.
Nature as my creative playground, often provides every element needed to build and support the design. Vines become structure, stems add support and flowers the star.
This alchemy in nature reflects the process best. When you get it right, it is magic.
A personal touch of florals to greet your guests at their seat.
What makes your work unique?
We design in natural light, in the garden. As we start to pull a colour palette together for a design, we explore all aspects of the plant's natural form and movement. This allows us to feature a nuance of colour often overlooked. A nature led process gives a complexity, depth and cohesion to our floral designs.
What excites you most about wedding florals?
Flowers are the language of love. Designing in a heart centered way ensures the symbolic blooms are present. That could be a favoured flower from a loved one or generational peonies from a family homestead. What thrills me is designing deep meaning into every event and helping people to connect more deeply to nature.
Samson Photography, 2023 Queer Take Over at The Wolfville Wedding Chapel
Are there any visions you'd love to see come to life - either other vendors you'd like to collaborate with or themes you'd enjoy exploring?
If I could make a wedding wish, it would be for new beginnings, growth and abundance. Moss says all of this. I dream of an entire moss wedding. I have planters out in nature, trying to grow moss in preparedness. Beautiful, long lasting and poignant. Able to be sustainably harvested and returned to nature.
I love the architecture of Harbour Mist. Every florist dreams of multiple mantels and massive spiralling staircases with miles and miles of evergreen garland, my favourite to make. I would love to prepare a winter wedding in that seaside wonderland.
Yet, the quaint space of August House with its high ceiling beg for a floral ceiling installation. I love the simple charm of The Hill Venue, a big, beautiful barn. Okay! I love collaborations and would welcome any opportunity to deck the halls!
