Fleurish & bloom florals and event design

04/11/2024

I've been smiling lately, thinking about the good things to come...

In January, Fleurish & Boom is officially launching our Prix Fixe Menu- a series of four luxury pre-designed wedding packages for couples seeking a seamless, low contact, no hassle experience. Each package includes pre-set floral recipes for bouquets, boutonnières, corsages, bud vases, and compote centerpieces.

The best part? You'll be able to select and order your Prix Fixe Package directly through our website!

For questions regarding F&B's package options, please contact [email protected]

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19/10/2024

We love an elegant old-world garden rose, a whimsically ruffled ranunculus, and a showy peony, but when it comes to autumn, Dahlias rein supreme. Available in wide array of colors, these beautiful blooms are characterized by large heads and exquisite concentric petals that make one marvel at nature's impeccable design. The best part about dahlias? The abundance of locally grown and harvested stems available directly from the farm right here in Virginia. While the dahlia plant is know for its resilience and ability to tolerate harsh growing conditions, the cut flowers require a gentle hand (no excessive bumping, jostling, or man-handling) and an extensive knowledge of cut flower care processes to keep them happy. They're finicky at the best of times, with petals often "shattering" - a term referring to premature wilting and shedding. For that reason, we do not recommend the use of this luxury bloom for DIY brides or in arrangements placed in high traffic areas that may easily be grazed. For those instances, we look to the dahlia's cousin, the chrysanthemum, specifically the disbud varieties whose shape and concentric petals closely mimic that of a ball dahlia.

We were especially grateful to utilize Sylvia and Nicholas dahlias from for Cece & Lem's terracotta wedding at last week. These beauties truly were the stars of our arrangements. We're so grateful to Gena for pouring her heart into growing them.

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18/10/2024

As I celebrate 9 years in business, I'm reflecting on a few things I've learned about this crazy wedding floral design career, and the philosophy it's helped build not just for work, but also for life. Here goes...
🤍1. Don't let fear stop you from trying new things and taking calculated risks. The results far outweigh the regret of not trying at all. If they're bad, learn from it. If they're good, learn from it and push yourself just a bit farther next time.
🤍2. Don't take shortcuts. The work reflects the effort.
🤍3. There's no substitute for a well prepared plan.
🤍 4. When things go awry (and they sometimes will), pivot with grace and thank your lucky stars you followed rule number 3 (because you're ready to whip out the backup plan).
🤍 5. Invest in good shoes. Your body will thank you for this later.
🤍 6. You'll never truly know the life of a wedding vendor until you've walked *20* miles in their shoes [in a single wedding day]. Wedding days, like life, are truly team efforts with every single vendor bringing a unique set of skills to their craft, and often stepping outside of their roles to pitch in when necessary.
🤍 7. People matter. Treat them accordingly. Give credit when credit is due, no matter how seemingly small the contribution.
🤍8. You'll never regret approaching every situation, no matter how difficult, with a heart full of empathy and kindness.
🤍9. If you underestimate your own value, you will be treated accordingly.
🤍10. Be firm, but fair. Clients and fellow wedding vendors will respect you for it.
🤍11. Quit comparing yourself to others. Someone else will always be faster, more naturally talented, or have a better business model than you. That does not negate your value.
🤍12. You get to define your own version of success. It may not look like everyone else's, and that's okay.
🤍13. Enjoy the little things- dancing around to music while processing flowers, the smell of a bloom that catches you unawares, the look on your clients' faces when they first glimpse their bouquet or arbor or reception space. Joy is all around you if you just take a moment to seek it out.

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17/10/2024

This month, F&B is celebrating our ninth birthday. F&B's owner Jess (that's me) always had a flair for the creative, but counts her true passion for flowers beginning with her sister's wedding, for which she had the privilege of lovingly preparing bouquets and boutonnières. In the following year, Jess [with the support of her then fiancé -now husband- and an intimate group of talented friends already in the wedding industry] made the harrowing decision to turn her floral design hobby into a business. Throughout the following years, we've had the privilege of serving almost 100 couples on the most magical days of their lives. And I'm gonna let you in on a little secret- those days are magical for us too. Because here at F&B, we believe in treating every wedding couple, no matter how gargantuan or intimate the event, like our best friends or, better still, like our little sister.

Happy Birthday, F&B! And cheers to the next nine!
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Locally Sourced Dahlias lovingly grown and harvested by

15/10/2024

We love a long table covered in greenery, bud vases, and candles. Under the twinkle lights in front of the most gorgeous view? Yes please!
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21/06/2024

My business, fleurish & bloom, has been nominated for Coastal Virginia Magazine's "Best Florist for Weddings" category. So head on over and vote for us! https://weddings.coastalvirginiamag.com/2024-best-of-cova-weddings-picks/best-florist-for-weddings?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZLSzN21DgdHrV0CCn-FBNrLBz2-FOq2pOsjzkr5_P1olTYU4r-gXgJ-7c_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw

06/06/2024

Let's talk a bit about Fleurish & Bloom's back story:
🎀 I opened f&b in 2015 while I was working full time at a healthcare law firm. I was using all of my vacation days to design and arrange my client's wedding flowers.
🎀 From 2015-2019, I was working out of my garage, averaging 5-7 weddings per year with my sweet husband's assistance, and praying I could one day make f&b my full time gig. But I was terrified that I wouldn't be able to make it work.
🎀 In April of 2019, I had my first child- a beautiful little girl. She changed everything.
🎀I'd been searching for a way to be home with my daughter, and I knew taking f&b full time would allow me a bit more flexibility. With my husband's support, I knew I could budget time between being a SAHM and Boss Babe. But I was still so scared of taking the leap. Then, when my daughter was six months old, our childcare provider told us she was returning to a 9-5 office job. Call it what you want- kismet, fate, divine intervention- it was the push I needed to finally take the leap. I left my full time job and threw myself into being a mom and business owner.
🎀 COVID hit the US in 2020, literally a week after I left my full time job. While I would never wish to make light of such a serious and tragic time, F&B was able to find a silver lining. I hadn't booked any weddings for 2020, because I knew I'd want a break to care for my still new little baby. So, unlike many other wedding businesses, f&b didn't really feel the full impact of wedding cancellations and postponements. And when our fellow floral designers weren't able to accommodate their clients reschedules for 2020 and 2021, they sent those clients to me.
🎀F&B was my full time gig by 2021. We took on 15 weddings that year alone, and we haven't looked back since.
🎀In 2025, f&b will have served over 100 wedding clients, adding a bit of flourish (and plenty of blooms) to some truly spectacular wedding days!
🎀In the coming five years, I hope to prioritize my family and work-life balance by growing my team to include a full time assistant, and a full time floral designer!

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21/05/2024

If there's one piece of advice I could give to any aspiring creative, and especially floral designers, it's this: do it scared.

I am a planner. I like my future laid out neatly in front of me. Given a choice, I'll almost always avoid risk. Those facts alone would almost certainly preclude me from entrepreneurship in a field that's largely seasonal. But I'm not unique in this way- most of the creatives I've encountered don't believe they're good enough in their chosen fields. They battle imposter syndrome, constantly compare themselves to other creatives, and are hyper-critical of their own work. I've been there, friend. And I'm sure I'll be there over and over and over again. But here's the thing: you don't see yourself clearly. You've been given a gift. It may not be the same as the creative a few doors down- but there's something special that only you can offer! Don't let fear stop you from taking that first (or even the next) step. I'm not advising recklessness. Do your research. Make a plan. But don't stand in the way of making your dream a reality. Be scared, and forge your path forward regardless. And know that I'll be here, cheering you on every step of the way.

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15/05/2024

Hello, lovelies! I'm Jess Samsing- owner and lead designer of fleurish and bloom, It's been awhile since I've shared my face on this feed, so today I'm sharing seven things you may not know about me. Here goes:

1. During wedding season, you can usually find me in f&b's studio, knee deep in beautiful blooms, sipping on an iced lavender latte.

2. If I weren't a floral designer, I'd love to be a writer or fiction editor.

3. My favorite flowers are Juliet garden roses and blush ranunculus. But anything romantic and ruffled has my heart!

4. My favorite part of wedding days is seeing a bride's reaction when I deliver her bouquet. Giant smiles and tears of joy are pretty common, but nevertheless heartwarming.

5. When it's not wedding season, I'm a total homebody. Quiet, contemplative, well decorated spaces are my favorite (especially with a good book and cup of tea).

6. My favorite snack is a soft pretzel with cream cheese. Gimme all the complex carbs!

7. Most people don't know that I'm obsessed with love stories- in real life, in film, in books - I'm all in!

Will you let me be a small part of your love story? Contact fleurish & bloom today to inquire about how f&b can make your wedding floral dreams come true!

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19/12/2023

Did you know that 50% of engagements occur between Christmas and Valentine's Day? It's true! What does that mean for florists like f&b? Booking season is upon us. The mad rush of inquiries will be flooding in before we know it.
And with roughly 30% of our 2025 wedding dates already booked, it's going to be a busy year.

Gone are the good ole days of booking your florist six months before your wedding date. These days we're filling up 12-18 months in advance! So if you have your heart set on any wedding vendor (including your dream florist), lock them down as soon as possible, or risk them being unavailable for your big day.

03/12/2023

13/11/2023

For couples who want luxurious wedding blooms on a budget, I'm thrilled to introduce F&B's bespoke DIY Wedding Packages! Unlike other pre-designed DIY packages, f&b's Bespoke DIY Collection offers personalized designs and a personable experience that clients love!

Thank you so much to Paige Ryan Photography for this beautiful image!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1610233925/

05/11/2023

"And in that moment, I swear we were infinite." - Stephen Chbosky

08/10/2023

“I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close.” – Pablo Neruda

21/09/2023

A dreamy vineyard wedding in Virginia mountain country, complete with romantic white blooms and an ethereal large install curated by the bride and our team here at f&b. It was a privilege to be part of Tori & Alex's wedding dream team. We had an amazing time with our new vendor friends!

Planning & Coordination: Rockfish Valley Events by Design
Photography: Jordan H. Childs Photography
Videography: Noah James Productions
Venue: Early Mountain Vineyards
Florals: Fleurish & bloom florals and event design
DJ: I'M The DJ

20/04/2023

This is the story about how I, the creative mind behind fleurish & bloom florals and event design, DIY-ed my own wedding flowers. A cinch for a professional floral designer, right? WRONG! Chalk it up to inexperience (I'd just started f&b a few months before) and a strong aversion to anything resembling failure, but I had a meltdown the night before my wedding.

Though not quite as I'd envisioned, my wedding florals came together just fine thanks to some much-needed support from my little sister and the rest of my amazing bridal party.

Do I regret DIY-ing my own wedding blooms? No. But when I look back on the weeks leading up to my wedding, I wish I'd been more prepared with a thorough understanding of the timeline, resources, and tools I needed to make my floral dreams a reality while balancing the remainder of my wedding-week activities.

Since that day, it has been a personal aspiration to release a collection of budget-friendly DIY wedding packages for couples who desire luxurious blooms while avoiding pre-wedding meltdowns like mine. So here it is, friend - fleurish & bloom's Bespoke DIY Collection. You'll benefit from my 7+ years of experience working as a wedding floral designer. I'll provide you with a timeline, detailed assembly instructions, and exclusive tips & tricks to make your floral dreams a reality.

Unlike other pre-designed DIY packages, f&b's Bespoke DIY Collection offers the personalized designs and personable experience that clients have come to expect from fleurish & bloom. In addition to a variety of digital resources and access to f&b's wealth of floral knowledge, each package in f&b's Bespoke DIY Collection includes personalized floral recipes crafted exclusively for you. No one-size-fits-all designs here!

So if you're someone, like me, who was born with the "how hard could it be?" gene, reach out to f&b about creating a custom DIY package for your dream wedding florals!

17/04/2023

The hustle is real, y'all! This weekend was a dream, albeit a busy one. F&B's first Bespoke DIY Wedding Package made an appearance at Lindsey & Dale's gorgeous wedding, and the blooms were breathtaking!

We braved over an hour of traffic traveling across the water for Kayla & Cam's wedding in Virginia Beach, where we hustled to assemble blooms for this lovely heptagon arbor. It was all worth it to see the tears sparkling in Kayla's eyes after she said "I do."

And lastly, we celebrated our sweet daughter's 4th birthday with a strawberry picnic in the park.

Now I'm looking forward to a much needed rest and a slowed-down week with my family as I prep for the remainder of F&B's spring wedding season.

Happy Monday!