Dreams really do come true.. in Floristry!
Jasmine's dream to live in the coastal countryside and crafting floral arrangements for couples in love has become a reality. She attributes her success to her passion and the valuable lessons she learned during her time with us at Pearsons. We are excited to reconnect with Jasmine and discover the wonderful floral adventures she has embarked on since graduating.
How has life changed for you since completing the course?
Since finishing up with Pearsons back in 2020, I have moved up to the North Coast of NSW, gotten married to my beautiful husband in November last year and we are now living in a little farm cottage in Bangalow with cows and ducks and rolling hills.
It’s been a bit of a wild ride as I have been working for myself, freelancing and also worked as an employee for a few florists in the region, mainly in weddings. I’ve been having loads of fun travelling all over the coast for work and have now settled into a job as Head Wedding Florist for Poppy & Fern at The Farm in Byron Bay (whilst still freelancing) which has been a dream!
What was it about Pearsons School that made you want to study with us?
I loved that Pearsons had a reputation for going above and beyond the basics of what was required in the curriculum. I like that it was a school that was solely dedicated to the industry and also had success as a business. That is what appealed to me the most.
What did you love about studying the ‘SFL30115 Certificate III in Floristry’ with Pearsons School?
There were so many things that I loved about studying the Cert III. I found many of the teachers to be really encouraging and supportive, and I made some really beautiful friends there. I loved that the course attracted people from all backgrounds and of all ages so I got to meet so many wonderful people, and I just really appreciate the skills I learned, especially those that were currently relevant to the industry.
Did you take on any work experience opportunities during your study at Pearsons, and if so what were they?
I was doing flowers for weddings all throughout my time at Pearsons which developed most of my work experience, but I also had a beautiful few days in Byron working with Nikau Flora on a wedding at the gorgeous Deux Belettes which got me so excited about what my future could be like in the wedding industry up here.
What projects/floristry work are you most excited about or would love to work on now that you’ve finished your course?
I am just really loving freelancing at the moment. The Byron/Gold Coast region is so full of beautiful wedding florists and I am having the best time building connections and working with so many different businesses. It’s really fun to learn from each other, continue to gain experience and have such variety in what I get to create!
Something that I am really passionate about is sustainable floristry - using locally grown florals and foam free techniques and working for Poppy & Fern, who are a sustainable florist that also grows their flowers onsite is the perfect environment to embrace my values, so I am really loving continuing to grow and learn in that area!
How have you found searching for and securing work in the industry?
Oh boy this is such a real question, because to be honest, it hasn’t been easy!
I had way more options available to me when I was living in Sydney, and my business was growing, but when I decided to move I entered a new environment where there was a smaller community of florists and the market was pretty saturated. I am very very grateful for the first business up here that gave me a shot (Ivy & Bleu events on the Gold Coast- They were amazing to me!). My goal was always to find work in Byron so I didn’t have to travel so much, so I have slowly made my way closer to home and worked a fair few jobs in the meantime. I think what I have found the hardest is having stability and consistency in work. The nature of working for small businesses can mean that it isn’t always as stable as other jobs, and wedding work is so seasonal, so I have learned to adapt, and been so grateful for the option of freelance to fill in the gaps when other floristry work hasn’t been as abundant. Networking is so important for when those opportunities pop up. All in all though, persistence and resilience is key, and I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else!
What advice would you give to someone wanting to get in to floristry?
Like I said before, passion is essential! Floristry is such a rewarding career if you put in the effort. I would say if you’re not sure to sign up for some short courses or workshops (Pearson’s have great ones!) first and see whether it’s the kind of thing you would like to do long term.
I would also say, get on social media! I know it can be tough, but Instagram is the place where I have gotten all my freelance and employed jobs from. I don’t have a big following-you don’t have to be an influencer. Just start putting your work out there and connecting with other businesses because it really really helps!
Jasmine's Socials
Instagram: @wildjasminestudio
Facebook: Wild Jasmine