Meet Julie Smith, the creative force behind Plett in Bloom in Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route. With a creative eye for floral design, Julie has been doing weddings and events for 33 years. Julie combines her deep understanding of local floral varieties with a flair for unique, personalized designs to create her stunning creations. Her wedding expertise and experience ensure that each floral arrangement and wedding is crafted to perfection.
How, when, where, and why did you start your career as a wedding vendor?
I have been fortunate to live in Plettenberg Bay for nearly 33 years and have worked with the Hunter Hotels Group for 29 years, being involved in the 5-star hospitality industry since leaving school. My roles included serving as General Manager of Tsala Treetop Lodge and Hunters Country House before transitioning to Group Operations and Group Human Resources. Throughout my career, I have been deeply involved in events, launches, functions, VIP guests, milestone celebrations, and weddings. In 2020, I decided to make a significant change. With extensive experience in weddings and events, I took a leap of faith to pursue a more creative side of hospitality by purchasing a flower shop. It’s hard to believe that four years have already passed since then, and we continue to expand our offerings and services. Plettenberg Bay is a diverse destination that caters not only to blessings and vow renewals but also to intimate elopements and bespoke weddings.
Describe the services you offer to potential clients and what they can expect when working with you. How do you ensure that each wedding reflects the couple’s individuality, needs, and desires?
As a service provider, we operate our shop in Plettenberg Bay, where we handle fresh flower arrangements, bespoke hampers, daily orders, and deliveries. However, our focus on wedding florals and local wedding services has grown with our expansion into wedding coordination and event hire services.
What distinguishes weddings in the Garden Route and Klein Karoo from weddings in other regions?
We are fortunate to have a diverse range of venues in and around Plettenberg Bay and the Garden Route. These locations offer couples and their families wonderful experiences, not only on their wedding day but also for pre- and post-wedding celebrations. Many bridal couples have connections to the area—whether they visited grandparents, celebrated their Matric Rage, have retired parents, or simply shared many happy holidays with friends and family. The Garden Route offers a range of picturesque settings for weddings, including options for beach ceremonies, bush weddings, villa-style events, casual or party vibes, and sophisticated sit-down formal affairs.
How do you stay inspired and continuously innovate in your work within the wedding industry?
It is important to me to share information and offer assistance or guidance with the bride’s ideas, as this can be a very stressful time for many couples. I believe it is crucial to provide a comprehensive view of what couples may need from us, not just following trends for the sake of it. It’s not just about choosing a colour and type of flower but ensuring that each concept aligns with the venue, their aspirations, and their budget.
Given your extensive experience in the wedding industry, how have you observed it evolving over time? Beyond trends and seasonal favourites, what do you consider to be the most significant changes in weddings over the past 10 to 20 years?
The wedding industry has certainly evolved over the past decade. Many couples now live outside South Africa, or either the bride or groom works abroad. This means that vendors must be mindful that these gatherings are especially significant, as many families and friends have not seen each other for months or even years. The bride often must coordinate the schedules of all parties, including vendors. When I receive a message or email from a bride, it is crucial for me to schedule a call or chat to understand their vision, concepts, and the overall feel of their day. This begins a journey to ensure that we can bring their vision to life and establish a solid foundation of trust, honesty, and reliability. At Plett in Bloom, we aim to ensure that the process is enjoyable and that we exceed expectations. I am fortunate to have an amazing team filled with creativity and passion.
What advice would you give to couples who are planning a destination wedding in the Garden Route or Klein Karoo with regards to flowers?
It’s important to clarify what we can realistically achieve for each bride. For example, not all venues allow the use of non-native plants or large hanging installations. Therefore, it’s crucial for us to work closely with the wonderful venues in our area to understand their specific requirements. Wedding flowers, florals, and décor are often influenced by seasonal trends, but each bride has her own vision. Many brides, having attended recent weddings or being overwhelmed by ideas on social media, may feel uncertain about where to start. At Plett in Bloom, we guide our brides in using beautiful regional seasonal flowers, many of which are grown by local suppliers, or sourcing blooms from further afield to match the venue and its surroundings. Our goal is to ensure that all aspects of the wedding party are addressed in terms of ambiance and budget.
With so many florists available today, what should couples consider when choosing their florist? Besides the obvious factors like style and quality, what other often-overlooked aspects should couples keep in mind during their selection process?
It’s crucial to understand the story behind the couple’s wedding, as they may want to incorporate family traditions or personal memories into their special day. When selecting a florist, it’s important to ensure they have a proven track record of what can be achieved. Practical suggestions might be needed regarding what flowers are available at that time of year, which blooms can withstand being out of water for extended periods, and how certain flowers might impact the budget.
Having worked on hundreds of weddings, what are the key “do not do” pieces of advice you would give couples regarding their wedding flowers? Please list as many as you can.
I have been part of many emotional, exciting, exhilarating, and magical weddings, but attention to detail is crucial. Here at Plett in Bloom, it is imperative that we deliver on our promises, not just on the wedding day but throughout the entire process, ensuring that the couple feels comfortable and well-informed. Ultimately, each wedding is a deeply personal affair. From selecting the time of year and venue to accommodating the needs of friends and family, choosing the perfect blooms and, most importantly, creating a stress-free event filled with happy memories—every aspect contributes to making the day truly special.
See Plett in Bloom’s website listing here.