About me

I'm not one to normally talk about myself, I'd much rather hear about you and your wedding plans! However, the first questions many of you ask is "How long have you been a florist?" or "How did you get into floristry?", so I thought I'd tell you a bit about why I am doing what I am, how I got started, and more importantly why I love it so much!

According to my sister, many, many years ago whilst collecting a floral arrangement as a gift for our grandmother I said, with much gusto and confidence that "When I grow up I am going to be a florist". Unfortunately somewhere along the way I got a bit side tracked and ended up working for a great company for many years as amongst other things a Customers Services and an IT Manager.

So, how on earth did I make the transition from working in IT in a nice warm office to working with flowers in mostly freezing conditions and constantly having dirt under my fingernails! Well, mostly I have my husband to blame, who suggested that "I take up a hobby".

Not really knowing what I wanted to do I dabbled with some Book-keeping, A-level Law, and then a course in Indian Head Massage! Scanning the prospectuses for the following year I came accross the Floristry courses at Merrist Wood College. I was really keen to give it a go but one day each week for two years seemed a huge commitment. One year later . . . I was well and truly hooked! I'd obviously unleashed the creative side of me and I was absolutely sure that this is what I wanted to do. I started making bouquets and arrangements for friends and family and as the recomendations came flooding in I had to make a decision to concentrate on the floristry full time.

After continuting with the college's work placements It was clear that the direction for me was to work on weddings and events. In addition to the floristry this would also enable me to be invovled in the planning and organisation, both skills I had used in previous roles. So there it was, Tarnia Williams Florist had begun.

Three years later, and incidentally I did finish the two year course and go on to do the advanced course, I can honestly say that it was the best thing I've ever done! I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been able to make a career out of something I love doing. My typical day now is so varied from cleaning vases to meeting brides to discuss their wedding flowers. And why do I love it so much, well i's mostly down to you, the people I meet, the challenges and of course the immense satisfaction of knowing that I've made someone's day special.

Wedding and Event Florist

Website designed by Tarnia Williams