Florist - Jim Knestrick
- Business: Knestrick By Design
- Location: Nashville, Tennessee TN
- Experience: 22 Years
- Profile: Knestrick By Design
- Website: www.knestrickbydesign.com
1. Introduction: What's your story?
My love for floral design came with little intention, but much passion. Graduating from Auburn University and receiving a Masters in Counseling in Colorado, I pursued my initial desire to work as an adolescent counselor. I took a job with Daystar Counseling Ministries in Nashville, TN where I served as a counselor and camp director. Although I enjoyed my time as a counselor, my burning desire to create and design, eventually got the best of me. I left my ‘dream job’ at the time in an attempt to satisfy my creative drive.
It was my sister in law, Kelly, who noticed my attention to detail and intent to express the personalities of any space through floral design. I found solace in how flowers transformed a space - The rest, was history!
Over 20 years of experience, I attribute much of my passion from amazing floral designers that pushed me to be a better designer. My mentor, Mamie Mason, loved flowers more than anyone I know. Her love and spirit were evident in everything and everyone she touched. She would free me to create and design from my own love of flowers. There wasn't a plan but more of an expression of yourself in the design. Joe Smith, was another designer that taught me to collaborate and to use the gifts of people around me. To see something different in the ordinary. He was a master of taking something ordinary and making it extraordinary. I found my passion in flowers but past the actual flower I found a passion in beauty in the ordinary. Flowers have a way in making ordinary come to life.
2. What's your experience as a wedding florist business? How many weddings are in there in your portfolio?
I have been in the business for 22 years. I started as a freelance designer and worked with local designers to get my education in design. I have currently done close to 1,000 weddings. Its hard to believe how time as flown and I still am enjoying it as the day I begun.
3. How far in advance do couples need to secure your services?
Its good to give us a couple months to have time to discuss the brides vision and to have time to make adjustments as we go. That doesn't mean we can't work faster. I have had brides that have come to me the month of the wedding and we were still able to get her vision for the wedding. So don't let timing get in the way.
4. How do you price your floral arrangements? What are the different packages that you offer and which one is your most popular package?
I don't have a package set up. I price arrangements to the specific flowers in mind. Every arrangement is different and it is better for the bride that I price them uniquely to her wedding instead of just giving a package price.
5. How many meetings will you have with the couple, and how will they be involved?
I love meeting with the bride and am willing to meet as many times as it is needed for the bride to feel good about getting her vision accomplished. I want the bride to be as involved as she wants to be. Sometimes the brides just want to let it go and some brides like to help make each decision. I do not charge to meet multiple times with the bride. It is part of our love for what we do.
6. Who else is in your team and how many people on your staff will be at the wedding?
I have two full-time staff other than myself. Both are very good at what they do. During the wedding week depending on the size of the wedding. I could have several people working on the wedding. I do try not to have any other weddings on the same date so we can have all our attention to their wedding.
7. How would you describe your design style? (e.g. traditional, modern, rustic, organic)
Most people would say I am very traditional in my style but I really like to move with the current trends and love doing all types of styles in my design. Currently the current style is more loose and organic and I enjoy creating this look for my brides.
8. Who will handle setup and delivery? What other services do you offer?
My staff handles all delivery and setup. I take pride in my staff and the extra mile we will go for our brides. We do not just show up and leave the flowers on the table. I am always looking around with the eyes of the bride and look for things that need to be done to accomplish her vision. It is not unlike us to clean up around the venue or to help vendors when crunch time occurs. We also love helping brides with their floor plans and CADs. We have books of Linens that we can help pick out for your event and also can help the bride with their vendors and who to chose and who might be the best fit for what they want. We have a huge inventory of items that are available to choose from for the wedding. We love being involved as much as the bride will want. We have an eye for creating and that sometimes means helping the bride accomplish that through choosing vendors and a color palette for the wedding.
9. What happens to the flowers after the wedding?
All the flowers are available to be taken by the bride or her family. We usually will have them in a container that can be taken out of the rented container to easily transport home. We also love to use a service in Nashville that will take the flowers and reuse them by sending them to local nursing homes.
10. What is your cancellation and/or refund policy?
We have to have everything finalized by 2 weeks before the wedding. There is a small deposit that is required to set the date but I can work with the bride if something beyond her ability has to cancel before those 2 weeks. After we purchase the flowers the bride does have to pay for the flowers ordered. I require payment by the week before the wedding.
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