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By Jill Brooke By Jill Brooke Business 46 June | 2022 he sun! e sand! e glamour! e creative opportunities! e Instagram moments! Creating the fl oral décor for a destination wedding or event is many a fl orist's dream—whether it's designing a party on a beautiful Caribbean beach overlooking pristine water or in a glamorous gilded hotel in an exotic locale. However, the reality can be quite nightmarish unless expectations and realistic skill levels are managed. Let's look at some of the experiences of Bill Schaff er, AIFD, CFD, AAF, PFCI, and his wife Kristine Kratt, AIFD, CFD, PFCI, owners of Schaff er Designs in Philadelphia, Pa. is dynamic duo are among the most award-winning fl oral artists in the world as well as the maestros of mega extravaganzas around the world. ere was the time a truckload of 13,000 Delphinium, garden roses, Ranunculus and spray roses froze because the van's temperature switch was accidentally set at 30 degrees. Or, another time, 40,000 orchids and peonies wouldn't be released in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, delaying the job by 24 hours as Schaff er and Kratt scrambled to fi nd local offi cials to release the shipment. e lost day required the Schaff er Designs team to pack into two DESTINATION WEDDINGS AND EVENTS TIPS FOR LANDING EXCITING DESIGN JOBSBOTH BIG AND SMALLOUTSIDE OF YOUR MARKET AREA. days what they had planned to accomplish in three days. " is is where having a loyal team of experienced experts you know really well counts," says Schaff er. "Yes, it pays well. But it's long hours and working in unfamiliar places. I can have only professionals on my team who are speed demons and creatives because these types of weddings and events require a lot of work." Furthermore, despite hours of meticulous planning and preparation, the unexpected can happen, and you need people who can easily pivot. In fact, Schaff er now has an "Act of Nature" (Force Majeure) clause in his contracts. "Wherever I am, the client must cover expenses when unforeseen things happen, including the cost of new fl owers," Schaff er says. " ankfully, I have Jet Fresh Flower Distributors, in Miami, to call because they ship direct, anywhere in the world, overnight. You always need backup plans with destination events because you are dealing with perishable materials, transportation issues and customs." So how do fl orists get this type of work—if you're still interested? Here are the steps, along with realistic expectations. T By Jill Brooke Larry Walshe Studios Photo by Holly Clark Photography

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