Graduate Feature
Henrietta Pearce
- Henrietta Floral & Events Stylist
Hettie tell me what you’ve been up to since you graduated from the Wedding Academy.
Well, where do I begin! A lot has happened in the last year since graduating, from leaving my part-time job as an Assistant Manager to hitting the ground running with setting up my own business. I’ve been lucky enough to design and create the florals for some beautiful weddings, I’ve filmed online content, and I’ve organised & designed my own styled shoots. I have also hosted several floristry workshops and been featured in various blogs, as well as a magazine that will be released in June. It has been a rollercoaster of a journey, but one that I’m very proud of!
What’s your favourite part about being a floral designer?
I love how diverse it is. Each wedding or event is completely unique. You never stop learning or coming across different challenges, but that’s why it’s so much fun and why it’s so invigorating! There is never a dull day within the world of weddings and events. One of the best things I have grown to enjoy and have found to be one of the most rewarding and satisfying parts of my career is leading a floristry workshop. I love watching every student when they first enter the room looking so nervous, as I know I did when I touched florals for the first time. Then, as the workshop goes on and I guide my students through it, their faces soften, their guards go down, and by the end we are all having a great time with our creations.
If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting out what would it be?
This was an easy question for me – be authentic! Do not change or be guided to put a front on in the fear that you yourself may not represent your brand, or what you think or feel others may be looking for. I learnt the hard way that the best thing is to always remain true to yourself and show the world and potential clients who YOU really are. As soon as I started doing that, my algorithm started shooting up. Yes, people like your service, yes, people like your style, but what they are really paying for, is you. I started to understand this after sitting down face to face with many clients and found as soon as we were chatting in person, I was able to seal the deal. You are the reason why you are unique and why they are so lucky to have you be a part of their special day. It’s easy to get caught up with comparing yourself to others, but don’t compare yourself to anyone. At the end of the day, they aren’t you!
How did the Wedding Academy help you in your journey?
I am beyond grateful for the Wedding Academy! You gave me the time and freedom to learn at my own pace and gave me the chance to network with other students from different courses, many of whom have become lifelong friends. You gave me my first hands on experience with learning about floral design and styling, and from that point on, there was no turning back!
But most of all, you gave me the confidence and the tools necessary to be able to start my own business. I have always wanted to be my own boss from a young age, but I needed a push in the right direction to start the ball rolling. Since completing my time with the Academy, I have achieved more than I ever thought I could.
Melina Nicholson
- Cinque Terre Weddings
What have you been up to since you graduated from the Wedding Academy?
Since graduating in 2017, I have continued to grow my Destination Wedding Planning business, which started in 2011 here in the Cinque Terre, Italy, into a full service planning and styling agency. We have launched Cinque Terre Honeymoon, been featured in top wedding blogs including: Trendy Bride, B.LOVED and the Perfect Palette and were winners of the Luxury Travel Guide Wedding Awards for Italy.
What’s your favourite part about running your wedding or event business?
Given we work with couples from all over the world, many in interracial relationships and we ourselves are multicultural, we love the different family and cultural traditions that couples bring to their weddings. Often our job is to find ways of blending different traditions for instance the time we celebrated a tea ceremony in an Italian vineyard for a Singapore and Italian couple, or when we found a local focacceria to make Challah bread for an Inter-faith Jewish blessing or when we helped with translation as our Italian DJ coordinated the “kidnapping” of the bride as part of a Russian wedding game. It such a thrill to recreate age-old traditions from around the world with an Italian twist.
If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting out what would it be?
Say “yes” to everything. Without clients you don’t have a business. So the first five years you just want to gather as much experience as you can, even if you don’t make much of a profit. This could mean having another job while you develop your business. Once you have established yourself, with some great testimonials and accreditations, then you can start to pick and choose what type of business you want to be and the clients that best fit your mission statement.
How did the Wedding Academy help you in your journey?
I am a strong advocate for up-skilling so I decided to study the Certificate in Event Design to officially add the expertise of wedding event styling to my bag of tricks. The course gave me not only the theoretical background to event design but also practical tips and tools that I now use every day. Who knew there was such a trick to tying a simple bow? Now even my gift wrapping looks amazing! And the more I learn the more I want to know.
It also improved my appreciation of the difference between wedding planning and wedding designing. I learnt that they are two completely different skill sets, requiring distinct qualifications and should be recognised as separate services. We are now an agency that provides both services: planning and design.
Pamela Sinke Aparicio
- Nikki Weddings and Events
What have you been up to since you graduated from the Wedding Academy
I graduated from the academy in 2014, when i was living in The Netherlands with my husband, so i was busy with the language, also at that time i was doing a certificate in sommelier, so i was busy with that, then we decide to move to my national country, Panama, and inmediately i opened my company with services of wedding planning and decor. I begon advertising on social media and going to wedding fairs, and since then i´m doing all my efforts to try keep me updated and in the market and since 2018 i became mom of girls twins, Lauren and Hannah. I´m very thankful with Kylie and the academy, enrol with the academy was the best decision i ever made. For sure keeping myself up to date on marketing and social media is very good for me as a professional, and the courses from the academy are really good, i recommend it with eyes closed. Thank you very much!
What’s your favourite part about running your wedding or event business?
Sharing my knowledge and writing for my own blog, I really like it and of course help brides on her wedding day.
If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting out what would it be?
Don´t give up on your dreams and don´t let anyone say to you, you can´t!
How did the Wedding Academy help you in your journey?
To give me strength to follow my dreams and my heart.
Susie Earnshaw-Nees
- Wildflower Weddings and Events
How did you get your start in the Wedding industry Susie?
The Wedding Academy was the perfect place for me to start when I decided to start a Wedding and Events business. Through the guidance of my Mentor I was able to find the perfect fit for my needs for my future business. Being an Event Florist I had some idea of the floral side of the business but also wanted to bring in my personal skills. I knew I was good at planning and organising, but I needed some guidance. The Academy helped me by bringing my passion for weddings into reality. Throughout the course I continued to work as a florist and on day coordinator for my own business
What’s your favourite part about being a floral designer?
I am excited about this industry of creating amazing memories through life’s events. I adore paying close attention to my clients and their needs . I love the synchronisation of seeing an event unfold. Love is certainly in the detail and creating the stage for a beautiful occasion is a true privilege.
How did the Wedding Academy help you in your journey?
I remember peaking ahead at the Assignments and thinking; wow, how will I achieve that?
By the end of the course I had my business very clear in my mind and had already booked two jobs without really establishing it.
I would thoroughly recommend those with a passion for Weddings and Events to study at the Academy. A special thanks for me goes to Christine Ligthart who continues to encourage, mentor me and believe in my business.
Graduate Feature
Henrietta Pearce
Henrietta Floral & Events Stylist
What have you been up to since you graduated from the Wedding Academy?
Well, where do I begin! A lot has happened in the last year since graduating, from leaving my part-time job as an Assistant Manager to hitting the ground running with setting up my own business. I’ve been lucky enough to design and create the florals for some beautiful weddings, I’ve filmed online content, and I’ve organised & designed my own styled shoots. I have also hosted several floristry workshops and been featured in various blogs, as well as a magazine that will be released in June. It has been a rollercoaster of a journey, but one that I’m very proud of!
What’s your favourite part about being a floral designer?
I love how diverse it is. Each wedding or event is completely unique. You never stop learning or coming across different challenges, but that’s why it’s so much fun and why it’s so invigorating! There is never a dull day within the world of weddings and events. One of the best things I have grown to enjoy and have found to be one of the most rewarding and satisfying parts of my career is leading a floristry workshop. I love watching every student when they first enter the room looking so nervous, as I know I did when I touched florals for the first time. Then, as the workshop goes on and I guide my students through it, their faces soften, their guards go down, and by the end we are all having a great time with our creations.
If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting out what would it be?
This was an easy question for me – be authentic! Do not change or be guided to put a front on in the fear that you yourself may not represent your brand, or what you think or feel others may be looking for. I learnt the hard way that the best thing is to always remain true to yourself and show the world and potential clients who YOU really are. As soon as I started doing that, my algorithm started shooting up. Yes, people like your service, yes, people like your style, but what they are really paying for, is you. I started to understand this after sitting down face to face with many clients and found as soon as we were chatting in person, I was able to seal the deal. You are the reason why you are unique and why they are so lucky to have you be a part of their special day. It’s easy to get caught up with comparing yourself to others, but don’t compare yourself to anyone. At the end of the day, they aren’t you!
How did the Wedding Academy help you in your journey?
I am beyond grateful for the Wedding Academy! You gave me the time and freedom to learn at my own pace and gave me the chance to network with other students from different courses, many of whom have become lifelong friends. You gave me my first hands on experience with learning about floral design and styling, and from that point on, there was no turning back!
But most of all, you gave me the confidence and the tools necessary to be able to start my own business. I have always wanted to be my own boss from a young age, but I needed a push in the right direction to start the ball rolling. Since completing my time with the Academy, I have achieved more than I ever thought I could.
Melina Nicholson
Cinque Terre Weddings
What have you been up to since you graduated from the Wedding Academy?
Since graduating in 2017, I have continued to grow my Destination Wedding Planning business, which started in 2011 here in the Cinque Terre, Italy, into a full service planning and styling agency. We have launched Cinque Terre Honeymoon, been featured in top wedding blogs including: Trendy Bride, B.LOVED and the Perfect Palette and were winners of the Luxury Travel Guide Wedding Awards for Italy.
What’s your favourite part about running your wedding or event business?
Given we work with couples from all over the world, many in interracial relationships and we ourselves are multicultural, we love the different family and cultural traditions that couples bring to their weddings. Often our job is to find ways of blending different traditions for instance the time we celebrated a tea ceremony in an Italian vineyard for a Singapore and Italian couple, or when we found a local focacceria to make Challah bread for an Inter-faith Jewish blessing or when we helped with translation as our Italian DJ coordinated the “kidnapping” of the bride as part of a Russian wedding game. It such a thrill to recreate age-old traditions from around the world with an Italian twist.
If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting out what would it be?
Say “yes” to everything. Without clients you don’t have a business. So the first five years you just want to gather as much experience as you can, even if you don’t make much of a profit. This could mean having another job while you develop your business. Once you have established yourself, with some great testimonials and accreditations, then you can start to pick and choose what type of business you want to be and the clients that best fit your mission statement.
How did the Wedding Academy help you in your journey?
I am a strong advocate for up-skilling so I decided to study the Certificate in Event Design to officially add the expertise of wedding event styling to my bag of tricks. The course gave me not only the theoretical background to event design but also practical tips and tools that I now use every day. Who knew there was such a trick to tying a simple bow? Now even my gift wrapping looks amazing! And the more I learn the more I want to know.
It also improved my appreciation of the difference between wedding planning and wedding designing. I learnt that they are two completely different skill sets, requiring distinct qualifications and should be recognised as separate services. We are now an agency that provides both services: planning and design.
Panama
Nikki Weddings and Events
What have you been up to since you graduated from the Wedding Academy
I graduated from the academy in 2014, when I was living in The Netherlands with my husband, so I was busy with the language, also at that time I was doing a certificate in sommelier, so I was busy with that, then we decide to move to my national country, Panama, and inmediately I opened my company with services of wedding planning and decor. I began advertising on social media and going to wedding fairs, and since then I´m doing all my efforts to try keep me updated and in the market and since 2018 I became mom of girls twins, Lauren and Hannah.
I´m very thankful with Kylie and the academy, enrol with the academy was the best decision I ever made. For sure keeping myself up to date on marketing and social media is very good for me as a professional, and the courses from the academy are really good, I recommend it with eyes closed. Thank you very much!
What’s your favourite part about running your wedding or event business?
Sharing my knowledge and writing for my own blog, I really like it and of course help brides on her wedding day.
If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting out what would it be?
Don´t give up on your dreams and don´t let anyone say to you, you can´t!
How did the Wedding Academy help you in your journey?
To give me strength to follow my dreams and my heart.
Australia
Wildflower Weddings and Events
How did you get your start in the Wedding industry Susie?
The Wedding Academy was the perfect place for me to start when I decided to start a Wedding and Events business. Through the guidance of my Mentor I was able to find the perfect fit for my needs for my future business. Being an Event Florist I had some idea of the floral side of the business but also wanted to bring in my personal skills. I knew I was good at planning and organising, but I needed some guidance. The Academy helped me by bringing my passion for weddings into reality. Throughout the course I continued to work as a florist and on day coordinator for my own business
What’s your favourite part about being a floral designer?
I am excited about this industry of creating amazing memories through life’s events. I adore paying close attention to my clients and their needs . I love the synchronisation of seeing an event unfold. Love is certainly in the detail and creating the stage for a beautiful occasion is a true privilege.
How did the Wedding Academy help you in your journey?
I remember peaking ahead at the Assignments and thinking; wow, how will I achieve that?
By the end of the course I had my business very clear in my mind and had already booked two jobs without really establishing it.
I would thoroughly recommend those with a passion for Weddings and Events to study at the Academy. A special thanks for me goes to Christine Ligthart who continues to encourage, mentor me and believe in my business.
