Jodi Duncan, AIFD, is getting in on the fun of the upcoming royal wedding — and showing off her knowledge of design trends — by hosting a watch party in her shop.
On May 19th, all eyes will be on Windsor Castle for Prince Harry’s royal wedding to Meghan Markle, and one floral design studio is capitalizing on the hoopla by hosting an authentic, interactive celebration.
Jodi Duncan, AIFD, of Jodi Duncan Designs in Norris City, Illinois will open her studio doors bright and early at 5:30 a.m. for a Royal Wedding Viewing Party, complete with traditional British refreshments, a fascinator bar, and life-size cardboard cutouts of the royal couple.
When Harry’s older brother, Prince William, wed Kate Middleton in 2011, Duncan was on the scene as a news correspondent for Fusion Flowers (a European magazine). She plans to share anecdotes, as well as insight on this year’s nuptials, during the viewing party.
“I love this event because it is a high profile wedding, and I’m watching to see how they interpret the bouquets and what flowers they will use,” Duncan said. “It will color what happens in floral design for years to come. I want to be aware of what’s going to be forecast.”
Duncan recalled Middleton’s bouquet, a collection of lily of the valley, which sparked a resurgence of the product in the floral world. She expects that whatever designer Phillippa Craddock and Markle choose for the wedding flowers will have the same impact on future flower trends.
While the viewers take in all of the beauty from Windsor Castle through a livestream displayed on Duncan’s 70-inch television, participants will be invited to make quintessential British fascinator pieces and dine on traditional English pims and scones. Duncan will also call in some of her high profile floral designer friends during the event to give attendees in-depth commentary on the wedding design.
The watch party gives Duncan the opportunity to show guests that her team is knowledgeable about design trends. The hope is that attendees will enjoy the party and, when they need a florist down the road, will choose her because they recognize she is the “go-to” professional when it comes to event décor and floral design.
“It lets your customers know that you’re relevant and aware globally, and it sets you up as the expert,” Duncan said. “Even if they aren’t in the market for the service at that moment, they will be at some point, and you will be at the top of their mind.”
Want more event ideas? Read how one florist turned his Michigan shop into a popular destination for bachelorette parties and an Arizona florist offered a spa experience to pamper tired moms.
