Florist Abby Schofield is proof that just because you are based regionally, it doesn’t mean you miss out on the big city opportunities.

Earlier this year, the 26-year-old who owns Once and Flor’al by Abby, was commissioned by Channel Seven to do the flower installations for the Farmer Wants A Wife speed date settings that were filmed in Dubbo and Mudgee.

She was also invited to be part of Pride Month in Sydney, exhibiting two colourful floral mannequin creations at Paddy’s Markets and The Calyx at the Royal Botanic Garden.

Developing a love for flowers through her nan, after finishing school in Year 11 in 2013, Ms Schofield worked full time at a local florist.

“I was always very inspired by my nan and her beautiful gardens, she taught me to make flower crowns and press flowers from a young age,” she told Dubbo Photo News.

“In my first job, I was delivering flowers, conditioning flowers and shop assisting. I worked there for nearly here years and really enjoyed it.”

After a stint in Sydney tipping her toes in fashion and working in high-end retail stores, she returned to Dubbo when the pandemic hit and began planning her next pivotal move.

“It was then that I came across Pearson’s School of Floristry in Darlinghurst and registered to start studying when they opened back up,” she said.

“While I was waiting, I did a few floral jobs for friends and really loved it, so I started business planning and created my socials and website under the name Once and Flor’al by Abby.”

“I ended up with lots of wedding enquiries before I had even started my course which was super exciting and promising for me.”

When the floristry school reopened, Ms Schofield did a three-month fast-tracked course to get her Certificate III in Floristry.

The course covered the creative side including designs, colours, conditioning, names and origins flowers, as well as the more operational business side, like pricing, sourcing and key grower contacts.

From humble beginnings working out of a granny flat, today Once and Flor’al by Abby has its own store front on Hawthorn Street, which also houses a studio that can be hired for shoots and events.

As well as doing weddings and events, the florist offers bespoke bouquets which can be ordered online or instore for pickup and delivery.

There is also a flower subscription service where you can have fresh flowers delivered to your business, home or AirBnB on a weekly or fortnightly basis.

Asked what she loves most about her career as a florist, Ms Schofield said it’s a tough call between creating the designs and seeing the reactions of her customers.

“Having a vision and seeing it come to life will never get old,” she said.

“I love creating for weddings and events and seeing it all tie in together.”

“I also love getting to deliver my own flowers and getting to see happy faces. It has been almost 10 years since I was delivering flowers so to come full circle and be delivering my own creations is really special.”

More of the more challenging aspects of the job is the reliance on nature.

“It is hard to guarantee certain flowers so when quoting a job six months or more out.”

“You never really know if you can get a particular colour or if that flower might start later in the season.”

Ms Schofield’s next major project is the highly anticipated Queen of the West Ladies Race Day this Saturday.

She is responsible for creating the table pieces for the main marque, a couple of floral art displays for around the grounds, and bouquets for the winners of Fashions on the Field.