Photograph Courtesy of Estelle
Whether you’re having a simple elopement or a full wedding ceremony, flowers are pretty essential when it comes to any type of ceremony. Not only do those pretty petals make a statement, but they are also one detail that will most certainly be photographed the most! (This is of course not counting you and your wonderful groom!) So, it is important to have a florist who you can trust and work with to make all those important aspects that you’ve been envisioning a reality! That is why we count on our fabulous florist, Estelle of Estelle Preston Flowers. She is as sweet as a rose smells and works wonders with her buds and blossoms.
Q: So, how did you get started and how long have you been a florist?
A: I started my career in theatre and after things ended there, I quickly realized that it would be impossible for me to have a “normal” desk job ever again. I needed something that involved creativity — something just a bit different. After realizing my calling came in the form of poesies and roses, I did my training at Hadlow College in Kent, England and have been working as a florist for last 16 years now.
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Photography by Olivier Lalin of WeddingLight
Q: What was your inspiration then to go into this line of work?
A: I had grown up in the countryside where my parents had a farm, so the element of nature had always been there for me. I knew that I wanted a job that included both this love of nature and was something creative. So after a friend of mine who happened to be a florist asked for some help with a few events, I knew that that was where my heart belonged. After my training and working at a flower shop, everything just seemed to fall into place. In the end, I actually get to put my theater background to use by helping brides create the fairytale wedding of their dreams!
Q: Tell us, are you married? What was your wedding like?
A: Romance certainly seems to follow this lovely florist around… I married an Englishman who I met here in Paris and now we have a little boy named Jules (what a great name!) Planning, I admit, was a bit difficult as a florist. But in the end I had a wonderful winter wedding. The location I chose was a place in Ireland that my family and I had been going to for years on holidays and so it was some place very near and dear to me. I decided to have our ceremony in an old rustic church that had terrible lighting. But I filled the church with lovely pillar candles (can you imagine??) and Christmas roses, (which are my favorite) amaryllis, and calla lilies. How magical!
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Photography by Olivier Lalin of WeddingLight
Q: Tell us about the services you provide? Do you specialize in anything particular?
A: I provide bespoken floral services. We can assure you that she provides much more than just that! One of the most important qualities about Estelle and her work is that she really goes that extra mile. I deal mainly with English-speakers from aboard, so it is essential and a pleasure for me to build a relationship with my brides. All of my designs and arrangements are unique and I have no pre-designed packages, that is why this friendship and trust is crucial for a success arrangement or bouquet. We can certainly attest to that and understand that it is difficult while planning from aboard. On top of that, once everything has been chosen and the day has finally arrived, I personally deliver each and every order myself. It is absolutely wonderful to see each brides react once she sees her flowers. It makes the work that I do so much better. I also keep in contact with some of my past brides and when they return to Paris on holiday we try and meet up for coffee and a little chat!
Q: Do you have any funny stories or other great moments that you can tell us about?
A: As far as funny stories go, this one definitely tops the list. Now, imagine if Wonder Woman and the Roman goddess, Flora were to somehow combine into one — this is how we envision Estelle and her dedication to her work and brides… Once, I had a bride call saying that she had forgotten her bouquet at her apartment. I tracked down a scooter and raced back to the apartment to retrieve the forgotten flowers. But, the tricky part was on the way to the bride. While the driver was concentrating on getting me to the ceremony, I was trying to make sure that none of the flowers were damaged by the wind, road bumps and/or the driver veering through traffic. Of course, everything stayed in place as it should have and the bride got her bouquet just in time for her ceremony! But, I do have to say it was pretty wild. YAY – we love a happy ending!
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Photography by Olivier Lalin of WeddingLight
Great moments between clients happen a lot. But, one in particular stands out for me. I was delivering a bouquet to a bride and when I walked into the apartment, the bride happened to be Skyping with her mother. When the bride showed her mother the bouquet she started to cry and so did the bride, which in turn made me get teary too! It was such a lovely and intimate moment and I was thankful to have been able to be a part of it and to receive that kind of a touching compliment. It certainly is a wonderful feeling knowing that your work is meaningful and appreciated. How wonderful!
Q: Tell us about your Paris. What are some of your favorite spots here?
A: I live in the 15th arrondissement of Paris and just love rue du Commerce. It has a bit of everything, like a great tea place and shoe store. I also love Le Bon Marché and a perfume boutique, (I LOVE perfume!) that is called Annick Goutal Paris. They have beautiful perfumes and I have two favorite scents: one that is a romantic floral blend (very fitting!) and another that is called “Le grand amour,” which would also be great for brides.
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Photography by Olivier Lalin of WeddingLight
Q: Ok, last question. Do you have any overall advice for brides?
A: I think my biggest tip would be to keep in mind the space that you have whether is been for the ceremony or reception. There are tons of ideas and examples out there now with blogs and sites like Pinterest, but not all arrangements or ideas correspond to or are achievable in every location. It’s just good to keep that in mind when thinking about decor. Continuity is also key. Stick with one type of arrangement or idea and let that make a bold statement rather than mixing and matching everywhere. A clean, simple look is always best.
Wow, thanks, Estelle ! That was wonderful!
We certainly hope that all of you out there fall for our fabulous florist just as much as we have and know that you will be well taken care of when it comes to deciding your bouquet or floral arrangements!
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Photography by Olivier Lalin of WeddingLight
