Frequently Asked Questions

Here is the answers to the questions I receive most frequently. Please email hello@thejoyfarmer.com if you haven't found your answer.

Is DIY my wedding or event florals the right fit for me?

DIY flowers are a wonderful option if you love being hands-on, enjoy a creative project, and want to add a personal touch to your celebration.

Many couples tell me that making their flowers with family and friends becomes one of their favourite memories in the lead-up to the wedding. It's a chance to slow down, spend time together, and create something that reflects both the season and the place you've chosen to celebrate.

That said, DIY floristry does require time, organisation, and a suitable workspace. Before deciding, think about your wedding timeline, when your family and friends are arriving, and whether you want to spend the days before your event creating flowers or simply enjoying the lead-up.

If you'd like to strike a balance, I also offer a hybrid option. I can create some of the elements for you, leaving you to enjoy designing the statement pieces yourself.

Is The Joy Farmer the right fit?

My DIY flower buckets and kits are designed for couples who value seasonal, garden-inspired flowers and are happy to embrace the beauty of working with what's naturally blooming.

They are not intended to replicate a full-service florist. This means I don't offer:

Extensive floral consultations or design development
Guaranteed supply of specific flower varieties or colours
Fully bespoke floral designs
On-site installation, styling, or pack-down

If you're looking for a highly personalised floral service with guaranteed flower selection and full event styling, a traditional floral studio will likely be the better fit.

Where are your flowers grown?

My flowers are grown right here in Central Otago, New Zealand.

The main cutting garden is located in Tarras, around 30 minutes from Wānaka, on a high country station that has been in my family for over a century. I also grow additional flowers in my home garden in central Wānaka to supplement the harvest.

Growing in this landscape means the flowers are shaped by the seasons, the climate, and the unique conditions of this region, creating blooms that are truly reflective of this beautiful place.

What is your favourite flower?

Every season I fall in love with a different flower, one of the joys of growing and designing with my own blooms. I particularly love scented blooms and a beautiful garden rose.

What variety of flowers do you grow?

I grow a curated mix of flowers that I personally love and grow well in my region. Rather than focusing on larger crops of a few varieties, I prefer to grow smaller quantities of many different stems so the garden feels diverse, seasonal, and ever-changing.

I lean more heavily on perennials including dahlias which I mix with cottage classic annuals like cosmos, nigella, ammi, cornflowers, corncockle, zinnas, marigolds & scabiosas.

Together, they create a romantic and textural mix that reflects the changing rhythm of the seasons and the informal, garden-gathered style I’m known for.

Can I visit your flower farm?

Unfortunately, the farm is not open to the public.

My cutting garden is located within my family’s homestead, and out of respect for their privacy, I don’t host visitors on site.

I really appreciate the interest and love for what I grow, and I’m grateful you want to experience the flowers in person. While visits aren’t possible, I do share plenty of behind the scenes updates and seasonal glimpses through my work and online updates so you can still follow along with what’s happening in the field.

Can I choose my flowers?

Not in the same way you would with a traditional florist.

My DIY flower buckets are filled with whatever is flourishing in the garden at the time of your event. Rather than ordering flowers to a set recipe, I work with the best of the season to curate an abundant collection of beautiful garden blooms.

Because everything is grown outdoors, I never know exactly what will be ready until picking time. Weather, temperature, storms, and the occasional crop failure all influence what flowers are available from year to year. If I'm a little vague about what will be flowering for your date, it's simply because nature doesn't work to a set schedule every year.

To keep this offering accessible and affordable, I don't provide the extensive consultation or bespoke flower sourcing that comes with a full service florist. Instead, you complete a booking form which I use to form my floral brief which I use to thoughtfully curate your blooms from what is looking best.

That said, I do want your flowers to feel right for your celebration. You're welcome to let me know:

What you're creating (bridal bouquets, table arrangements, bud vases, etc)
Your preferred colour palette
Any flowers or colours you'd rather avoid
Any special requests

I'll always take these details into consideration while picking, however I can't guarantee specific varieties or colours.

If you've fallen in love with a particular flower or have your heart set on an exact colour palette, I'd recommend working with a floral designer who can source blooms specifically for your wedding.

If, however, you're excited by the idea of celebrating the season and embracing what the garden has to offer, you'll likely be rewarded with a unique mix of blooms that will set your event apart.

How many flowers do I receive in a bundle?

You will receive at least 50 stems in a standard mixed bundle. Every stem is worth a different value so the mixes can vary. Dahlia bundles are 40 stems. If I have agreed to supply you a specific variety, the quantities or pricing maybe different.

How many flowers do I need to order?

This is one of the most common questions I receive, and unfortunately there's no one size fits all answer. The number of stems you'll need depends on the style you're hoping to create, how full you like your arrangements, and the number and type of floral pieces you're making.

A simple way to estimate is to recreate or study an arrangement similar to what you have in mind. Count the visible stems, then roughly double that number to account for the stems hidden at the back. Multiply that by the number of arrangements you plan to make and you'll have a good starting point.

As a general guide:

Bridal bouquet: Allow approximately one flower bundle, including flowers for the matching buttonhole.
Bridesmaids' bouquets: You can usually create 2 smaller bouquets from one bundle, depending on the style and size.
Table arrangements: Estimate the number of stems you want in each vase, then multiply by the number of vases you'll be filling.
Ceremony arrangements: Larger installations often require at least one bundle per arrangement, and sometimes more depending on the scale and fullness you're aiming for.

Don't forget foliage! It adds movement, texture and volume, helping your flowers go much further while creating a natural, garden inspired look.

Can you flower my wedding?

I don't offer full service wedding floristry.

Instead, I specialise in helping couples create their own flowers using beautiful, seasonal blooms grown here on the farm. My DIY flower buckets and floral kits are designed for those who want a hands on, garden inspired approach to their wedding flowers.

If the thought of DIYing every arrangement feels a little overwhelming, I also offer a hybrid option. I can prepare selected floral elements for you, allowing you to focus on creating the pieces you'd most enjoy making yourself. It's a lovely way to lighten the workload while still being part of the creative process.

If you're looking for a full service experience, I'd be happy to point you towards some wonderful local florists I work with.

Do you offer elopement flowers?

Yes! Elopements are one of the few occasions where I offer ready-made floral designs.

If you love relaxed, garden inspired flowers and are happy to embrace the beauty of what's naturally in season, I'd be delighted to create your elopement flowers.

My designs are made using the very best blooms flourishing in the field during the week of your celebration, so each bouquet is unique and reflects the season. Rather than being a bespoke floral service, this is a designer's choice offering, allowing me to create using the loveliest flowers available.

If this sounds like the right fit for you, you'll find all the details in the Pre-made Blooms section of my website.

Do you offer different design styles?

My floral style is distinctly my own.

It's often described as garden inspired, with clients using words like whimsical, loosely gathered, romantic, and unstructured aesthetic. I take my cues from the garden. My style is inspired by what I have to work with and by how I see the flowers in the garden. It is full of movement and characterful blooms.

If you're looking for a very specific aesthetic, I'd recommend working with a floral designer who specialises in that style.

How do you grow, are your flowers spray free?

Yes, my flowers are grown without sprays. Our high country station operates with a regenerative ethos and this flows into the garden too.

I work with the rhythms of nature rather than relying on chemicals. The focus is always on healthy soil, strong plants, and letting nature lead the way. Because of this, the flowers feel a little more wild, a little less uniform and that’s exactly how I like them.

If you’re using flowers on or near food, such as a cake topper, please take care to check the variety first. Some flowers are edible, but many are not, and can be toxic even though they look perfectly innocent in the garden.

If you’re unsure, I always recommend to leave them off your food. When using flowers for decoration I like to seal my stems with tape first. Check with your cake maker for guidance on safe varieties.

How do my flowers come & how do I transport them?

Your flowers are supplied as loose, conditioned stems in buckets of fresh water, ready for you to create your arrangements. The buckets are yours to take home with your flowers.

I hate unnecessary waste, so if you don't have a use for the buckets afterwards, you're very welcome to return them. I'll happily clean and reuse them on the farm.

For transport, I recommend bringing a large plastic storage tub, fish bin, washing basket, crate, or sturdy box to secure your flower buckets in the car. Buckets filled with water can tip over surprisingly easily, so it's worth taking a few minutes to pack them securely. Be sure to allow plenty of space in your vehicle.

If you're collecting hired vases or pre-made floral arrangements, these will be packed into crates, tubs, or plastic bins ready for transport. These packing containers are part of the hire and will need to be returned along with your hired items. Any missing containers may incur a replacement charge.

When should I collect & create my flowers?

I recommend collecting your flowers two days before your event. I usually bring flower orders back to Wānaka from the farm late afternoon, making this the ideal time for collection.

This means they are on hand ready to start designing first thing the day before your wedding.

I find it is best to create your arrangements in the morning or evening, when the temperatures are cooler and the flowers are at their most hydrated.

I don't recommend making your flowers on the morning of your wedding. It may seem manageable now, but wedding mornings have a habit of filling up quickly.

Giving yourself a full day beforehand means you can enjoy the creative process without adding unnecessary pressure to your wedding day.

A simple timeline looks like this:

Two days before: Collect your flowers in the afternoon.
One day before: Create your bouquets and arrangements.
Wedding day: Have your support crew install at the venue, so all you have to do is relax and enjoy the flowers you've created.

What should I do with my flowers when I get home?

Flower bundles come in chilled water. Store them in a spot that is as cool and shaded as possible, ideally a garage, shaded outdoor area, or under an eve of a house or tree. The key is to avoid direct sun and heat, and to think about where the light will move through the space during the day.

The morning of your event, top up your vases with fresh, cool water to keep everything well hydrated. A light misting can also help refresh blooms, especially if the air is warm.

If any stems look a little tired, you can often revive them by recutting the stem and giving it a brief dip in boiling water before returning it to cold water. This helps release any air bubbles that may be blocking water uptake. There are also plenty of helpful demonstrations online if you’d like to see the technique in action.

You will be surprised how much perkier your flowers will look after a cool night in water.

What should I do with my flowers after my event?

One of the beautiful things about fresh, seasonal flowers is that their story doesn’t have to end after your event.

If you’re able to, I encourage you to think about ways your flowers can be enjoyed a little longer before they naturally fade.

Here are a few ideas:

Send them home with guests. Invite friends and family to take a bunch home at the end of the night. It's a lovely way to extend the joy beyond your event.
Gift them forward. Show your appreciation by gifting them to your service providers.
Share with the community. Local places like preschools, Aspiring hospice, the retirement homes are always appreciative of flowers, local initiatives such as Food for Love may be able to redistribute them or community spaces like the Community Hub often love receiving leftover flowers to brighten shared areas.
Take them home. Split them into smaller vases, and enjoy them in different rooms while they last.

If you're travelling or flying out after your wedding, gifting your flowers locally or sending them home with guests is a wonderful way to ensure they’re appreciated rather than left behind.

And of course, if none of these options are possible, they are spray free and safe to compost.

However they’re used, it’s a nice way to let your flowers continue bringing joy beyond your celebration.

When should I book in my event flowers?

Bookings for each growing season open in June for weddings and events taking place between September and March. Outside of these months, I may still be able to help depending on your floral brief and what is available in the garden, so please get in touch to discuss your plans.

If your event is further away, you're still very welcome to get in touch. I'm happy to add you to my waiting list even if bookings haven't opened yet.

To ensure every celebration receives the care and attention it deserves, I generally take on just one wedding per week. This allows me to focus on harvesting the very best flowers from the garden and giving each event the time it needs.

February and March are my busiest months, so I recommend booking as early as possible if your event falls during this period.

Bookings are confirmed on a first come, first served basis and are only secured once your deposit has been received. Unfortunately, I'm unable to hold dates without a deposit.