UK-born and based with thirty years of floral design knowledge gained through various foreign experiences and the world's most prestigious events... do you know who the florist of this week could be? Ahhhh yes, it is the marvelous Paula Rooney! She is known worldwide for being the ultimate figure in stylish grandeur inspired and directed by nature. Keep reading to be a part of her floral life and adventures as she tells the world what it's been like!
Paula Rooney - The Dior of Flowers
First things first and what you have to know about Paula is that a Paula Rooney creation is flawlessly planned, swiftly created, and stunningly personalized. Paula Rooney Floral Designs combines exceptional white glove service with the highest quality flower designs and creations. In case you didn't yet know, she is a world-renowned artist who creates beautiful, unique flower art for the world's most exclusive events, and boy does she do it amazingly! However, her floral career did not emerge completely thirty years ago and in a small interview, she shares some of the most important highlights of her life, career, and how she got to where she is today.
Growing up in Liverpool, Paula didn’t exactly have her eyes set on floral design. At 18, she found herself at a crossroads, unsure of what direction her life would take. A creative soul by nature, it was a suggestion to explore floristry that opened the door to what would become a long-lasting love affair with flowers. She enrolled in a floral course, spent three years studying, and then returned to school for another two years. In her own words,
"I was always learning, always looking to perfect my work."
From working in floral retail shops in the ‘90s to landing a job on the prestigious QE2 cruise ship, Paula’s early years in the floral design world were far from ordinary. It was at this point where she learned about luxury, recalling her time at sea. The experience of traveling the world and being exposed to luxury design forever changed her perspective on what flowers could be. When she returned home, Paula opened two retail flower shops in Liverpool, gaining crucial business experience before transitioning to the world of events.
She shares:
"After that, I entered the event world which I absolutely loved. When I moved down South, I went into mail order work but then finally decided to put all of my focus on weddings and special events which I love. This is where my passion lies. When we finally started this business which is 13 years old this year we also began working in prestige hotels and golf clubs - such as the Four Seasons and other five-star plus hotels, allowing me to put into practice all that I learned about luxury and five-star services and experiences along the way."
Pursuing a Career in the Floral Design and Events World
Paula’s passion for floristry lies in events, where the stakes are high, and the rewards are even higher.
“Retail was great, and mail order was fine, but events? They’re my sweet spot."
She thrives on the adrenaline of bringing someone’s dream wedding to life—seeing months of careful planning materialize into floral art. Her favorite part? The moment the client sees the designs for the first time—that’s priceless.
To know more about her career, Paula was also asked about the moment that defined her career and skyrocketed her work to which she shared:
"There are a few really, I think when we did our first million-pound wedding - they spent six figures with me and that was a really special moment. But I think the moments I love now are when people talk about me and say I'm 'flower royalty' and it makes me smile because I'm just me from Liverpool so they are the moments where I pinch myself and think wow. It is also lovely to hear people say that I'm a nice person in the industry - a lot of people say they can't say a bad word about me, and I like that. Being royalty in the flower world makes me feel like all the hard work and stress has been worth it!"
Inspiration That Comes Day to Day No Matter What
Every creative out there has a source of inspiration (or many actually!), and in this florist special, floral designer Paula Rooney joyfully quotes what inspires her on her day-to-day:
"Sometimes it is to look at what everyone else is doing and try and do something different. So if you go into a venue and everyone does the same kind of arch there, try and think of a way to do it differently and make it stand out. I think looking at interiors and colors and your surroundings as well. I love to look at the scenery, and the interiors, having a color palette and adding 10% of a different color makes a wedding stand out. I also look to the catwalks, fashion, and things like that, so yes I would say - fashion, interiors, and gardens are the sources of most of my inspiration."
Along with the inspiration for every design comes the 'favorite part' about designing with flowers for events. What is it that pulls her love so much towards flowers and events?
"For months and months, it is all on a design deck, all just ideas waiting to come to life. Then you start buying your vases and containers (I buy a lot from interior design companies) and you pull all of it together, mix your ideas and designs with the planner's linens and furniture and then when you see the flowers come in and the colors, and see it all take shape, that is my favorite part of the design journey. The joy of seeing it all come together because for months it's all been on a computer. "
A 'Romantic Floral Architect'
Paula refers to herself as a 'Romantic Floral Architect' because her style is very blousy, her favorite flower is a rose, especially all of the garden roses and how they organically grow, how they fall, how they are top heavy, blousy, all different colors and shapes and shades. She expresses:
"I love the rambling roses, it's very romantic, this is really my style, my personality, I love romance! I love all romantic movies, I like to see the positive in everything around me, it's just my style and I think this shines through in my floral designs."
This said, Paula of course thinks that flowers are essential to the world and for the well-being of everyone. Flowers are great for mental health, to uplift any heavy moods, and to brighten any space and face around.
"So I just love the feeling that the flowers bring because they tie everything together Of course, we do need to satisfy all of the senses - touch, smell, look, sound, etc but the flowers are such a big part of all of that, they add a lot of the color, the romance, the movement, the shape, and I love all of the comments that we get from clients - especially from the Dads or the men who perhaps haven't been the drivers of the event design! We had a billionaire client recently for a 50th wedding anniversary and when he saw it all come together, he said to me 'Paula I get it now' because even he was shocked at the cost of the flowers for this three-day event but when he saw it all come to life he completely understood. In the same week we had the father of the bride say something very similar ' Paula you've blown me away, I love it!' and they are the moments that I love. Flowers are a massive part of an event, they bring nature scent, emotion, and movement into the event."
To see the full portfolio of her exceptional work, visit Paula Rooney's website. You'll be fascinated for sure!
Photos courtesy of Paula Rooney.
