BloomBar.

BloomBar’s signature lush, colorful, and textural aesthetic is exactly what we need after a long and dark winter. In our conversation with BloomBar’s founder, Carly, we learn about her work as a mental health worker and how designing florals started as a creative outlet to balance her social work. Before long, however, her hobby turned into a packed calendar of weddings and other events. Carly also told us about BloomBar’s sustainability focus and current love of sculptural, minimal, and dynamic compote designs.

Tell us about BloomBar and how did your journey begin?

I am a licensed social worker as well as a boutique floral designer in New York City. I started my career after graduate school working as a mental health clinician in different capacities and with different populations. After seven years in practice, and while working in a crisis response capacity, I really felt a longing for a creative outlet.  Mental health care and advocacy are so important to me and will always be my core values, but I also wanted to create beauty, work in the natural world, and interact with clients in a different, more creative capacity. After designing florals informally for friends and family, and exploring the NYC flower market and vendors, I embarked on floral design for weddings. They were small at first, and mostly through word of mouth, but I built up a clientele and a rolling calendar of events. Though there have been periods of time where I was totally BloomBar-focused, I'm now back to part time mental health work, part time BloomBar, and it feels great.

Do you find couples are increasingly interested in sustainable weddings? If so, how do you incorporate sustainability into your work?

I do hope that couples become more aware of the sustainable practices not just in floristry but in events in general. Certainly with flowers we can educate our clients about how we source locally as much as possible, and support small growers and farmers with unique products. Every BloomBar event has a plan for end of night - whether we are partnering with nonprofit BloomAgain Brooklyn to donate event florals to local hospitals and shelters, or arrangements are given away to guests as favors, or we simply compost the florals entirely. Clients can consider which option fits them best, and with a bit of investment from them we ensure waste is reduced. I do not use toxic floral foam in any BloomBar designs, which leads not only to a more environmentally-respectful outcome but lends a softer, more organic design. When clients are introduced to these ideas I do find that they're receptive and appreciative of that extra thoughtfulness and care, and want to be a part of the process. 

What advice do you have for couples when choosing their wedding flowers?

If a client has a favorite flower type or special significance attached to certain flowers I am always sure to ask about and incorporate them in designs. Or if they really dislike certain flowers or foliage, that is very important! But other than that I think clients should rest assured that their floral designer is an expert in exactly that - the florals we choose and the designs we create. Those are based on our experience, aesthetic and vision, so the clients shouldn't feel pressured to know each and every flower type, how to arrange them,  or their availability. Trust in the professional you hired to execute the most beautiful design for you. 

Has COVID affected the approach to your work?

The pace of work has certainly slowed, and the priorities of safety and health are utmost. I do like the smaller, micro-weddings that are such a special, intimate day for couples and their guests. There are just as many beautiful, romantic details in a smaller celebration, and the meaning behind the day is paramount. 

What floral trends are you loving at the moment?

As much as I love a lush, maximal floral arrangement I am recently feeling drawn to more sculptural, minimal designs that embrace negative space and movement of stems. I like using flower frogs in compote designs for that reason - they keep stems in place at the base but can sprawl and crawl more freely and organically. I've been collecting vintage and antique flower frogs, pin frogs and ceramic bases that are really nice to work with. I 'm also recently drawn to unusual or uncommon color combinations, like ruddy and rusty terracotta tones with pale blues, or mustard goldens with mauve. 

Professionally or personally, what inspires you?

I'm inspired by so many of my friends and peers in the events industry. Their creativity and determination are endlessly inspiring. Color has always inspired my designs, so being outside amidst changing seasons brings a lot of inspiration. 

What can we expect from BloomBar in the near future?

So looking forward to beautiful weddings in 2021, each one totally different and beautiful in color pallete and design.

Special thanks to Bloombar | Web www.bloombar.co | Social @bloombar.nyc