Katya Hutter is a floral designer based in Amsterdam, specialising in creating luxury and artistic floral décor for private clients, weddings, events, and the fashion industry. Demonstrating a style that is lush, abundant, and surprising, Katya draws inspiration from the wonder and beauty of nature. Her floral designs are seasonal, always unique, and have an artistic flair. You may have seen Katya’s work in publications such as ‘Style Me Pretty,’ ‘Weddings & Honeymoons,’ ‘Amber & Muse,’ and ‘Wedvibes.’ In this discussion, we explore Katya’s career path, personal style, and favorite locations.
I’m a studio-based florist and work exclusively on assignments for luxury and ultra-luxury weddings and events. My team of up to 30 florists and I work with wedding planners, event designers – they contact me through my website and social media channels….”
Katya Hutter, Katya Hutter Floral Design
C&B: “What first inspired your career in floral design, how did you gain your experience and where have your floral installations been seen?”
KH: “I love flowers and designing – colours, shapes, combinations of floral materials, styles, looks and feels, seasons, locations, and wedding and event themes – all of it inspires my creativity. Each wedding and event I work on is unique and bespoke; I’ve never created the same design twice in my life. This is what creativity is all about: producing one-of-a-kind installations; I believe there are endless ways to create new designs…”
“In the past, I worked with almost all A-list magazines as a fashion stylist and photo producer. Since I shifted my focus to floral design, my work has been regularly featured in wedding blogs and magazines, including Style Me Pretty, Weddings & Honeymoons, Amber & Muse, and Wedvibes, to name a few. I was recently interviewed by the Australian broadcaster ABC for their program about Aalsmeer and the floral industry here in the Netherlands. I also regularly write a blog for the well-known floriculture platform Thursd and work extensively in my industry, collaborating with iconic English rose breeder David Austin, the world’s leading rose grower Alexandra Farms, and other notable names. I enjoy being connected and sharing my knowledge with consumers, colleagues, and professionals in my field.”
I have two work locations: a creative studio in Amsterdam and a larger workshop in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands, near the world’s largest flower auction, in the heart of the industry, just a 30-minute drive from Amsterdam…”
Katya Hutter, Katya Hutter Floral Design
C&B: “In Amsterdam, the home of international floristry, you have the widest range of gorgeous flowers to work with; which are your personal favourites?”
KH: “You only have to take a look at my portfolio and it’s pretty obvious – I love garden roses! For me, they are the most beautiful flowers in the world; I love their sensitive blooms, many petals, delicate stems, and the unique scent of each variety of rose…”
C&B: “Yes, roses are always a favorite as they are classics. When engaged to work on a project, do you travel, or are you mainly based in the Netherlands?”
KH: “I mostly work in Europe – here in the Netherlands, France, Italy, and Spain; these are the most popular European countries for luxury destination weddings. However, most of my clients come from abroad – the USA, Asia, and other European countries…”
I love Italian venues, especially on Lake Como; when I see the monumental gardens, the Renaissance buildings, and the breathtaking views, I often have to cry! It’s unbelievable how much beauty there is, both natural and man-made…”
Katya Hutter, Katya Hutter Floral Design
C&B: “Italy is a fabulous location – so many destinations of outstanding beauty that bring tears to the eyes – Lake Como, Portofino, Capri – and all of them are perfect for large or small occasions. Which type of events do you work on the most – do they tend to be small format or major gatherings? Which are your favourites?”
KH: “I love to work in both formats; my style is a mix of garden style and glamorous contemporary style, and it’s very detailed. In the past, I’ve used up to thirty-five different varieties of flowers and foliage in installations for a single event. The more varieties there are, the more complex the design. For smaller, intimate weddings, I appreciate that I can create many designs myself, which allows me to showcase my skills and artistry. For larger events, my focus shifts to overseeing the bigger picture while other skilled artisans implement my designs. It’s a great pleasure to see everything come to life and to watch how a large-scale event design unfolds.”
C&B: “Agreed! There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing your vision come to life! Which has been your best creative experience so far?”
KH: “They say you’re as good as your last project; one of my favourite projects was a recent wedding I did with one of the best Dutch wedding designers, Shirley Pisano from Bloom Weddings & Events, here in the Netherlands. We completed over 200 metres of ultra-luxury floral decor using 30,000 flowers in 25 varieties, including 12 stunning varieties of garden roses, rare Japanese Wabara roses, beautiful French roses, and unique Black Pearl roses, among others. I loved the colour scheme—cream, blush, beige, old pink, and deep red. It was truly unique, and the glamorous garden style of the wedding is one of my favorites. My floral design plan, called ‘Rose Gardens of the World’, had 111 pages and included detailed recipes for all designs. It was an intense and exciting project, involving 30 team members and over 2,500 hours of work…”
C&B: “That’s incredible – it must have taken everything you have to create and produce; are there any unique challenges you have to overcome when you’re installing something like that?”
KH: “Extremes in weather! I’ve just returned from Mallorca, and the weather there was very hot. During the installation, we were in the middle of a heatwave and had to change our installation planning to ensure the flowers stayed fresh for the ceremony and dinner setups. At the same time, in the Netherlands, it was very cold and rainy, a disappointment for many couples who had their weddings planned in the middle of July. Climate change is a major challenge for our industry…”
C&B: “Yes, this is a topic that’s regularly being raised by florists, gardeners and farmers who know more than most about the reality of climate change as they’re in constant proximity to nature…”
I love to work with colours, and I love art and unique designs; my dream project would have an exciting colour scheme, involve art, and be set in a most romantic, dreamy location. I look forward to meeting other dreamers who are willing to create something artistic, one-of-a-kind, very personal, and unforgettable…”
Katya Hutter, Katya Hutter Floral Design
C&B: “On a final note, which other lifestyle brands do you like to collaborate with, and why?”
KH: “Here in the Netherlands, my favourite wedding designer and planner is Shirley Pisano from Bloom Weddings & Events; I love her styling and design ideas, and we both have an eye for detail. My work is opulent, romantic, and rich, and so is Shirley’s; her styling is luxurious and very refined. Together, we create something bespoke and unique for our clients here in the Netherlands and abroad. I also love to collaborate with famous perfume houses; one of my latest collaborations was with Guerlain; an assignment secured through Shirley, I designed a floral waterfall with luxury roses in a gradient from cream to old pinks and chocolate for their exclusive ‘Private Collection’ range. It was a memorable design…”
CREDITS:
Photography: @alexandravonkphoto
Videography: @blondenblauwfilms
Wedding Planner: @bloomwedding
Floral Designer: @katyahutterfloraldesign
WEBSITE: http://www.katyahutterfloraldesign.com
