Katie Humphrey is one half of flower-and-cake-team Buns and Roses and is a regular guest blogger for Bicycle Made for Two. I caught up with Katie to ask her about her floristry business and to find out how she fits being a wedding supplier around her busy family life. I have so much respect for Katie who has retrained as a florist after her two young children were born and although she is relatively new to the craft just look at the photos of her work included in this article to see how much skill and professionalism she has brought to her new business.
Tell me about yourself. What do you do when you aren’t doing floristry?
I live with my husband and our two children, Jonah aged 4 and Maggie aged 1, in St.Ives in Cambridgeshire. Life for us is pretty typical of life with such young kids, too many early wake-ups, too much Disney, and occasionally too much gin when they stay over at the grandparents. The business does take up a lot of my evenings at the moment as I am trying to juggle building up Buns and Roses with school runs, swimming lessons, play dates etc. But if I did have five minutes to spare, I love to take on DIY and craft projects – think anything Kirstie Allsop has covered in her TV show. I am also just a little bit addicted to Pinterest and ebay (or any online shopping).
How did you meet your business partner Lisa and what made you decide to go into business together?
Lisa and I met in hospital, just before we both had our sons. We then bumped into each other again at a baby group with the boys were about 8 weeks old, and we got on instantly. The Buns and Roses idea honestly started as a flippant comment one day. Lisa had already started her own celebration cake business, and I had already arranged the flowers at my own and several family and friends’ weddings. The comment was made that we should go into business together to supply wedding cakes and flowers as we both love weddings so, so much. The idea evolved into our concrete plan, and we made the decision to launch in 2014 after the birth of my daughter.
When did you decide to become a florist? How did you learn the skills involved?
I first fell in love with the idea of floristry after I did the flowers for my own wedding in 2008. I enjoyed myself thoroughly but it was others who put the idea in my head. I then did a few more wedding flowers for friends and family members, but didn’t think of it as a career choice until Lisa and I started chatting. I did the flowers for her gorgeous wedding in 2013, which gave me the courage and belief that maybe I did have enough talent.
So instead of going back to work after maternity leave with my second child, I went on a 1-1 intense course for a week that was catered toward wedding flowers to build my basic skills. The tutor was brilliant, I took so much from her. I then did a further few courses with her on specific subjects to broaden my knowledge. The rest of my training has most definitely been learning on the job!
What have been your favourite flowers to work with so far?
I am, and always will be, a sucker for the classic rose. They are so beautiful and versatile; and look perfect in almost any bridal bouquet. I absolutely adore all the dusky pink and lilac roses that are used in so many vintage weddings; especially the Memory Lane rose. And I can’t wait for a June wedding this year where the bride wants Miss Piggy roses – not only the best name ever, but the most amazing colour!
Which creations have you been most proud of?
I did my friend’s wedding last year and loved her colour scheme of purples & ivories with a pop of deep red. It suited her so perfectly, and I received such amazing comments all day on the flowers. I can’t take credit for the colours, but I was so pleased to make her vision a reality!
What are you most looking forward to working on in 2015?
2015 will be our first full on wedding season and we are so looking forward to it! Each of the brides who have booked with us have completely different ideas for their weddings, which makes it even more exciting. I’m especially looking forward to doing our first Hindu blessing with all those gorgeous colours!
Are there any trends that have excited you for the coming year?
I am really into the vintage blue colour at the moment – particularly with corals and peach, so I am pretty excited for this theme to make an appearance in the summer. And I’m big on all the grey combinations that are going to be big this year – grey & mustard, grey & pink, grey & blue –
or just all the shades of grey!
Photo Credits: Andy Fountain Photography and Chris Tromans Photography.
Follow Katie on Facebook or visit her website to get more inspiration for your wedding flowers and cakes. You can contact Katie on 07940 554193 to talk about flowers or her business partner Lisa for cakes on 07590 318518.
