How Aisle and Stem Works
Aisle and Stem is a floral design and planning service, not a shop. You brief us once. We design the scheme, brief a florist local to your venue to make it, and coordinate delivery and installation. One point of contact, from the first email to the pack down.
The four steps
- Send us the brief. One form. The occasion, the date, the venue and anything you already know about the look. If you do not know the look yet, that is normal and it is our job.
- We design the scheme. We come back with a floral direction covering every arrangement the occasion needs, using varieties in season for your month and suited to your venue conditions. You see the scope in writing before anything is ordered.
- We brief a local florist. Once you approve it, a written specification goes to a florist near your venue: the arrangement list, dimensions, palette, substitution rule, delivery times, access window and site contact.
- They make, we install. The flowers are made close to where they are needed and delivered, set up and, where the job needs it, removed afterwards. You talk to one person from the first email to the pack down.
What a good brief contains
You do not need all of this to start. The first four lines are enough for us to reply with something useful.
| Detail | Why we need it | Needed by |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Decides what is in season and whether the date is available | At enquiry |
| Venue and suburb | Decides conditions, access, permits and travel | At enquiry |
| Occasion | Decides the arrangement list | At enquiry |
| Rough guest count | Sets the number of table arrangements | At enquiry |
| Any images you like | Faster than describing a style in words | At design |
| Colours to use or avoid | Narrows the palette early | At design |
| Budget range | Lets us scope realistically rather than guess | At design |
| Bridal party numbers | Sets bouquet and buttonhole counts | 8 weeks out |
| Final table count | Sets the centrepiece count | 2 to 4 weeks out |
| Venue access window | Sets the install plan | Confirmed by us with the venue |
What happens after you send the brief
We reply within two business days with either a floral direction or, if something in the brief will not work, a straight explanation of why and what we would do instead. We would rather say that at the start than deliver a compromise on the day.
There is no obligation at that point and no deposit. If the direction is not right, tell us and we will revise it. If it is not for you, that is a fine outcome too.
Why we work through local florists
Fresh flowers do not travel well, and an installer who has worked at your venue is worth more than one who has not. Making the flowers close to where they are needed is simply better work. What most couples lose in that arrangement is coordination, because they end up managing the relationship themselves. We hold that part.
| Booking a florist directly | Briefing Aisle and Stem | |
|---|---|---|
| Who you speak to | A different person per supplier | One person throughout |
| Who writes the scope | You, implicitly, through a wishlist | Us, in writing, before anything is ordered |
| Design consistency | Depends on each supplier | One scheme across every arrangement |
| Who chases the venue | You | Us |
| Who solves a late change | You, between suppliers | Us |
| Where the flowers are made | Locally | Locally, by the same calibre of florist |
What we do not do
We do not sell bouquets for delivery, we do not run a shop, and we do not do same day gift flowers. If you want flowers sent to someone, a local florist will serve you better and faster. We design and coordinate florals for occasions.
Common questions
Do you charge for the initial floral direction?
Can I use my own florist?
How far ahead should I get in touch?
Do you work outside your published markets?
Send us your brief
One form. We come back with a floral direction and a clear scope.
