If you’ve spent any time admiring beautiful Vermont wedding florals, there’s a good chance you’ve already come across the work of Applegate Florals. Led by the incredibly talented lead florist, Emily, Applegate Florals is known for creating thoughtful, romantic designs that feel deeply personal to each couple and celebration. From lush bouquets to statement installations and all of the carefully considered details in between, Emily brings creativity and an eye for beauty to every wedding she touches. We’re so excited to introduce you to Emily, learn more about her approach to floral design, and share the passion behind Applegate Florals.
How did you get into wedding florals?
I have grown cut flowers for almost a decade, and fell in love with the artistry of arrangement and design creation. I designed some of the florals for my brother and sister-in-law’s wedding in 2021, and that sold me on weddings. I’m a systems-thinker in addition to being a creative, so event design was a natural fit for me. It also helped that my partner Josh of Josh Kuckens Photography has been photographing weddings since 2013, so I had an understanding of behind-the-scenes wedding work and how weddings are truly a creative collaboration with each couple. It’s a pretty special thing to be able to both create art and serve others, and weddings are so happy!
How would you describe your style?
I’ve always been drawn to how botanicals behave and interact naturally. I describe my design approach as ‘ethereal naturalist’ – I include lots of movement and asymmetry in my designs so that the arrangements feel alive. Growing some of my own flowers and foraging ingredients for weddings keeps my work connected to the landscape and deeply personal; I often grow specific flowers in my garden with a single couple in mind, creating designs that are truly unique.
What inspires your work?
My greatest inspiration is the landscape around us in Vermont. Daily walks through our fields, gardens, and woods are an essential part of my creative practice. I rarely return from one of these walks without some kind of collection of foraged elements, whether it’s a posy of lichen-covered branches or a handful of interesting grasses – I guess I’m a little bit like a magpie. Closely observing how flowers and botanicals exist naturally deepens my understanding of nuanced color palettes and textural layering. What brings this natural inspiration to life is the couple themselves though. I work with couples to understand their personal style, the setting of their venue, and the overall atmosphere they want to cultivate for their wedding. I bring these sources of inspiration together in my designs to create arrangements that feel deeply personal, unique, and naturally elegant.
Any special tips for couples for choosing a Vermont wedding florist?
My biggest piece of advice is to choose a florist whose design style resonates with you and whose creative vision you trust. Wedding florals are not a static product you order from a catalog; they are a living artistic expression of your story in this time and place, which requires authentic collaboration. By choosing a designer you instinctively trust and with whom you feel aesthetically aligned, you can be fully present and confident in the experience. You also want to choose a florist you feel comfortable speaking with! There are so many questions and details to be considered when planning a wedding, so you want communication to feel easy and natural.
If you weren't a wedding professional what would you do?
In a completely different life, I would train competitive sheep dogs. I think I watched the movie Babe too many times as a kid.
What's a fun fact about yourself?
I’ve seen enough British detective dramas to earn an honorary detective’s badge!
Thanks, Emily, for sitting down and chatting with us!
At the heart of Emily’s work is a desire to help couples feel most like themselves on one of the most meaningful days of their lives. Through thoughtful, nature-inspired floral design and a genuine commitment to connection, she creates wedding florals that feel personal, timeless, and deeply rooted in the beauty of Vermont.
To learn even more about Emily and her stunning floral work, visit Applegate Florals in our Vendor Directory.