Supplier Spotlight – Emma Soulsby Flowers

This month Emma Soulsby from Emma Soulsby Flowers brightens up the blog as she takes on our quick-fire questions for July’s Supplier Spotlight feature. I had the pleasure of working with Emma at Sinead + Jack’s wedding back in April and was thoroughly impressed, so couldn’t wait to interview her for the blog! Here she talks flowers, her love of the countryside and shoes!

Please introduce yourself:

I’m Emma and I run Emma Soulsby Flowers. I’m head over heels for flowers of all seasons, and love to create large scale, artistic floral installations with a real wow-factor. I’m based in London but work all over the country, and get ridiculously excited by each and every wedding I work on.

Your business…

1. What made you want to set up your business?

I worked in finance but found the 9-5 to be stressful and uninspiring. Flowers were always a creative outlet and they gradually took over more and more of my brain!

2. What’s the best part of your job?

Getting to know my couples and creating amazing bespoke installations and arrangements that reflect who they are.

3. What’s the worst part of your job?

The take down! Tidying, cleaning and washing smelly buckets… it’s not a glam job!

4. What’s the weirdest request you’ve ever had from a client?

There is no such thing as ‘a weird request’ in my book. The more creative and out-of-the-box the brief, the more excited I feel.

5. What’s been your favourite ever wedding you’ve worked on/at?

I don’t think I can choose one! I’m very lucky to work with such lovely clients in such amazing spaces. My favourite weddings are those where I can really run riot with flowers; have them flowing across mantels, down staircases and in statement installations.

6. You’re surrounded by beauty in your job. What do you find beautiful?

Everything about mother nature. I spent some time in Cape Town years ago, and having the beach, mountains, flowers and amazing sunsets all in one place will stay with me forever. It was almost too much beauty to take in!

7. Best piece of advice to offer to those getting married?

Work with a wedding planner! It takes the stress out of the run up to your wedding and your day, and guarantees that everything will run nice and smoothly for you.

8. Anyone you particularly admire in the industry?

I obsess over Steve Moore’s account on Instagram (@sinclairandmoore). I love everything he produces, the style and his morals. And his family is beautiful.

9. Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

To forget the mistake and remember the lesson. I can give myself a hard time when I mess up, but this piece of advice is so true; I should remember it more!

10. What was your career plan B?

This is actually my plan B! Plan A was a full-blown financial career. I can’t tell you how glad I am that plan B has taken over! Growing up, I was always dead set on travelling and teaching. Watch this space, as I’ll be bringing an element of this into Emma Soulsby Flowers soon!

You…

11. Where do you call home?

A lovely ground floor flat in Bermondsey with my boyfriend and next door’s two cats – they come over for cuddles and to generally annoy me as soon as I open my laptop.

12. Favourite restaurant?

There’s a little French restaurant near where we live that I adore. I’ve only eaten there once but every time I walk past I start daydreaming about living in France; sitting in the sunshine, drinking the delicious wine and eating all that amazing food.

13. Favourite film?

Shirley Valentine – it makes me laugh and cry every time, even though I can practically quote along with every line.

14. Cocktail of choice?

Gin Martini.

15. Your biggest extravagance?

My new van for the business. I love it SO much and it’s made my life so much easier!

16. Do you collect anything?

I’d have to say clothes and shoes out of necessity rather than as a hobby.

17. If you could buy any building, which would it be?

An old farmhouse in the rolling English countryside. I would make it into a home with huge windows looking out onto the gardens where I could grow flowers and vegetables, and have a huge studio for weddings, consultations and workshops.

18. What’s the most romantic thing someone’s ever done for you?

My now boyfriend picked me up from the airport three Christmases ago. We’d been friends for ages but that was our first date. He’d got me a Christmas tree and cooked a huge Christmas dinner. Serious festive romance points right there!

19. Where do you go to let your hair down?

With good friends over wine and food. I don’t mind where it is, it’s much more about who I share it with.

And finally…

20. Tell us something surprising about yourself!

I’m scared of most things in life to the point where I jump out of my skin if anyone is standing slightly too close!

21. Invisibility or flight?

Flight.

22. Any regrets in life?

Selling my clothes and shoes on eBay as I was told it would be ‘cathartic’. Turns out, it’s really not!

23. Tell us your favourite Instagram accounts at the moment!

@sinclairandmoore – an incredible wedding planner with a beautiful family and @victoriatorz – fashionista, blogger and a seriously cool human!

Thank you so much to Emma from Emma Soulsby Flowers for taking part! Judging by her answers, her floristry career was written in the stars! And those installations… Wow!!

Now to find a good gin martini recipe online, you’ve put me in the mood Emma! ❤️