Meet one of Saudi Arabia’s most famous floral designers, Abdulaziz Al-Noman, whose designs make sure the flowers perfectly express your bridal dreams.

Al-Noman is the owner and lead designer of Abdulaziz Al-Noman Floral Design Boutique and Studio in Jeddah. He started as an engineering student with a passion for flowers. “I didn’t know what attracted me to flowers, I didn’t know anything about floral design. Then I started working for a flower shop in Jeddah while I was going to university,” he said. “I worked at this shop after school hours for two months as a trainee without pay.”

After a while, Al-Noman and a friend started their own floral business in a small office. “My business partner once asked me to create a big flower bouquet for his father, who was in the hospital. It was the first bouquet I made on my own so I decided to go to the wholeseller and gets all the materials. I designed a two-meter flower bouquet and sent it to the hospital,” he said. “I was amazed by the feedback I got from people who saw the bouquet. Visitors to his father started writing on their coffee mugs and hung them on the bouquet,” he added.

This was the turning point for Al-Noman, when he changed his college major from power engineering to business management. “I reached a point where I wasn’t focusing on my studies as I was working all the time on orders and designing for weddings. This is when I became an external student in a business major just to make my parents happy and be a college graduate,” he said.

“As soon as I graduated from university I opened my first flower shop in a well-known mall in Jeddah. I enrolled in floral design courses and classes outside the Kingdom to learn more about this business,” Al-Noman added.

His first course was in the business of floristry, which he took in London. It taught him how to run a flower business.

“This course taught me how to deal with clients, employees and other important techniques in the flower business,” he said. “I also received a diploma in professional Dutch flower design in Holland and I learned how to arrange flowers in professional Dutch style,” he said.

“I also took a three-day private course in Belgium with a famous floral designer who taught me various important techniques in managing flowers,” said Al-Noman.

The floral designer updates himself with upcoming trends in the floral industry by following the Dutch flower auction and attending flower and flower accessories exhibitions. “Attending these events is an amazing experience as I get to learn about international flowers and make deals with international florists,” he said.

“Sometimes interior and floral designers match fashion and runway trends. Once we used crystals, feathers, mirrors and pastel colors and we saw the same trends in use by famous fashion designers on the runway,” Al-Noman said.

He said that he never makes the same design twice because he strives to bring novelty in all his designs. “Doing the same design twice is not an option for designers because it affects our reputation and people will start doubting our creativity,” said Al-Noman. “I dislike routine in my daily life, therefore I avoid it in my job as well as in my creative area,” he said.

Al-Noman’s flower boutique is known for exceptional flowers and designs, thanks to his unique taste and knowledge in the field. “All my clients come to me knowing that I can provide them with one of a kind design with flowers that are brought especially to my boutique from Holland,” he said.

Flower arrangement market is a huge market in Saudi Arabia, according to Al-Noman. “Out of a 100 designers who enter this market, only 10 percent will be successful and exceptional,” he said, adding, “the reason behind this is because many of them don’t have the experience and knowledge and they cannot be creative.”

“They cannot succeed in this market because Saudis are exposed to this business and know exactly what stands out,” said Al-Noman.

“Design your bouquet” is an interesting concept at Al-Noman’s boutique, where he urges costumers to design and create their own flower bouquets. “I like to involve my clients in the design and have them choose their own flowers and arrangement,” he said. “I want their bouquet to reflect their personality and all I do is stand next to them and tell them if the flowers match or not,” he said.

When asked about his favorite flower, Al-Noman said it is hard to say. “My favorites change constantly. With every new season, the color palette changes so I get to work with new colors. I love the flower market and the truly unique flowers it offers, which I incorporate into my arrangements,” he said.