Barbara Mele, Founder of Gatherings Floral Design, is a self-described “flower lover extraordinaire.”  With close to two decades of experience, Barbara’s team at Gatherings services NYC and the Tri-state area with her incredible floral designs for weddings, events, and occasions of all sizes. In addition to running Gatherings, Barbara has also trained many florists as a former teacher at FlowerSchool of New York.

Barbara created romantic, elegant, and classic table pieces and a bouquet for a micro wedding I photographed at Conrad New York Downtown. As the wedding photographer, I came to know the wedding couple, Anna and Efram, through brunching and talking at length about what they wanted their wedding to be like, and Barbara’s designs reflected their personalities and style perfectly: intimate, sweet, elegant. I was so impressed with Barbara’s talent, kind personality, and dedication to her craft that I identified her as my top-choice NYC florist to feature. 

Barbara and I recently sat down together (virtually) for an interview where she shared excellent guidance for couples planning their wedding, elopement, familial connection to gardens, and her “urban garden” style. Read on!

Rachael: Tell me about your path and how you got to where you are now:

Barbara: I always wanted to be a florist. My grandmother was a landscape architect, and my mom is one of ten siblings; all seven of her sisters are landscape architects, but my mom is the only one who isn’t. I knew I wanted to do something to honor my grandmother—my fondest childhood memories were of being in the garden with her. I would walk into the neighborhood florist shop in high school asking if they needed help, but they would ask if I had experience (which I didn’t), so it was a vicious cycle. I learned to be persistent, and in college, I landed my first job with a European-style florist who preferred to hire people without experience so they could teach everyone “fresh.” I advise anyone interested in being a florist to be willing to sweep the floor, help answer the phone—literally anything to get in, and eventually, you’ll be able to learn more and take on more.  

R: How do you describe your floral style?

B: Urban Garden. I’ve always loved very wild gardens and open fields from childhood, but my whole career has been in Manhattan, so I’ve combined the wild garden feel with the city. I love using wildflowers in a sleek modern vase: a little different, a little unusual. 

R: What advise do you have for couples planning their wedding or elopement? 

B: Try to stick with varieties that will be in season. The flowers will be healthier and stay open for longer—you want them to be at their best. They are also more reasonably priced. As technology and communication has expanded and growing practices have changed and improved, flowers are now available outside of their local season. Peonies are in their peak, locally, in May but are now available in October from South America. You are paying double the cost and it’s a roll of the dice as to how healthy they will be and how long they will last. Let nature take its course and stick to seasonal blooms.

R: How do you guide couples in selecting their wedding flowers?

B: There’s always something that clues the florist in to see what they would like such as a save-the-date, a dress, or the venue. Usually couples don’t talk to a florist as their first vendor. I also ask how they met, what their interests are and get a sense of the wedding venue and setting. I also advise based on seasonality.

R: How do you help couples choose their colors and style?

B: I start with the venue along with the couple’s own preferences. Venues are often dark with mahogany fixtures, or the lighting isn’t great. Using whites and light colors brighten things up. Sometimes couples come in with references from Instagram or Pinterest that are beautiful but would only work in specific spaces or outdoors. It can help see examples of what a couple likes as a starting point if they bring references. My focus is on emulating the couple's feeling and style, and then I line-up the colors to compliment the space, lighting, and any color requests. 

 R: What current trend do you like, and what are you ready to say “goodbye” to?

B: I enjoy tablescapes with bud vases and candles—they have a lot of depth and dimension. Lots of different styles to it, incredibly malleable, which I really like. I’m ready to say “goodbye” to DIY flowers. There is a lot of education online now, which is great, but couples don’t necessarily have to do the whole package DIY if they are on a budget. You could do some but make sure you have the bouquet made by a professional florist. You don’t want wilted flowers in your wedding portraits!

R: What is your favorite part of working with couples planning their wedding?

B: I like meeting with the couples and hearing their love story. Whether they have the vaguest idea of what they want or are very specific, I love bringing a sketch or idea on paper to life.

R: Do you have a favorite flower? 

B: That’s an impossible question. I can say the flowers I don’t enjoy working with are poinsettias because when you cut them, they release a white sap and are messy to work with.

 R: How do people find you?

B: Usually, people find me via word of mouth and through venues I’ve worked at. If you’re top of mind with a venue, it is a good way to get business. Through social media as well.

Contact Barbara at info@GatheringsFloralDesign.com or by phone at 212-682-2083. Follow her on Instagram at @gatheringsfloraldesignny and visit her site www.gatheringsfloraldesign.com.

Planning your proposal, engagement, or wedding? Make sure you read Top Tips for Sustainable and Zero-Waste Weddings and my interview with jewelry designer Alice Clarke featuring her Tips for Selecting the Perfect Engagement Ring.