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Floral artist seeking to offer unforgettable wedding day to couples
Nicolai Bergmann / Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel Seoul
By Jun Ji-hye
By Jun Ji-hye
The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has changed many things in life, including weddings, and this has also affected the design work of Nicolai Bergmann, a world-renowned floral artist.
Bergmann says people seem to have become much more connected with their families and friends during the pandemic, as the scale and number of weddings have been limited during this time.
“We've seen people place more importance on spending quality time with the people that are dearest to them,” Bergmann said during an interview with The Korea Times. “This is reflected in my floral designs. We've definitely become more particular about the small details in our design so that the bride and groom and all of the guests can feel the moment when the flowers are at their most beautiful state.”
Bergmann, who is in charge of flower decorations for wedding ceremonies to be held at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul in spring and summer in 2022, has decided to adopt the theme of “The Garden of Dreams,” a quiet forest in the center of a bustling city, in a bid to bring flower-filled fairytale weddings to life in the center of Seoul.
“You will see trees spreading out at all angles and at the end of the aisle, the hotel icon tree is lit up in a dream-like state,” Bergmann said. “In a time where we find ourselves living with many restrictions, I hope that my design provides a sense of escape and a beautiful forest-like space to roam freely.”
He added, “I hope that my floral designs, which are a fusion of Western and Eastern design sensibilities, stimulate lively conversations, provide a memorable experience and leave lasting impressions on the guests.”
Flower decorations for a wedding in the Grand Ballroom of Four Seasons Hotel Seoul / Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel Seoul
Bergmann oversees flower decoration not only for weddings but also for all spaces of the hotel including the lobby and public areas. He noted that the important tasks in choosing the kinds of flowers and designing venues are to make sure that the floral arrangements suit that particular space and that the seasons can be felt through his work.
“And of course they should be in harmony with the interior design elements of the entire hotel including the beautiful art pieces,” he said.
While growing up, Bergmann had many opportunities to come in contact with nature, as his father was a plant wholesaler, his mother was a florist and his grandfather managed an apple plantation.
He went to plant exhibitions with his father, made Christmas wreaths with his mother and helped with the harvest at his grandfather's plantation.
“In that sense, I think my path into the world of floristry was a natural one. When I think back now, I feel maybe it was inevitable that I pursued this line of work,” he said.