Sabine Darrall Floral

08/08/2026

What’s happening to funeral floristry?
I’m hearing more and more florists saying that their funeral work has really dropped off. Of course there are lots of reasons for that, but I can’t help thinking that the rapid rise of direct cremation is having an effect. If you’ve watched daytime telly lately, you’ll know exactly what I mean. Direct cremation is being advertised constantly. It’s presented as the simpler, cheaper option replacing the traditional funeral and everything that goes with it. And with the cost of living where it is, I fully understand why families make that choice, but I also find myself asking at what cost?
This isn’t just about losing work, though it is a real worry for florists. It’s about losing one of the most meaningful parts of what we do. I’ve sat with grieving families, listening to stories about the person they’ve lost, and helping them to create a tribute that reflects a life. Those conversations were never really about flowers. They were about love, about respect, about saying goodbye. When someone dies, most of us feel a bit helpless. We want to do something as often, words just aren’t enough. Flowers step into that gap. That’s why I feel so strongly about the part flowers and florists play in the grieving process.
I absolutely believe that people should choose the farewell that’s right for them, but I do wonder whether we’re changing the way we say goodbye without really talking about what’s being lost. Are we as florists simply watching one of the most meaningful parts of our profession just quietly disappear? I’d love to hear from other florists. Are you seeing a decline in funeral work? Please share your thoughts…

08/08/2026

Is anyone else worried about what’s happening to funeral floristry?
I’m hearing more and more florists saying that their funeral work has really dropped off. Of course there are lots of reasons for that, but I can’t help thinking that the rapid rise of direct cremation is having an effect. If you’ve watched daytime telly lately, you’ll know exactly what I mean. Direct cremation is being advertised constantly. It’s presented as the simpler, cheaper option replacing the traditional funeral and everything that goes with it. And with the cost of living where it is, I fully understand why families make that choice, but I also find myself asking at what cost?
This isn’t just about losing work, though it is a real worry for florists. It’s about losing one of the most meaningful parts of what we do. I’ve sat with grieving families, listening to stories about the person they’ve lost, and helping them to create a tribute that reflects a life. Those conversations were never really about flowers. They were about love, about respect, about saying goodbye. When someone dies, most of us feel a bit helpless. We want to do something as often, words just aren’t enough. Flowers step into that gap. That’s why I feel so strongly about the part flowers and florists play in the grieving process.
I absolutely believe that people should choose the farewell that’s right for them, but I do wonder whether we’re changing the way we say goodbye without really talking about what’s being lost. Are we as florists simply watching one of the most meaningful parts of our profession just quietly disappear? I’d love to hear from other florists. Are you seeing a decline in funeral work? Please share your thoughts…

30/07/2026

The possibility of changes to marriage law has got me thinking.

If the law changes so that it’s the officiant who is licensed, rather than the venue, it could completely change where couples choose to get married. Gardens, woodlands, farms, beaches, riversides, … almost anywhere would be possible .

It could encourage more creativity, make weddings feel more personal, and perhaps even inspire more couples to marry because they have greater freedom over where and how they celebrate.

But I wonder about the wider impact on venues and suppliers.

If more couples choose private locations, could that affect the long-term future of established venues? And if venues struggle or close what does that mean for the florists, photographers, caterers, musicians, and so many other small businesses who rely on them?

Or -

Could greater freedom actually grow the wedding industry as a whole? Could it create exciting new opportunities for suppliers, encourage collaboration, and bring more weddings to businesses across the country?

As someone who’s worked in weddings for many years, I see both sides. Change often brings opportunity, but it can also bring challenges that aren’t immediately obvious.

– I’d love to know what you think.

27/05/2026

Well thought out partnering of flowers and table wear. The soft spring greens in this set from .tableware work so well with the pretty corals and lemons of the floral runner - image by from our time of the season workshop at with British flowers from

06/05/2026

Beautiful images from The time of the season workshop at the stunning Pauntley Court captured by Luke Cummins Photography
Using all British flowers from
And Flowers by Clowance
We had an amazing couple of days with a fabulous group of florists :
Daisy Lane Floral Design




byfiona
Rebecca Hobbs Floral Design
March Hare Floral Design
And not forgetting Floral Fabrications who supplied our mechanics to create our installations .
Lots of chat, laughter and fun - and of course flowers

Special thank you to Melissa for hosting us at her beautiful venue.

Tablewear : .tablewear
Models :
Dress TDR Bridal - Birmingham
M.U.A :
Hair:
Furniture and lightning

25/04/2026

“It Was June, And The World Smelled Of Roses.
The Sunshine Was Like Powdered Gold Over The Grassy Hillside.”

June is one of the very best months for British flowers, when many of our most beautiful seasonal varieties are at their peak.

Join me for a workshop on the 24th June celebrating British flowers and the skill of creating beautiful bridal bouquets.

Perfect for both new and experienced florists, as well as flower growers who want to explore the bridal side of their flowers, this day focuses entirely on working with the very best of British.

Image From our photo shoot with the amazing at using all British flowers from

25/04/2026

Last week I was invited by the British Florist Association to join a sustainability roundtable at the Guildhall in London, held in the beautiful Alderman’s Court Room.
It was a really positive afternoon, with people from across the industry coming together to share thoughts and experiences. So lovely to meet and connect with others who care deeply about where our industry is heading.
We spoke a lot about how we can make sustainability simpler and clearer for florists – not about getting everything perfect, but about giving people better, more consistent information to support their decisions.
Thank you for including me in the conversation.

You’ll find me sitting between Olivia from and Fiona from .uk we hand our hands up a lot!

21/04/2026

Always lovely to be sent new products to try, The Elsie from .dish.girls is a clever vessel with a interior lip that you can wedge your chicken wire under rather than taping it in. I put it through its paces blooming the chicken wire so I could add a lot of flower content - it all held in place and was lovely to use. Elsie launches this week so if you are looking for sustainable mechanics pop over and check Elsie out!
Full tutorial using the Elsie over on later this month :)

15/04/2026

Something to brighten up your day!

In this tutorial, I show you: • How I create height using simple mechanics • How I approach a design without large focal flowers • How I build a loose, garden-style arrangement