Planning a wedding involves countless details, from the invitations to the floral arrangements. While these elements may seem separate, they are deeply interconnected in creating a cohesive and memorable wedding experience. To highlight the magic that happens when a stationer and florist collaborate, we interviewed Hannah Caraballo, a talented wedding florist, to explore how working together enhances the design process and benefits couples.

Meet Hannah:
The Artist Behind the Blooms

Can you tell us about yourself and how you became a florist specializing in weddings?

“I actually started my wedding industry career on the planning side of things. Back in 2011, I launched my own business coordinating weddings for a very small amount of money to pay my way through college. I realized pretty quickly that my reach wasn’t that large and social media wasn’t what it is today so I needed to find a job post graduation. I ended up working for a newer event venue and helping that venue open a second venue (read: I was working a ton). I was then recruited to yet another venue that offered better hours and a small pay bump so I jumped ship to be the director there for almost eight years. I hate to say it, but I just kind of stumbled into floral from there. It was not at all where I thought I would be, but since working in the event industry I’ve always been drawn to the design and decor side of events. This wasn’t necessarily the plan, but it was a really natural way for me to progress into focusing my efforts and talents on the design side of things.”

What inspires your floral designs, and how do you approach creating unique arrangements for each couple?

“I’m really into architecture and landscapes. Like that’s what I would be doing if I wasn’t doing this. So being able to not only work with a natural product, but then figure out the logistics to make sure something is weighted properly, or that it has the proper balance of being full but also has some buoyancy, challenges my brain in the best way. Every single piece we make in the studio always gets a once over and I ask myself “would I be happy with this if I was the paying client”. If it’s a yes, it goes into the cooler. If not, we add more, start over, try something new – whatever it takes until I’m beaming and sending photos to my family and friends about something I just created that makes me really proud.”

The Role of Florals in Wedding Design

What role do flowers and floral arrangements play in creating the overall wedding atmosphere?

This may be an unpopular opinion but I don’t let them select their flowers. If they mention a specific flower by name I’ll include it, but otherwise I design and pick what we are providing and base that on their inspiration, vibe, and how it coordinates with the other design elements. That said, while I pick the flowers, my couples do get to see what flowers I plan to use in their design boards and if there is anything they don’t love we swap it out!

How do you help couples select the right flowers to reflect their style and vision?

“Stationary and custom paper goods set the tone for the whole day! I always start each wedding day with flat lays capturing all the pretty details like the invitation suite, jewelry, shoes, etc. These details photos start the gallery out setting the stage for the rest to come. Then things like the custom programs, menus, place cards, etc. all help create a cohesive gallery telling the story and vibe of the day.”

How Florists and Stationers Collaborate

How do you see floral design and stationery working together to create a cohesive wedding aesthetic?

“I mentioned this above, but any vendors on the design side of an event should all be working together. Stationery goes above and beyond just an invitation – it can be a menu that will sit on your charger, on top of a beautiful linen. And maybe the blue trim matches the candle color perfectly, and the heading font is dainty and frilly like a lisianthus. Or maybe the wedding is super modern and with the glass and minimalist floral, we have a really bold table number and place card to add to the table top design.”

Have you ever designed florals inspired by wedding invitations, or vice versa? If so, can you share an example?

“I’ve only done this once for an editorial, but I’d love to incorporate this more into real weddings! For the editorial the stationer sent me her samples and I actually picked some additional floral to incorporate into the design based on it! The textured paper and ribbon color were something I wanted to highlight with our floral design and it all came together beautifully!”

What details or inspiration do you share with a stationer to ensure the floral elements tie into the paper goods (e.g., color palette, types of flowers, mood)?

“I share the entire design board with any vendors that want it! Unfortunately, not all ask for it. If the couple has hired a planner though I can almost guarantee the vendors get to see exactly what we are providing well before the wedding!”

The Benefits for Couples

How does collaboration between a stationer and a florist enhance the client experience?

“Collaboration between all vendors just makes for a more seamless day for the client. Most of the wedding industry are small businesses, so unless you have a team you don’t get to see many people day to day. Showing up on a wedding day is like getting together with my best and favorite co-workers. As soon as I know the other vendors on a mutual clients day I usually text them and say how excited I am to be working with them and then we get to collaborate together, share ideas, pitch interesting ideas to our client, and then show up that day and make magic together!”

Can you share an example where a seamless collaboration between you and a stationer elevated a wedding design?

“I’ve gotten to create really amazing welcome signs and seating charts with the help of great stationers. I also tend to work a lot with plants and one of my clients wanted herbs tied to her menu that we worked with their stationer to do. It really made their simple, but elegant, tablescape stand out.”

Why do you think couples should prioritize hiring both a florist and a stationer for their big day?

“I’m going to share a quote here, though I’m not sure who said it “You can’t do everything well.”

We all have our strengths, and sure you might have a green thumb or know how to design on Canva but do you *really* want to be doing this on your wedding day? Flowers and stationery specifically as flowers obviously have a shorter shelf life and need to be arranged close to the wedding. And your RSVPs only arrive a short while before the wedding to have to worry about getting a seating chart done early enough so you can create the escort cards/board. If you are focusing more on these details, instead of handing it over to the professionals, that’s time you’re now spending NOT focusing on your new spouse/marriage.”

Workflow and Communication

How do you collaborate with other vendors, like stationers, to ensure the couple’s vision is cohesive?

“Communication is key! I love attending planning meetings, hopping on a phone call, or even just a quick email to gather some details and make sure our floral is going to be cohesive with other design elements!”

What are some key moments during the planning process where collaboration with a stationer is most valuable (e.g., invitation suite design, tablescapes, signage)?

“So normally from our perspective, I’m working with a stationer via a planner. So before I even put together my initial design board for a potential client I get to see what the invitation suite is or what the look they are going for will be and that helps us get a look into the overall vision for the event. 

Moving forward into the planning process, it’s a lot of the little details – are the salads going to be preset? If so, you may not want to do an individual menu or if you do, does that now take away from table space where we may have floral or candles planned. If not, what chargers did the client select and what napkin fold are they having so the stationery fits. Do they want any fresh or dried foliage incorporated with their paper. What is the size and build for the welcome sign or escort board that is being decorated with flowers. All items we need to know on the floral side of things that can go sideways within seconds if we don’t know on the wedding day.”

How do you ensure consistency between your floral designs and the printed elements, like escort cards or menus?

“I LOVE a pattern! And because our design style is more organic, a dainty outline or watercolor of florals on an invitation or other stationery item fits perfectly with our usual designs. That said, we do book clients that have a more modern take and those events it’s just communicating what floral we will be using and colors of any accents. Again, communication is key!”

Trends and Expert Advice

What trends are you currently seeing in wedding florals, and how can couples incorporate them into their stationery design?

“Fun fact, I really dislike “trends” and I wish couples would just pick what they want because they like it and not because it’s what is popular right now. But I digress. For 2025 we’re seeing a lot of green hanging amaranthus, hydrangea (I love these personally and line my deck in the summer but don’t pick them because they are on “trend”, please), and ikebana style arrangements! All different looks – some more modern, some more classic. 

A client using long stemmed lilies with really minimalist and chic centerpieces should stick with that minimalist style throughout. It probably doesn’t make sense for her to have a menu, and a place card, and a thank you note, AND etc. at her table. Maybe all of these are incorporated into one single piece of stationery.”

A Seamless Partnership for a Stunning Wedding

How can couples best prepare to work with a florist (and a stationer) to create a cohesive vision?

“First and arguably most important, hire a planner. Then save all the inspiration (even non wedding related photos) and share that with your vendors. Think about your budget for services and be honest about that number (AND be flexible with that number if you have a lot of non-negotiables). Be ready to have an open line of communication and don’t be afraid to tweak a design if it’s not quite what you are thinking! We’re here to help and make your vision become a reality.”

What’s the best way for couples to contact you for floral services?

“I love an email – hello@hannahcaraballodesigns.com but I can also be contacted via my contact form at my website https://hannahcaraballodesigns.com/contact

If you have a quick question and want a quick answer I’d love to chat on instagram @hannahcaraballodesigns “

When a florist and stationer collaborate, the result is a wedding that feels intentional, cohesive, and utterly stunning. From invitations that reflect the floral arrangements to tablescapes that tie every detail together, this partnership ensures your big day is as beautiful as it is memorable. Ready to bring your wedding vision to life? Reach out to Hannah and JoLynn today to start the journey!

Photographers: Bouquet and headshot by Marina Claire and the tablescape by Emily Millay Photography.