Have you ever been asked by a client to do a mock-up for their event and been a little unsure about what your process should be? We’re talking about that in this video.

There are two types of mock-ups: internal (for your eyes only) and external (for your client).

I have yet to do an external mock-up and probably never will (unless it’s paid or it can be used in an internal capacity). I do however value internal mock-ups. Internal mock-ups can help you nail pricing, orders, and mechanics. I think they’re very valuable. They don’t require special product orders and you can use recycled flowers. Take a peek in this video to see our latest internal mock-up.

Creating a Floral Design Mock-Up Is Smart!

Even if it’s not your practice to create mock-ups for a client’s review, doing a test run of new designs (especially ones where you’re trying out new-to-you floral design mechanics) is a good idea. It acts as a reality check for your plans and will help inform your buying decisions, supply reserves, and set up plans on the day of the event.

In this tablescape mock-up, I found the desired candles didn’t fit snugly into the holders, and a solution was hatched in the moment: a bit of plastic wrap molded around the base of the candlestick added volume and thus kept the taper snug and upright, so all the candles got pre-prepped with that feature ahead of the event. Mocking-up a design beforehand can shed light on little details and changes needed, like the candle-prepping one!

For something of this scale, the most sustainable business decision would be to charge for the mock-up. Beyond payment for your materials and the trouble, the timing (likely only a few weeks before event day to ensure that the same product you plan to use will be available), and your client’s emotional state that close to the event are important factors to consider when weighing the value of agreeing to a mock-up.

Remember to make the decision that will be best for both of you before committing!  

Key Points to Remember when Creating Floral Design Mock-Ups:

1. Using your leftover flowers from events to try out new ideas is a great way to execute mock-ups at low cost.

2. A hot tip for mock-ups that involve glassware is to use actual white gloves for handling glass candle holders or vessels. They can save you cleaning time before putting them back into storage. Even on event day, white gloves are a great substitute for windex and paper towels when it comes to wiping smudges!

3. The timing, scope, and scale of a mock-up are important factors to consider before agreeing to do them officially for a client.

Take a look below to see the final work on installation day that this mock-up helped create!