In the Spotlight: Featured uBloomer, Jennifer Crutchfield

Jennifer is owner of Dave and Jen Crutchfield Photography and Wedding Floral Design (daveandjencrutchfieldweddings.com ) and teaches Agriculture Education at Brookwood High School. She is married to Dave (her business partner) and resides in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.Tell me a little about your background in floral design.As a young girl, I remember going for nature walks with my Grandmother and asking her many questions about the flowers we saw on our explorations. I listened with great enthusiasm as she taught me the names and characteristics of each blossom we discovered.Floral design was a family affair, and I, along with my 6 other brothers and sisters would design flower arrangements through our local 4-H club.We would then enter our arrangements in the county fair. I started designing at age 8 and continued with the 4-H program until I was 18.When my husband and I got married, I made all my own flower arrangements and decor while my husband (a photographer and graphic designer) took care of the pictures and invitations. We must have done a really good job because our friends wanted us to do their weddings too. Eventually, we were doing so many weddings that we decided to form our own business called Dave and Jen Crutchfield Photography and Wedding Floral Design. I create the floral arrangements and Dave is the photographer.In addition to running your floral business, you also teach floral design, right?Yes. I teach Agriculture Education at Brookwood High School in Tuscaloosa. My classes cover Basic Agriculture, Floral Design, Fish & Wildlife and Welding. In my floral design class, I teach the students the proper care and handling of flowers, flower identification, mechanics and design principles. The kids get plenty of hands on practice; in addition to the designs we make in class, they create all the Prom and Homecoming flowers as well as the Graduation decor. My students are completely involved in every aspect of the work… planning, prep and design. Last year, the class competed in the State Floraculture Competition. Each participant is required to make several unique floral designs, identify flowers and plants, and take a written test. My students did well and I was very proud of them.What is your favorite flower?I love Hydrangeas and Tulips. I also really like green Button Mums. When I was young, I helped my mother care for the more than 2000 Tulips that would grace our yard every Spring.What is your favorite floral color scheme?Green and White. I absolutely LOVE green! I think it pairs perfectly with white.What season is your favorite for doing flowers for weddings?Late Winter in to early Spring. The air is crisp and cool and just perfect for fresh flowers in a normally very hot, humid Alabama.With money being no object, how would you decorate your "ideal" late Winter/early Spring wedding?I would have many containers overflowing with big, billowy clouds of hydrangea and I would also use large masses of Baby’s Breath in sizable containers. I really like the look of Curly Willow, so I’m sure I would use plenty of that too. My floral designs and containers would reflect my love of green and white with the addition of silver. Everything would be lit up with Acolyte floral lights.What floral design magazines do you subscribe too?Flower Magazine and Bride & BloomWhat is your favorite floral design book?The Art of Floral Design and Martha Stewart Weddings are my two favorites.Which designer would you most like to work with?J, of course! His passion for flowers is very inspiring. I would also like to work with Dianne Noland, my former Horticulture Professor from the University of Illinois.What is your favorite JTV webisode?Fabulous Foliage Design, Green It Up! J makes an all greenery arrangement with spiraled Galax leaves.What is the best floral design product that you have used?I LOVE Design Master!!! I use it all the time. My other fave is Aqua Gems, the little colored beads that swell when water is added. They look terrific when up-lit by Acolytes.What is your favorite new cultivar?Green Trachellium. It’s gorgeous! I’ve also just seen a huge, new green Zinnia cultivar that is really beautiful.What, in your opinion, will be the next trend(s) in floral design?I’ve noticed that more brides are using non traditional flowers like wildflowers. I have also noticed that there is a trend in using lots of line materials mixed in with mass materials. It lends itself towards a more contemporary, ikebana like style. Branches and sticks are also trend forward floral design elements.Is there any particular venue that you dream about decorating?Yes, three actually. I would love to help design and decorate a float in the Rose Bowl, make the floral designs for the Kentucky Derby (have you ever seen them? They are awesome!), and decorate the White House at Christmas.How do you handle controlling Mother’s of the Bride?I don’t allow myself to get caught up in the emotion of the moment. I usually hold my tongue and then wait for a better time to address issues with the MOB.What is your advice for designers wanting to start their own business?1. Have a strong business plan2. Try to use cash as much as possible and keep loans to a minimum.3. Budget4. Don’t buy supplies unless you really need them.