No one knows better than any kind of wedding vendor about what really goes into planning a wedding, but what happens when a wedding florist becomes the bride? Camille Chapman from Red Poppy Flower Co. did exactly that—and her wedding is this April! Here’s her wedding planning advice for any bride-to-be!
A little over seven years ago, Camille needed a way to support her family financially while still prioritizing staying home with her kids, and Red Poppy Flower Co. was born!
“What I now call ‘one miracle after another’ led me to become intrigued with floral design. I did my research, earned certifications, and began moving forward. I remember being in floral school and constantly asking my instructor to critique my work—I wasn’t there to build a hobby. This had to work!”
And Camille was not only confident in herself but sure that there were miracles that led her to where she is now.
“Even now, I often find myself in tears as I drive home after an event, overwhelmed with gratitude that people trust me with their flowers—especially knowing that just seven years ago, I didn’t know the first thing about arranging them.”
The Wedding Florist Becomes a Bride
And now after almost a decade as a wedding florist, Camille has found her style and her soon-to-be husband! She found that being a wedding vendor made it even more exciting to be on the “bride side” of things.
“Working in the wedding industry has helped immensely as we’ve started planning our own wedding. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside some truly incredible vendors—from DJs and caterers to stationers and photographers—so I already had a strong sense of who I wanted to reach out to.”
Camille wanted to hire everyone she loves working with as a florist, but there are just too many amazing wedding vendors in Utah (and we can definitely agree with her on this). But even if she couldn’t hire every single wedding vendor bestie for her own wedding, she still feels loved and supported by the Utah wedding community!
“I’ve been so touched by the excitement and support they’ve shown me. So many have been generous with their advice, encouragement, and willingness to help, which has made the planning process feel even more meaningful.”
Using Her Own Advice to Plan a Wedding
And having worked weddings as a florist, Camille appreciates all the work that goes into planning a wedding.
“Having a behind-the-scenes perspective has also given me a deeper appreciation for what it takes to bring a wedding together. It’s helped me prioritize what matters most, stay flexible when needed, and really enjoy the process—something I always hope for my own clients as well.”
Camille’s floral style is very timeless and traditional, which we will get to see in her own wedding florals… When you’re the best florist you know, you just have to do your wedding florals!
“I have to admit—the one “DIY” element I’m committing to is the flowers. I’ve always dreamed of doing my own wedding florals, so it felt like a no-brainer.”
But she’s not doing it all on her own, and we don’t blame her. “That said, I’m not doing it entirely alone. I’ve hired freelancers to help with the build and setup, which has already made such a difference. My fiancé made me promise it wouldn’t become a stressful experience… and whether or not I fully keep that promise is still to be determined—but so far, so good!”
You’ll have to follow up with her after the wedding day to see how it went!
Love in Bloom
Speaking of her fiancé, Camille met him online, and their love literally bloomed into the perfect love story.
“Anyone who knows me knows I move about as fast as a snail when it comes to dating. I was very intentional, specific, and, honestly, a bit of a skeptic. But this man met me with incredible patience as I worked through all of that—and he brought so many beautiful qualities into my life that I didn’t even realize I was missing.”
“I had been single for about seven years and thought I had everything handled. But loving him has gently invited me to peel back layers of myself and become more open and vulnerable, while still holding onto my independence.”
Grab the tissues, please. Or a flower for us to pick the petals off of; he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me. We’re in love with their love.
Timeless Floral Installations and Backdrops
Camille loves working with brides who have a clear vision of what they are looking for when it comes to wedding florals. “I love sitting down together, talking through her ideas, and offering guidance on what will work best from both a practical and logistical standpoint. Then, we get to create something we both truly love; it’s such a fun process!”
“My style tends to be timeless and traditional, so naturally I attract clients who are drawn to that same aesthetic, and I’m drawn to them as well. I love working with color, but I also have a secret love for classic white palettes—they’re always so striking and never go out of style.”
We’re literally waiting on the edge of our seats to see which way Camille goes with her wedding florals, colorful April blooms, or perfect bridal white palettes?
And that’s not even what we’re most excited to see. Camille loves creating big, bold, beautiful floral installations, so it’s only natural to assume hers will be magical.
“What I enjoy most when designing for weddings is larger installations: backdrops, altar pieces, and statement designs that really transform a space. There’s something so special about creating those focal moments.”
Balancing Bridal Beauty with Business
But when it’s time to be the bride, it comes with a whole new level of balance.
“One thing I’ve always believed—and now truly feel—is how important it is to trust your vendors. They know what they’re doing, and they do it really well. Being on the bride’s side has deepened my appreciation for just how much trust goes into the process. Great vendors are genuinely invested in bringing a vision to life, and that takes both clear communication and a willingness to let them lead in their area of expertise.”
And being a bride has helped the way Camille does wedding florals for all of her brides, not just for herself this month.
“This experience has reinforced how I approach my own clients. It’s reminded me to not only create something beautiful, but also to provide reassurance, clarity, and a sense of calm throughout the process. I understand even more now what it feels like to hand over a vision and hope it’s executed perfectly—and that’s something I take very seriously in my work.”
Every bride knows it can be hard to hand over the reins to another person when it comes to your dream wedding day. And a great vendor will appreciate that!
“What sets me apart is my ability to communicate and collaborate closely with my brides. I love brainstorming together, talking through ideas, and finding creative solutions that bring their vision to life in a way that’s both beautiful and practical. It’s such a fun and meaningful process.”
“And even when things don’t go exactly as planned—because let’s be honest, sometimes they don’t—I pride myself on being calm, clear, and honest. I walk my clients through options, offer reassurance, and help them feel confident every step of the way.”
Wedding Planning Advice from a Wedding Florist Turned Bride
Now that she’s an experienced wedding florist and the most beautiful bride, Camille has some wedding planning advice for future brides on how to stay balanced and appreciate your era of being a bride!
“I definitely have a unique perspective as both a vendor and a bride, but here are my top three tips for trying to keep life balanced while planning a wedding:
One: Start Early
“I can’t emphasize this enough. Getting on your vendors’ calendars early alleviates an incredible amount of stress. Even if every detail isn’t finalized, secure your date and pay the deposit—you can always work through the specifics later. That early foundation makes everything feel more manageable.”
Two: Simplify
“Wedding planning is a big deal, but I think society—and yes, even Pinterest (I still love you!)—can push us toward making things more elaborate than they need to be. At the end of the day, you love your fiancé, you’re saying ‘I do,’ and everything else is secondary. Coming back to that has helped me keep perspective.”
Three: Let people help you.
“Most of us have people in our lives who genuinely want to help, but it’s so easy to say, ‘I think I’m good, but thank you.’ I know I’ve done that. My advice is to say yes. Whether it’s running an errand, returning something, picking up stamps, or helping with small tasks—let them be part of it. People want to show up for you, so let them.”
The Most Exciting Part of Getting Married
Since it’s now wedding month for Camille, the thing she’s looking forward to the most is marrying the love of her life and celebrating with their loved ones!
“As I look ahead to our wedding—beyond the obvious of marrying a man I deeply love and support—I’m most excited to gather the people who mean the most to us in one place for a fun celebration.
“We’re so excited to share the beginning of our story with our family and friends. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about—creating a new family, bringing together the people who have shaped our lives, and feeling that happiness of being surrounded by love while celebrating something so beautiful.”
Focus On the Love
Which leads to her final, most important advice of all: focus on the love!
“My number one piece of advice is to continually remind yourself why you’re planning a wedding in the first place; we don’t plan weddings just to have incredible flowers (even though they’re beautiful). We don’t plan them just for amazing food (though that’s definitely a highlight). And we
don’t even plan them just to bust new moves on the dance floor (careful now).”
“We plan weddings because of love and family. Do whatever you need to do to keep that at the center, so you can look forward to your wedding day with genuine excitement—not just for it to be over, but for it to finally arrive.”
If you’re planning your own wedding and you’re looking for a florist who makes incredible, timeless installations and who knows the ins and outs of planning a wedding from both the vendor side and the bride side, Red Poppy Flower Co. is your first stop.
Schedule a call with Camille on her website to chat about your wedding, her wedding, or a little bit of both (and tell us all the deets, too!), send her an email, or check out her Instagram.
Just don’t forget to ask her all about her big day too when you’re telling her about your dream wedding florals!
