Local Spotlight on Blooming Barvellous: A mobile flower bar perfect for parties and events
Passionate about making floristry feel fun and accessible, Tunbridge Wells- based florist Kylie O'Doherty set up Blooming Barvellous earlier this year as something a little different to add to events.
From weddings, hen dos and baby showers to corporate gatherings and networking events, her beautiful mobile bloom bar offers the opportunity for guests to create their very own bouquet and is the ideal showstopper for any celebration.
We chatted to Kylie about what led to this career change into floristry and how she plans to bring people together through flowers...
What can you tell us about Blooming Barvellous and what inspired you to set it up?
Blooming Barvellous came about after I discovered a real love for flowers when we moved to Kent three years ago.
I started visiting the local pick-your-own flower farms and just loved being around all the flowers. It made me realise it was something I wanted to explore more, so I decided to take a career-change course in floristry.
I loved the course, but I didn’t quite feel ready to jump straight into big events and weddings. That’s where the idea for Blooming Barvellous came from. It felt like a really fun way to work with flowers, keep learning and improving, and combine it with something else I’ve always loved – planning events and bringing people together. And it’s all grown from there!
What kind of events does your Bloom Bar work well for?
The Bloom Bar works well for so many different types of events. Our most popular so far has been baby showers, which are always lovely, but we’ve also done birthday parties, hen dos, shop openings and even collaborations with local coffee shops.
I also think it would be such a lovely addition to a wedding. Guests can choose their favourite flowers and create their own little bunch to take home with them – it gives them something fun to do during the day, as well as a beautiful and personal wedding favour to remember it by. There are so many ways the Bloom Bar can work, which is one of the things I love most about it.
How do you select the blooms for each event?
When someone makes a booking, I’ll ask about their preferred colour palette and whether there are any specific flowers they’d love me to include. Once I have an idea of what they’re looking for, I’ll see what’s in season and available at the time and go from there. I love that every Bloom Bar can be a little different and tailored to the event, while still making the most of the beautiful flowers that are in season.
Which areas of Kent and Sussex do you cover?
Although we’re based in Tunbridge Wells, we’re definitely not limited to the local area! We’ve already covered events in Folkestone, Hailsham, Ashford and beyond, with upcoming events in Farnham, Wilmington and more.
So I think it’s fair to say we cover the whole of Kent and Sussex – and we’re always happy to travel a little further for the right event!
What makes Blooming Barvellous so unique?
I think what makes Blooming Barvellous so unique is that it’s more than just flowers – it’s an experience. The Bloom Bar gives guests the chance to get creative, choose the flowers they love and make their own beautiful bunch to take home with them. It becomes part of the event itself, while also giving everyone a lovely keepsake at the end.
Most of all, I want it to feel relaxed and fun. You don’t need to know anything about flowers – just pick the ones you love, have a go and enjoy it!
Has floristry always been a passion of yours, or was it something you discovered more recently?
Growing up in London, flowers were never really a big part of my life, which is probably why I fell so deeply in love with them after moving to the countryside. Suddenly being surrounded by beautiful gardens, flower farms and so much more nature really sparked something in me. I just really enjoy working with them.
What was your background before, and how did you re-train in floristry?
My background has always been in childcare, and after that I went on to run London’s biggest, messy play business but I decided to sell it this year and use some of the money to enrol on a career change course with a local florist.
You also offer relaxed floral workshops - what can people expect at one of these?
Our workshops are all about having fun, relaxing and enjoying some time with friends or loved ones. They’re perfect for hen dos, Mother’s Day, birthdays, get-togethers or simply an excuse to do something a little different together.
We can chat beforehand about what sort of workshop you’d like and I’ll choose and source the flowers for you. Vase arrangements are always really fun and easy to get stuck into, or we can do things like flower crowns depending on the occasion. And this Christmas, we’re really excited to be launching our mobile wreath bar, bringing all the festive flowers, foliage and creativity directly to you!
Workshops can take place in your home or at a venue of your choice. You don’t need to be good at floristry – the whole idea is to switch off, have fun, get creative and spend some lovely time with friends and family.
How would you describe your style of floristry?
I’d say my go-to colour palette is pastels. However, recently I’ve found myself really drawn to bright, clashing colours too, and there’s also something so lovely about a beautiful autumnal bouquet.
My style is probably less traditional and a little more relaxed. I love airy, bouncy, asymmetrical designs that feel natural and have lots of movement rather than looking too structured or perfect.
Where do you source your flowers from? Is primarily using seasonal and sustainable flowers important to you?
Yes, as I said before I love to visit the local growers in Kent and we have some fantastic options so I try to use these as much as possible!
Your workshops and Bloom Bar are really social events that bring people together through creativity. Is this something you’re passionate about?
I’ve always loved events, socialising with friends and, if I’m honest, any excuse to plan, organise and make something look pretty!
I planned my entire wedding myself and absolutely loved the whole process – I was a little sad when it was all over! Since then, I’ve hosted lots, and now I’m loving being able to bring that side of me into Blooming Barvellous.
The flower bar is just the beginning. I’d love to incorporate more event planning into the business and offer lots of lovely add-on services, so I can help people create an event that feels special without them having to worry about all the little details.
What are the most rewarding - and most challenging - parts of running Blooming Barvellous?
I love, love, love the whole process – from hearing a client’s vision and bringing their ideas to life, to sourcing the flowers and setting everything up on the day. But my favourite part has to be seeing their reaction when it all comes together!
The most challenging part is definitely the admin, which I usually end up doing in the evenings once my kids are in bed. Blooming Barvellous is just me, so at times it can feel a little overwhelming juggling everything behind the scenes, but I genuinely love what I do and seeing people enjoy something I’ve created makes it all worth it.
You moved to Tunbridge Wells just a few years ago from London - what do you enjoy about living here?
We moved here after only visiting once! We found the town charming and the people so friendly. It was quite daunting at first, but now it truly feels like home.
There are some fantastic restaurants and so much for the kids to do, but for me, the best part has to be all the green space. I love having so many woods, forests and beautiful countryside right on our doorstep, while still being so close to lots of lovely beaches. After growing up in London, I think I appreciate being surrounded by nature even more. I honestly couldn’t imagine living anywhere else now.
What workshops do you have coming up?
Our Christmas wreath workshops are already available to book and have been so popular that I only have a few dates left!
I’m also busy planning for next year, and I’m hoping to run at least one workshop a month across Kent, collaborating with some amazing local businesses and bringing lots of new ideas to life.
What are your favourite local spots, hidden gems or independent businesses in Kent?
Oh, that’s a tough one – there are so many! I love The Hidden Well, Charlotte’s Cocktail Bar, Nick’s Coffee Shop and Corkk on the High Street. Kingdom is absolutely stunning, and Bedgebury is one of our favourite places to visit as a family.
We also love a Sunday roast at The Nevill Crest & Gun and pizza at Portofino. Honestly, I could go on forever – we’re so lucky to have so many amazing places nearby!
How can we find out more about Blooming Barvellous or book an event?
I’ve just launched The Bloom Club, where subscribers will receive newsletters, updates and early access to upcoming events and workshops.
I’ll also be sharing all our upcoming events over on Instagram, so please give us a follow to keep up with everything we have planned!
You can join The Bloom Club through the link in our Instagram bio @bloomingbarvellous
Comments