In wedding flowers


February 23 2015

 

 

This business is a funny little machine that runs on imagination, creativity, strong people skills, ability to move quickly, a strong back, bucket love or hate for that matter, the ability to prepare the most awesome tool box
 tape?- check, pins?- check, tire fix it kit?- check, coffee?-uhhh, 32oz. check!

and always…Always be prepared for the unseen…
 {rain, flower death, electrical mishaps, traffic and your occasional family feuds}

And with all those things that run and keep this business going,,,its the families,
friends, Mother’s & Daughters that inspire me.

 I have had the amazing blessing to be welcomed into the inner circle of  families on one of their most triumphant moments, finding myself a witness to the covered emotions waiting to explode at the moment of giving a daughter away and gaining a son, or vice versa—filled with hopes by this beauty of celebrating love
. Each family has left a lasting vivid impression

The Bride- Stunning
The Groom – Stunned
The Party – Outstanding
Me – Tired but elated

This past weekend brought the close of a celebration of a family, that I have come
to adore. Their daughter married a sweetheart of a man and their future is huge! To let you know what type of love these two have, they chose to visit the hospital with me, one day after their ceremony, to hand out flowers to patients going through chemotherapy treatment.  Each person that came in contact with them today, were touched by their beginning as husband and wife….to stop and bless others, when; this, their moment to be all consumed by eachother and Maui, didn’t seem to matter at this moment.

All because a boy fell in love with a girl and we all stood back in awe.

 

Visiting ST. Josephs Hospital, arms filled with their wedding flowers and hearts full of compassion.

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{A clamoring of two}
the loud hubbub
{me and my hub……:)}
Our home is a hubbub of clamoring kids, adults, friends, neighbors, dogs, homework, ministry, drama, boyfriends, computer clichés, movies & good food….we are just a loud group…we are not Italian…but for some reason,,,we speak loud, laugh loud & yes, I love to sing opera while cooking in the kitchen…doesn’t everyone? good acoustics? good for the neighbors? & it makes the food taste better??? Right?
to my ears…I think I can hit a note or two, but according to my family…. i would send Placido Domingo
screaming through the streets in town gasping for mercy
As if he would even be in my presence….ppffff
{no!! not even if he was here…we {my fam}are telling you,,,
he would be screaming in the streets of his own town! from Italy!}
Nice..:(
Well, anyhoo…
There..
. at the moment, is a calmness and quietness filling our home.
All seems to be bearing down, preparing for the storm of the wedding season to explode and all the action that takes place.
I have this great little space called the hubbub where all the action and magic happens for weddings and events and Ive been moving furniture around…in hopes of making more room in the hub…. collecting vintage treasures, whatnots, beauty to only me things,,,is so much fun and such an outlet of design and creativity…ive used a few pieces for a couple of the weddings last year….hopefully, they will also cast a look at some other weddings or events coming up.
Its all in a days work and the clamoring of getting things done.
I cant wait to start this wedding season and watch what
each Bride, Groom, Mother, Father, Friend & Neighbor will be clamoring and hubbubing about as they celebrate….LOVE… of two very special people, about to commit to each other and create their own type of
 hub & bub
{a voice that holds a note might help}
Pamela ox
 

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As I prepare for an amazing wedding coming up this weekend…I realize, this wedding will be my last one for the season….so I ask…

How are we doing?
How is everyone?
We have organized, simplified and designedified our
hearts out, but still, I deal with this annoying voice in my head…
“you could have done better,,,,you should have used that flower instead of
this one..and you should have,,,why didn’t you?”
 as the conversations goes inside and outside my mind.
I realize this voice can be damaging and so I try to tame it…but then, it’s the voice that keeps me reaching for better.
I have also, learned a few things along the way,that I need to implement and I would like to lay them all out on the table here,,,
for me and you to see.
 
I hope it helps you, as it will me, to see it in writing,
 imprinted as a command to get it done…
to those of you searching to start a flower business….coming from one with no business background….
please read my following tidbits of wisdom learned along the way –
 

 

1. Receipts – Im terrible at keeping records..i have learned..
. this is the 
year to buy quick books and budget all my expenses and keep track of my profit and loss.  so important to know what is coming in and what is going out…how to adjust pricing and pay for taxes.
{I stash $ away in a separate savings for the ole government}
 
2. Inventory – It has been hard for me to keep track of all my vintage pieces and therefore….the need to organize and photocatogorize my inventory on my computer to show brides and not run around my shop looking for a sample piece.  I will be out vintage shopping,  buy a great piece, only to find,,the same one hidden in the back of my shop. Uuuugggg!
 
3. Staff – Find great people to work with…don’t keep the nay sayers around, find those people that say “lets do this….” find people that are visionaries.
Not everyone on my staff is perfect, but we know each others strengths and weaknesses and work within them.
 
4. Goals – Make a new business plan each year. adjust and readjust, until it makes sense to you. Where do you want to be this time next year? Your city counsel office has people that volunteer their time to help and counsel entrepreneurs…take advantage of it.
 
5. Diversify – When the wedding season slows down, its great to have other facets to your business to lean on. I’m expanding my retail and rental side, also looking in to expanding sparrow – flowers for people dealing with cancer and aids. Im not sure how this growth will happen, its always scary to take risk,,,but then that’s what the entrepreneur spirit is all about..with vision, passion, business planning and seeking advice and wisdom from my peers…it will happen.
 

 
Best to you all my flower feigns…..and most of all, love what you do, laugh and dance to your favorite tunes while you design and create. Be honored to take part in the beauty of a Bride as she graces the wedding aisle, the glimpse of her groom as he sees her and the emotion of a Mother or Father as they give her away. These captured moments are a gift, not to be taken lightly…..so
Be confident and honored….Pamela
 


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