How one florist turned a local flower shop into one of Ireland’s most recognised wedding businesses – and the platform that helped get them there.
When Judi Roche started Balla Florists in County Mayo over 22 years ago, she faced a challenge that every small creative business knows intimately: how do you get discovered when you’re not in a big city, social media doesn’t yet exist, and your whole reputation depends on trust built face to face?
“Reaching engaged couples outside our immediate area was difficult,” Judi says, “and building trust with people who had never met us was even harder.”
For a wedding florist, that challenge goes deeper than ordinary marketing. Flowers are among the most personal choices a couple makes for their day. Before anyone books you, they need to see your work, feel your style, and believe you’ll deliver when it matters most. Without the right platform to showcase all of that, even the most talented florist can stay invisible.
The Decision That Changed Everything
Judi joined weddingsonline early in her business journey, back when the platform was already becoming the place where engaged couples across Ireland came to find their suppliers. It wasn’t a decision she made without thought.
“Like any small business owner, I had to think carefully about every euro I spent,” she says. “But I saw it as an investment rather than an expense. Looking back, it was one of the best marketing decisions I made.”
Over the years that followed, weddingsonline became far more than a listing. It became the engine behind Balla Florists’ growth, connecting the business with couples across Ireland and far beyond County Mayo, and helping build a reputation that now reaches couples nationally and abroad.
Awards That Opened New Doors
If there’s one milestone Judi returns to when she talks about growth, it’s the awards. Winning weddingsonline’s Florist of the Year award on multiple occasions has been, in her words, “a huge milestone.”
“The awards gave us tremendous credibility and confidence, and every win resulted in increased enquiries and visibility. Being recognised by couples and industry peers on a national platform was incredibly valuable.”
It’s a dynamic that many suppliers underestimate. Recognition doesn’t just feel good, it converts. Couples searching for florists see an award-winning business and enquire with confidence. The credibility that comes with being named best in your category on a trusted national platform carries real commercial weight.
The Numbers Behind the Story
Judi is clear-eyed about what weddingsonline has meant for the business in practical terms: hundreds of wedding enquiries generated over the years, with weddings now forming a core part of everything Balla Florists does. A significant proportion of those wedding clients either found the business directly through weddingsonline, or were influenced by the credibility and visibility the platform provided.
Beyond the bookings, it’s also been a network. As Judi put it in her own words: “It has allowed us to build lasting relationships with brides, collaborate with talented suppliers, and stay at the forefront of the wedding industry. The exposure and credibility that come with being part of this network have been instrumental in the success of Balla Florists.”
Honest Advice From Someone Who’s Seen It All
After 22 years in the wedding industry, Judi’s advice to suppliers considering weddingsonline is grounded and worth listening to:
“I’d say consistency matters. You don’t join any platform and expect instant results overnight. The suppliers who benefit most are the ones who invest in their profile, collect reviews, keep their work updated and engage with enquiries professionally. For us, weddingsonline has been a long-term partnership rather than a quick marketing exercise, and it’s delivered excellent value over many years.”
That’s not a marketing line. That’s the hard-won perspective of someone who has watched trends come and go, survived the upheaval of lockdowns, and built something that has lasted.
What’s Next
Balla Florists today looks very different from where it started. What began as a traditional flower shop in County Mayo has evolved into a specialist studio-based business focused on weddings and events, and Judi is excited about the chapter ahead.
Twenty-two years in, multiple national award wins, and thousands of weddings created for couples across Ireland. Not a bad result for an investment she was once unsure about.
Are you a wedding supplier looking to grow your business in Ireland? Join the platform that’s been helping suppliers like Judi build thriving wedding businesses for over two decades.
