Five Minutes with... Natalie Dalziel
Who doesn’t love being the recipient of a beautiful bouquet of flowers? Arguably one of the nicest things to give and receive, flowers are an important elements of so many parts of life - from a thoughtful thank-you gift to a bouquet on your big day. But what about the skills behind the flowers?
We spoke to Natalie Dalziel, Glasgow-based florist, to talk all things floral and find out more about what it takes to start your own blooming business…
Photo: Caro Weiss
First things first - why did you decide to become a florist, and launch your own business?
I’ve always had a love for all things floral, and I’ve always been a little obsessed with weddings too. I was working in the construction industry a few years back, but I was practicing my floristry on the side as a hobby; I started off doing little arrangements for friends and family in the beginning, just small jobs to practice the art really. It then grew to be a real passion of mine, one I decided to turn into a career when I became a mother. Having my daughter really gave me the push and the encouragement to do whatever I wanted to do, so I set up my own floristry studio around three years ago, and haven’t looked back!
That’s an inspiring leap to take! Can you tell us more about your business and the day-to-day of being a juggling life as a florist and as a mother?
My first love is weddings, and that’s the route I decided to take the business in. I specialise in floristry for weddings and events, and that way, I can forecast my year ahead. As a busy working mother, I like to know in advance as much as possible so that I can schedule work around my daughter, so I take bookings up to 18 months in advance, which really helps me to plan.
I love to be organised, my to-do lists are a must! It helps to keep me calm and organised, and makes managing the juggle a little bit easier. Working this way also allows me to be able to take on the right amount of work, meaning I can fully commit to each individual client or event without overstretching myself. I’ve also made it more of a priority to commit to self-care and plan my own down time in advance, meaning that I can fully enjoy my family time and be on the ball with my clients too.
What’s the best thing about your job?
First and foremost, I love flowers and all things nature. Everyday nature still amazes me! But I have to say, the joy I get from seeing my wedding couples on their big day is always amazing. Seeing their delight when they receive their flowers is always wonderful. Working on weddings is a very important gig, but it comes with its own stresses and timelines - as well as the risks of working with and relying on nature! But all is made completely worthwhile when the couples are elated with their flowers.
Which trends will be big in 2020?
Floristry on the whole has gone back to quite a traditional look, but with a contemporary twist. My styling of floristry is my niche, and it’s a style that couples come to me for; it’s very relaxed in style, with an abundance of blooms to create a luxe, garden feel, full of different textures and fragrances. Lots of my requests for 2020 so far have been along the same vein, for that very full, luxurious look to bouquets, so I don’t think this will be changing any time soon.
And finally - can you share with us some insider advice on caring for flowers at home?
Keep them off the windowsill! They might look pretty there, but the sun magnifying the glass will simply overheat the flowers and kill them off early. I always recommend that flowers are kept in the coolest place at home, away from central heating, smoke and fruit. Ensure your vase is deep, and filled with cold, clean water - top up and refresh your water every other day to keep your flowers fresher for longer. Keep all stems trimmed in a slant and strip the stems of leaves so that none are touching the water.