A Look Back at Lockdown

Well hello little corner of the internet, how are you doing?
Are you coping okay with what our world looks like now, as we hopefully make our way to a ‘new normal’ (god I’m sick of that phrase - anyone else?).

I just wanted to write a little think piece on how lockdown was, as it’s been something that has been occupying my mind more than usual lately. As life begins to change once again, whether we want it too or not, I’ve been reflecting a lot on what a mad time its been for all - and how that actually includes me, and on a wider scale, floristry and the wedding industry in general. I’ve always been quite open and forthcoming with my thoughts, and today I wanted to ground this blog a small amount, and just simply, chat, dear reader, all about this crazy year and what’s been goin’ on. It’s a long one, so grab yourself a cuppa (of tea or wine, that’s your choice), and get settled in.

Now, you might know me as Hannah from Lily&Liz, but you might not know that when I’m not working on your stunning weddings and arrangements for delivery, I have a flower day job too, and one that was kind enough to support me during the majority of the dark months. I know a lot of my bloom buddies were not as fortunate as I to be supported and held afloat, and lockdown hit our community incredibly hard. It continues to do so. Some florists didn’t survive the wedding season drought and some are still fighting for survival.

In terms of flowers we were able to get our hands on, it’s been a rollercoaster ride. With lockdown hitting different parts of the world at different times, it changed what flowers were available, the cost of said flowers, the people who farmed, cultivated, cared for and sold them. It’s been hard to quote and navigate, and at times, barely any flowers were being brought to the UK at all. With farmers being in and out of lockdown, it meant that some flowers we would usually see in abundance now, just weren’t planted, or cut at the right time. Flowers we’ve needed might have come from further afield, and demand for what’s available is high. This all has a knock on affect in cost, and in quality. It’s a trend we will probably be feeling the effects of even in 2021, and as much as we will forever strive to do our best for our clients and customers, some things just can’t be changed. Some years it will be weather related, this year it’s been the pandemic.
Fortunately, this has meant there has been a return to home grown goodness, and I’ve loved taking this time to learn and fan girl over some amazing UK flower farmers, and their amazing blooms. If you’re looking for some amazing, power-as-well-as-green-houses to follow, I would highly recommend Wolves Lane Flower Company, Electric Daisy Flower Farm, The Midnight Garden and to find a grower local to you, you must follow Flowers From The Farm. They showcase and champion growers all year round, and their feed is one to fan over. I can’t wait to use more of British blooms in my weddings next year, and I also can’t wait for the balance to restore a bit worldwide.

Of course, I can’t write this post without mentioning the lack of me, and many of my communities, main source of joy - Weddings. If you have been one of the millions of couples who have had to cancel or postpone your wedding, I am truly sorry. I can’t imagine how stressful this time must’ve been for you, and I wish you all the love, hope and happiness despite this year maybe not being what you imagined. The constant rule changing, the constant wondering and waiting - it’s been nothing short of exhausting.
At the time of writing this post, the ‘Rule of 6’ has just come into effect, and I couldn’t be more relieved to see that weddings have been made an exception. As time went on, from March to June, and more places were given the opportunity to reopen, with the hope of ‘restoring the economy’, it was hard to see weddings not mentioned, not featured or seemingly thought of, at all. The amazing team at Love My Dress have been working hard on their campaign What About Weddings, and on Bank Holiday Weekend in August, they posted some incredible and heart breaking facts. 4452 Bank Holiday Weddings did not take place, 133,560 wedding sectors that lost work, and 347,256 wedding sector workers impacted with the loss of just one day’s weddings. Even more heartbreaking, they reported that the number of weddings postponed since lockdown across the UK was around 107,000, and our industry had lost £3billion, and counting. For a long time, the Government ignored us, offered us their freelance furlough scheme (in which one of my amazing wedding supplier friends was only offered under £100 for survival), chose to reopen pubs filled with strangers ‘social distancing’, but ignored the couples and their families, who would often be in a bubble together, celebrating marriage, companionship and love this year.

To say it was hard and heartbreaking was an understatement. I was meant to have my biggest bloom filled year yet, as were many people I know, and it was so saddening to see email after email, text after text, painfully checking 2021 dates and panicking to book in time for that special date. Venues booked up quicker than I’ve ever known, and now it’s having a knock on effect to newly engaged and hopeful couples, being told they must wait.
However, one of the most surprising, joyful and rewarding moments during the stressful start of lockdown, was the resilience and understanding each and every one of my couples gave me. They have supported me and my business in this tough time, sharing posts, being flexible and patient with me, just checking in and saying they love this blog (hello to you)! I’m not alone either - I am forever hearing story after story of couples going above and beyond for their suppliers, to show us we aren’t forgotten to them. It’s been inspiring, and a life line when I’ve cried over calendars and spreadsheets, remembering who I do this for and why I do this - to celebrate YOU, and your love.

And lastly. I seriously can’t write this and not mention the insanely talented and kind people I’ve met. Before lockdown, I had, at times, felt very lonely and out of my depth with the wedding industry. Everyone I met intimidated me, and I had no idea how little L&L could find a place and a home in this sector. But with so much time to write and think, I’ve found friends who inspire and encourage me. The supplier spotlight section of this blog has been a joy in learning and meeting those who are as passionate about what they do as I am. I’ve had a chance to connect and share with so many talented individuals who have sparked new dreams and possibilities for the future, and I have never needed it more. I’m coming out of lockdown tentatively, but also brighter. I have a new sense of self, of what I want Lily&Liz to be, and of who I am in this odd world. So to all of you, thank you - in particular my beautiful flower friend Maya, who motivates me to do better daily, Lewis, who makes me laugh and is a creative genius, and Amy, who is as equally kind and she is talented. If you want to see what we’ve been working on lately, keep an eye on our Instas!

If you have had to postpone your wedding, have decided to ‘f*ck this waiting game’ and are getting married sooner than planned, or have just got engaged (CONGRATS), I am always, and will continue to always be, here for you. Drop me a DM over on Insta, or Say Hey here!

Stay safe, support your local independent florists instead of Tesco, go to New Covent Garden Flower Market, follow Love My Dress and hashtag WhatAboutWeddings, check in with your suppliers, text your friends and family, go out in nature, eat cake (and lots of it - just me?)…
And most of all, stay hopeful.

Han xxx