Behind-the-Scenes of a Wedding Week at Jemma Khan Studio

Monday: Preparation Begins

The journey to creating the perfect wedding florals starts on Monday. We kick off the week by ensuring all our buckets are cleaned and sterilized, vessels are prepped, and glassware is sparkling. Clean containers are essential for keeping flowers as fresh as possible since dirty water can breed bacteria that quickly kills delicate blooms.

Wednesday: Flower Arrival and Conditioning

Wednesday is a big day at the studio as most of the flowers arrive. Some, like Peonies and Lilies, might come earlier if they need more time to open. Depending on the variety and weather conditions, I might have to pick up additional flowers on Thursday.

Once the flowers arrive, we condition every single stem of flower and foliage—often over 1500 stems. This time-consuming and messy process is something I love, often accompanied by an audiobook or film in the background. Dutch flowers, in particular, need a good 24 hours to drink and hydrate after their journey, so we carefully condition them and leave them to drink in the cool.

While the flowers hydrate, I organize everything we will need on-site, from arch structures to the toolbox—never forgetting the sweeping brush! I also prepare all the ribbons and boxes ready for delivery.

Thursday: Organizing and Arranging

Thursday starts early as I organize and section the flowers. Each arrangement has an approximate stem count, so I separate the flowers into different sections accordingly. I then get everything ready for on-site work, ensuring we have all necessary materials and tools.

Next, we begin the actual arrangements, starting with those that go directly into water, such as bud vases and bowl arrangements. As long as these are in fresh water and kept cool, they will be perfect for a Saturday wedding.

Friday: Final Preparations

I like to arrive at the studio super early on Friday before my wonderful freelancers arrive. This quiet time allows me to focus on creating the bridal bouquet. Selecting and arranging the flowers can take about an hour and a half, and it might require several attempts to get it just right. Working with fresh, wild products means each flower behaves differently.

Once the bridal bouquet is perfect, I move on to the bridesmaids' bouquets. With these key pieces done, I can relax a little. When my freelancers arrive, we dive into completing the rest of the arrangements. After a big tidy-up, we sort out the flowers for the next day's on-site installation and tackle the mega Jenga game of packing the van. This task can take several hours and requires careful reworking to ensure everything fits—yet we always manage to get it done!

Saturday: The Big Day

Wedding day kicks off with the team arriving on-site around 8am. We unload the well-packed van and start setting up, creating your dream florals. This usually involves setting up an arch or installation, dressing the ceremony area, and arranging tables.

I personally deliver your bridal flowers, always with a flutter of nerves in my tummy. After this special delivery, I return to the team to finish the setup, ensuring everything is perfect. We then wait in the wings, having a quick lunch, and prepare for any changeovers needed after the ceremony.

Sunday: Clean-Up and Reflection

The day after the wedding, we head back to the site to clear everything away. We also distribute any leftover flowers as needed, ensuring nothing goes to waste.

Then, we start the process all over again for the next event, fueled by the joy of creating beautiful, memorable experiences for our clients.

Thank you for joining me behind the scenes at Jemma Khan Studio. Our week is filled with meticulous planning, hard work, and a deep passion for making your wedding day as beautiful and special as possible.

Photograhy: Aisla Reeve

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