He was responsible for the floral arrangements for the wedding of the Spanish Crown Prince and sat until deep into the night working on the flowers for his own wedding. In short, Johan Martens is a versatile and extremely creative designer. The catalogue, for which Johan and his colleague Johan Huisman designed and created 30 wedding bouquets, has been a huge success. Initially the book was intended for florists in Italy and Poland, but the work has such an international flavor, that a version was soon published for the American market. This version sold so quickly that it has already been reprinted. (It can be ordered for $ 28 via the webshop on this site). It contains magnificent arrangements and if Johan has anything to say about it, they will not be copied.

Source of inspiration

Johan: "The items in the catalogue are not meant to be copied but to serve as a source of inspiration. Florists can use it as a tool when discussing flowers with the future bride and groom. You can search by color and review the different types of bouquets. However, nothing can replace that personal touch." 

Johan gives shows and training workshops on a regular basis in most European countries and in Canada ("no, I have never been to the USA but it is definitely on my wish list"). When at home in the Netherlands he regularly drops in on colleagues at their shops. "This is my way of staying in touch with the everyday practical work situation."

Teamwork

Wedding flowers are one of his specialties (as are funeral flowers) and he likes to use the catalogue he developed when discussing them with clients. "We thumb through it together. I ask about the color of the bride’s clothing, the groom’s suit and whether either has a favorite flower. I ask them to point out in the catalogue what they like and dislike. I show them interesting and attractive techniques. In this way I develop a picture that I can then translate into a bouquet. It is essential to remember that this is their big day. You can use flowers to add extra color but must never forget that it is their day. Never be a know-it-all."

Wealth of experience

In his more than 25 years as a professional floral designer he has created numerous wedding bouquets. Weddings with a budget in excess of $ 200,000 are not rare in his portfolio. One of his most recent major assignments was to decorate the cathedral in Madrid for the wedding of Crown Prince Felipe de Bourbon of Spain last year. For this task, Johan and four other Dutch designers were supported by around 20 of their Spanish colleagues. More than 60,000 flowers were used to decorate sixty pillars. However, if need be, Johan can produce minimalist work. "I once created a wedding bouquet that consisted of only five large, open roses, loosely tied with a piece of rough twine. Simple in the extreme but exactly in tune with the style of the bride and groom. And that after all is what it’s all about!"

Working day and night

The wedding bouquet for his own wedding was made up of lily of the valley, Edelweiss and some greenery. It should not surprise you then to learn that our very own craftsman made it with his own two hands. "Like most florists who have to provide the flowers for a wedding next day, I was up most of the night before my own wedding preparing the bouquets and arrangements. I got to bed in the wee hours and at 7 a.m. was back at my workbench putting together the bridal bouquet. Our job often makes heavy demands on us but the sight of a happy bride with a bouquet that is absolutely perfect for her makes it all worthwhile. Especially when the bride in question happens to be your own wife!"