A Week in the Life of a Florist during Wedding season (Yes, We Wake Up at 4 AM)
So you think being a florist is all about playing with pretty flowers and living in a pastel-colored dream? Cute.
Let me introduce you to the reality: early mornings, aching feet, and the constant presence of petals in your studio’s floor. (Okay, that last part isn’t so bad.) But also—oh, the beauty. Too much beauty. Flowers so breathtaking they make you forget, just for a moment, that you’re running on caffeine and sheer willpower. Here’s what a week in my life as a florist really looks like.
Monday – The “Calm” Before the Storm
Ah, Monday. The day I pretend I have my life together. This is the day for catching up on emails, placing orders, and dealing with the aftermath of the weekend’s weddings. My workspace is still recovering from the floral explosion, and I’m probably finding petals in places they definitely shouldn’t be.
Meanwhile, I also juggle social media and all the other 100 roles a person has to play when running a small business. Content planning, client calls, making sure I actually eat something—it’s a balancing act.
Tuesday – Flower Market & Inspiration Hunt
The 4 AM wake-up call.
Why so early? Because the best flowers go fast, and if you’re not at the market before sunrise, you might as well stay home. I spend hours picking the freshest, fluffiest blooms, haggling with vendors (politely, of course), and overfilling my car with way more flowers than I actually need.
Since I live in San Francisco, it is very easy to visit the floral market for inspo or to pick up a few extra blooms.
The local farmers’ digital platform instead opens only two days a week, which means every Wednesday at 3 PM, florists across the area are glued to their screens, racing to snag the best seasonal flowers before they disappear.
Wednesday – The Hustle Begins
This is when things start getting serious. If I have a small wedding that week, I finish picking up all my orders and start cleaning stems (basically giving them a spa day so they don’t flop when they hit a vase). Buckets of water, piles of leaves, and me questioning my life choices.
It’s a methodical, slightly therapeutic process—except for when my dog, Annica, decides to supervise. Best assistant ever, though she contributes more moral support than actual work.
Thursday – Design Mode Activated
Time to get creative! This is when the deep dive into floral design begins. Depending on the wedding size, I gather all the helping hands I can afford, and together, we start arranging, experimenting with color palettes, and bringing floral dreams to life.
Friday – The Anxiety Kicks In
By Friday night, the studio is a whirlwind of petals, tools, and controlled chaos. I do a final recap, making sure everything is packed and ready. This is the moment where my anxiety spikes—because if you forget something for a wedding, well… let’s just say it’s not great.
Every box, ribbon, and perfectly fluffed bloom gets double-checked before it goes into the van. Then, deep breaths.
Saturday – The Big Day
Depending on the wedding location, we pack the van with flowers (strategically, of course—no crushed peonies allowed) and head to the venue. Setup is a flurry of movement, placing arrangements, building installations, and making sure every single petal is perfect before the first guest arrives.
It’s beautiful. It’s stressful. It’s magic. And at the end of the day, when I see the couple’s reaction, I remember exactly why I do this.
Sunday – The Florist Hangover
I have survived. Sunday is my half day to clean the studio and half day to have fun, rehydrate, and possibly see the outside world (if I can move).
Would I trade this for a 9-to-5 desk job? Absolutely not.
Final Thoughts?
Being a florist is wild, exhausting, and sometimes completely chaotic. But it’s also ridiculously rewarding. There’s nothing like seeing a client’s face light up when they see their flowers or knowing that your work is part of someone’s most special moments.
So next time you see a gorgeous bouquet, just know—there’s a very tired florist behind it, probably covered in pollen, running on caffeine, and absolutely in love with what they do.
