Checking-in with…
Alex Ball, Wedding and Event Florist
This month we enjoyed some flowery chat with the blooming marvellous Alex Ball, who designs and installs all our wonderful floral displays. Alex was raised in the garden by her horticulturist mother and has been creating wedding flowers in Rye for over 27 years. Describing herself as her clients’ “floral wingwoman”, she has brought their decorative visions to life for their most memorable occasions, whether it be a wildflower arch, an elegant bridal bouquet or a bold, statement floral installation. She specialises in sourcing natural, garden-style wedding flowers and seasonal arrangements, using locally sourced blooms, textures and foliage to create designs that feel effortless, romantic and each one unique. We have loved working with her over all these years and look forward to many more!
What brings you to The George?
I moved to Rye 28 years ago when I met my husband, who is Rye born and bred. Before that, I’d spent a lifetime working in the horse racing industry, both in the UK and abroad. Moving to Rye was completely life-changing, but I embraced it — the countryside, the seasons, and the slower pace — and gradually found my way into gardening, and later, floristry.
I’ve always loved gardening, horses, and the countryside. I was born in West Cornwall and spent my early childhood there, so Rye felt oddly familiar from the start: coastal, creative, and just slightly off the edge of things. One of my earliest memories is of my father buying a fishing boat and watching it being lowered into the water at Falmouth Docks. I remember asking what “RX” meant on the hull and being told it had come from Rye — which feels like a neat bit of life-long foreshadowing.
When my husband and I first got together, he owned a marquee company, and I’d often go along to help. That’s where I first discovered wedding floristry. I remember taking down a marquee after a wedding and seeing all the flowers simply left behind. They were huge white lilies — not really my style — but I took them home and started rearranging them. I remember thinking, I’d do this differently. That curiosity eventually grew into Flowers in Rye, very much shaped by the seasons and the landscape around us.
What is your first George Hotel memory?
I met Katie and Alex when they moved into a rental cottage across the courtyard while refurbishing their own house. Our children were the same age and ended up at the local primary school together. At the time, I had a small cutting garden at home, and Katie asked if I’d supply flowers for the vase arrangements at The George when they first took it on.
The transformation since then has been incredible. I remember attending Matilda’s birthday party in the ballroom, complete with a giant bouncy castle — it was a very different ballroom in those days.
After a long break following the fire and the lockdowns, it’s been a real pleasure to be back at The George in my fourth year as in-house florist. Through Flowers in Rye, I now look after the weekly restaurant and hotel flowers, alongside wedding flowers, dried installations, and the Christmas decorations. I love that my work here changes gently with the seasons — and that it feels very much part of the life of the building.
What is special about staying away in a hotel for you?
Time — especially time for a really good breakfast and a lie-in. I’m usually up early and straight out the door juggling flowers, weddings, dogs, and everything else, so sitting down to breakfast feels wonderfully indulgent.
What are you currently reading/ listening to?
I mostly read books on holiday and really enjoyed Circling the Sun by Paula Mclain recently.
I constantly listen to audiobooks and podcasts whilst working. My favourite florist-themed podcast is Flowers after Hours, with Matthew Landers and Joseph Massie – they are so funny. Current audiobook is The Wedding People by Alison Espach, but I like anything that’s light-hearted and funny.
Besides The George, which hotel would you most like to check out?
Without googling some, I wouldn’t have a clue, however I wouldn’t say no to a luxury ski-in, ski-out spa hotel somewhere like St Moritz, but I would also be happy with somewhere sunny, surrounded by tropical plants and flowers, my brother tells me the Seychelles is nice.
Hypothetically, who would you most like to discover is a fellow guest?
Probably Hugh Grant or Hugh Jackman. I’ve spotted quite a few famous faces at The George while doing flowers early in the morning, but I’m far too introverted to say more than hello. I’d either be completely star-struck or not recognise them at all and say something ridiculous. I once asked Derren Brown what he did for a living…
What is your favourite feature in The George?
Well this is tricky because it’s all gorgeous, but I do like the bar! For obvious reasons.
What helps you get to sleep at night?
A very long day doing wedding flowers. It’s not just playing with pretty blooms — it’s extremely physical work (which I strangely enjoy)
That, and a glass (or two) of red wine.
Do you have a lift story to share?
No not really, I once got in a dumb waiter, in a Scottish castle, which we won’t go into…
However, I’m really glad that The George now has a lift, having had to repurpose a full floral arch from the Courtyard to the Ballroom last year for a wedding.
My secret Rye discovery is…
The view from the top of the church. I love looking down over all the gardens, with the marsh and coastline stretching out beyond — it never gets old.
