Tell us what makes your business different from other wedding companies?
I hold a Bachelors Degree in Dramatic Arts and am a Certified Floral Designer. My previous career in Theatre, and my specialty training has made me especially skilled in event design and production. My core staff are all Theatre professionals who transitioned into roles in my shop. We run each event as if it were a production, we have a designated stage manager who coordinates our timeline starting with who is building what on and off site the week of the wedding. We have a Production Manager who is an IATSE stagehand, and he builds all of our installations. My specialty training as an actor taught me to really listen to my clients and use empathy when designing. When I build my bridal bouquets, I am literally “getting into character” and thinking of all the conversations, inspiration, and personality of my bride. So much of my bride’s inner beauty comes out in their bouquet.
How did you handle the pandemic? Did your business model change?
When the pandemic started, I was still breaking into the Wedding industry. I had mostly corporate restaurant and hotel clients and a good number of scheduled Weddings, all of which were operating out of my small, shared studio. My corporate clients closed indefinitely, and my weddings were all pushed back. I had my studio in Fishtown that I was still able to operate out of, so I started offering what I normally did for my corporate clients- to my Instagram followers: I started offering deliveries! I had been doing a lot of window box gardens at the time, so I created a DIY Window Box Tray that we offered delivery for. We sold over 100 of them in just a few weeks and got a lot of new followers as a result. We then expanded our Mother’s Day delivery zone and started holding plant sales on our Instagram page with delivery on Saturdays. We built a loyal following of shoppers who have stayed with us. We ended up moving into a bigger studio just 3 months into pandemic…and then an even bigger studio less than a year later, which we built a small retail store in. Many of those delivery clients from the pandemic ended up hiring us for their Wedding in the years that followed!
What big news do you want to share?
After spending 4 years tucked away in a studio, we recently moved into a storefront location on Frankford Avenue! We love our new location and have the best neighbors. We have a Flower bar where you can pick your own flowers, a variety of vases and pots, houseplants, and gifts and stationery from local women owned businesses!
What do you think is essential for any wedding?
A planner or coordinator who works for you! Friends and Family are lovely, but will want to have fun at your wedding, so they often drop the ball on Wedding Day when they take over as a coordinator. A coordinator who is managing your guests, bridal party, vendors and timeline is essential to a smooth day.
How far in advance should couples book your business?
We typically book large events 6-12 months in advance, but often take small events within 6 months of the event date. Since we are in the city, we are no more than 15 minutes from most venues. This allows us the flexibility to offer pick up orders and small events in addition to our larger events.
Krissy de Groot, Owner & Lead Designer
Myrtle & Magnolia, LLC
myrtleandmagnolia.com
[email protected]
Photography by: