A little Q&A with Jessica from The Petal Company

Q Did you always want to be a florist growing up? Why are you drawn to flowers?

I have always loved flowers but I didn’t realize until my early 20s that I wanted my career to be doing what I loved and working with them. As a little girl I was always obsessed with flowers, plants and nature. Instead of lemonade stands I had flowers stands. In high school I used to read through the Sunset “Western Garden Book” every night and just study it. In college I was so familiar with all the plants that my now Husband would quiz me, shocked him everytime with how much I knew my stuff. **There are over 8,000 plants in the book, haha!

Q How did The Petal Company start?

I have worked with flowers for 11 years. I started out in the Safeway floral department at 18 and worked for a few different flower shops through college as well as a landscape architect. Eventually, I figured out that I am going to be working for a very long time so I might as well love what I do. I mulled the idea around for probably 3 years, I had even decided on a company name back in 2007. In 2009 I decided to just jump in. I started out with a few family and friends’ weddings as well as my own and almost 4 years later we are growing at a rapid pace!

Q What is big this year in flowers?

As for color, the Pantone color of the year is Emerald but my clients are using a lot of coral and peach. We are doing a lot of free-form and natural-looking centerpieces and bouquets. Very garden-like.

Q Where does a bride and groom start when it comes to floral?

We are a custom floral and event design company, meaning we do not have a set price list. All of our clients are different so naturally their weddings are too. We like to get to know our couples and try to make their big day really reflect their personality. The first step is a complimentary consultation, where the bride and groom come into our design studio and we discuss their wedding vision. I ask that before coming in they fill out our Initial Consultation Form and bring in any inspiration photos, color swatches, etc. that will better help me understand their vision. If they are unsure of the direction they want to go in we can design the entire day for them as well, everything from menus and invitations, to floor plans, linens and lighting.

Q Where does the inspiration and design come from?

Honestly it can come from the smallest detail, a favorite color, a linen, a family heirloom, a font, etc. the list is endless. I think the best design is when it really represents the couple. The day is all about you and your love so I think the design really should just scream the couple. I love when guests walk in and say “wow this is so ______ & ______!”

Q What are some need-to-knows when it comes to wedding floral? Things that are a must and things to avoid?

I would say to be upfront about budget and pay attention to the season you are getting married in. I know it may be difficult to talk about budget but it plays a HUGE factor in not just florals but anything wedding related. Also sometimes I have clients that love a certain bloom and want it  to be a huge focus for the decor but they are getting married at a time when the bloom isn’t in season. This will one make it very difficult to get the bloom and two the price is going to be much higher. If you are set on a flower than make sure you are getting married during its peak season or be willing to pay a lot.

Q What is your dream wedding?

Honestly, I don’t know. Sorry totally not helpful but this is way too difficult to answer. I love all different wedding themes and colors and styles. There is no way I can choose one. For my actual wedding the colors were essentially chosen by my hubby. I couldn’t make up my mind.

Q What’s your favorite flower?

Wow another difficult question! haha! I can’t answer. I love all flowers equally! Yes ALL FLOWERS! They all have their place and are equally beautiful in their own way.

 Super cute Banner made by: Cookie Mondays

Hair and Makeup by: The Make Up Dolls

Beautiful Location : Frog Hollow Farms

A few highlights from 2012. We feel so honored and lucky to witness so many beautiful and such happy moments in peoples lives.  Looking forward to see what 2013 brings

Happy New Year!

I was honored to be nominated and featured as A Daring Doer on the Spark and Hustle website a few weeks ago. Tory Johnston has a wealth of information on her site about women in small business. The Spark and Hustle Tour is under way and I can’t wait to go and absorb some serious business knowledge!  You can check out the entire article here.

Photographing a photographer is a little intimidating, but when working with the  talented and sweet Jamie of Jaime Lauren Photography  those feelings went away pretty quickly.  It was great to shoot someone so passionate about photography and her business as I am. We geeked out on photo gear, her bag of very awesome cameras, and photographers we admired. We definitely had to stop chatting and get back to work or we might have missed this beautiful yummy light.

“Dwell in possibility”- Emily Dickinson

I am a big fan of “the list” ! There is nothing more satisfying than crossing off or checking an accomplished task.  With the New Year here everyone has their resolutions. Sure I could make a resolution to use that gym membership I have been paying for, or maybe not eat chocolate every day… things I should be doing and say every year.

This year I am making my Top Ten Shoot list. These are shoots I have been thinking about and never end up doing. Some are personal, and some for my portfolio.  I want to push myself creatively and I want to dwell in the possibilities.  Just take a simple concept and shoot it “outside the box”. The list might not be completed in 2012 but that’s okay. I  will be posting the shoots as I do them.  So excited to share them and see what I an check off!   Here is to a creative and Happy New Year!

As I frantically searched the internet for it, my heart was pounding. I was so mad and – let’s face it – I get a little obsessed!  There it was… my image, one of my most beloved images had been used in a blog and not just one blog, but it was used 446 more times according to the Google image search!  The kicker?  The photo credit was not mine, or there was no photo credit used at all.  Then I started writing everyone who used it.  I was sick.  This was my image and no one knew I took it!

My image was used from Bloggers to Tumblrs to Pinteresters.  It seemed to make it around the world from China to Chicago, France and Japan.  People changed it and converted it into horrible colors. They wrote about how thankful they were for their new jobs, their family, friends, and their lives.  Then it hit me… it was actually staring me in the face.

I’M THANKFUL FOR TODAY

Really?!  I thought, “Are you actually going to write 446 different people about this picture?” As I clicked from one site to the other I began kinda smiling – That’s my image!  One of my most beloved images inspired so many people and was used 446 times!  Who knows how many readers saw my image and were inspired.  I had to let go and be grateful. Grateful I have a love and a passion for this art and it is my job. I have the means to travel (NY where the image was taken) with amazing friends. Not to mention my boyfriend Jeff who brings me down to earth when I can’t see anything else (Thank you – you were right).

I will chalk this up to experience and just be Thankful for Today!

“The key to change is to let go of fear” -Roseanne Cash