About the Author

Orla Fennigan

12 yrs

Floristry as editorial practice. Orla has spent twelve years inside the specific, demanding world of bridal flowers - not as a decorator, but as someone who thinks carefully about what a bouquet is actually communicating on the day it matters most.

She began her career assisting at a small studio in Melbourne, learning which flowers hold overnight in warm weather and which collapse before the ceremony ends. That practical grounding shaped everything. Her writing on Claimharbor comes from that same place - specific, honest, and grounded in what actually works.

Seasonal Design Bridal Floristry Composition Styling

340+ Bouquets designed

60+ Articles published

4 Seasons covered

Bouquet design is deceptively technical. Flower choice, stem conditioning, seasonal availability, the way colour reads in different light - none of it is intuitive until you've made the mistakes. Orla writes to shorten that learning curve.

Seasonal Realism

Peonies in November, sweet peas in July - the gap between Pinterest and what's actually available is where most couples get caught. Orla maps what's in season across the Australian calendar, week by week.

Structure and Hold

A bouquet that photographs beautifully at 10am but droops by midday is a failure. She covers conditioning techniques, stem types, and the specific flowers that perform under heat and handling.

Colour in Context

Blush reads differently in a sandstone chapel versus a garden setting. Orla's pieces on colour account for light conditions, dress tone, and the visual weight of foliage - not just the flower itself.

Working with Florists

Knowing how to brief a florist - what to ask, what to show, what to leave open - changes the result. Orla writes practical guides for couples who want to collaborate rather than just hand over a mood board.

Lush garden-style bridal bouquet with layered textures and trailing greenery

Compact posy bouquet with ranunculus and dried accents

Loose romantic bouquet with soft pastel tones for an outdoor ceremony

Detail shot of ribbon-wrapped stems and wax flower clusters

Questions about a specific topic or a bouquet challenge you're working through? Reach Orla directly at help@claimharbor.online - she reads every message.