Florists are in
high demand Amid a flower shortage, there’s nearly 2.5M weddings happening in the U.S. this year BY TATYANA TURNER | CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Tara Vevers, owner of Taxaflora, works on a flower arrangements for a coming wedding at her studio on Aug. 11, in Chicago. Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune / TNS
Bouquets, boutonnieres and flower girl baskets. Flowers can be considered one of the most essential items for a wedding. With this year having approximately 2.47 million weddings in the U.S., 2022 will have the highest number of weddings since 1984, according to the Wedding Report, a research company that tracks and forecasts wedding industry statistics. Postponed ceremonies because of COVID-19 are one of the reasons cited for the boom. And while florists are seeing an increase in business, they must also navigate how to meet the high demand with a flower shortage. Tara Vevers, creative director and lead designer of Taxaflora, a flower shop in Chicago, said the demand so far this year has been overwhelming. “The amount of inquiries we were getting last year for 2022 weddings was almost unmanageable and we are still receiving requests for 2022 weddings,” Vevers said. Vevers provided flower arrangements for 12 weddings so far and there are a dozen more scheduled for the rest of the year. “I was working over 80 hours a week and pulling all-nighters on a weekly basis,” Vevers said. “When booking 2022 weddings last year, I set a strict limit on how many weddings we would book for this year so as to not compromise the integrity of our work for our couples.” MIDWEST WEDDING
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SEPTEMBER 2022 | 23