TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY INTO THE WORLD OF FLORAL DESIGN?

By college degree, I am a nurse and work at one of the top hospitals in the country. Being a nurse, there isn't much room for creativity, but I first dipped my toes into the world of events by organizing a charity fashion show. From there, it snowballed into starting 33 Munroe, which now is predominantly a wedding planning and floral design business. Working with florals allows me to have a creative outlet, taking me out of the world of medicine and into the world of flowers. Working with florals is like painting, you start with one brush stroke - or in this case one flower - and slowly but surely create a unique piece of art.

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WHAT DID YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR FIRST FLEURS DE VILLES EXPERIENCE?

I was thrilled to hear that Fleurs de Villes was coming to Boston for the first time! We have such incredible talent here and are not always given opportunities to do something new and exciting. It gave us a chance to flex our creative muscles in a different and unique way, and it was a bucket list item of mine to create a floral gown! It was nice to be given some direction, but even better to be able to run with it.  It challenged me in new ways, and gave me the chance to think outside the box, use new mechanics and techniques, and work with florals and dried/preserved products in new ways.

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CAN YOU SHARE ANY TIPS FOR CREATING AT-HOME FESTIVE FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS?

Some of our favourite winter florals to use for holiday arrangements include hypericum berries, hellebores, tulips, quince (be careful, the branches bite back!), lilies, paper white, and amaryllis (which make great gifts on their own!). Evergreens are also great to work with because they last! My top tip would be to find a local event or class to take. We created an event called "Booze and Bloom" where our guests have a little bubbly and we teach them tips and tricks to create at-home arrangements. I’d also recommend using foam as it’s easier for beginners to work with, and allows for structure and creating larger pieces. Get your florals or greenery from local farms to support small businesses, however Trader Joes and Whole Foods are good spots to get more unique blooms to work with, if you don't have a stand close by. Have fun with it - open your mind and allow your creativity to flow. When we do classes, we often see beautiful personalities shine through the arrangements created!

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WHAT'S THE MOST UNUSUAL OR EXOTIC FLOWER YOU'VE WORKED WITH?

I have had more than one request for mushrooms. Although not a flower, it took me by surprise at first.  However as we began our flower selection and when it was time to incorporate the product, it became one of our favourite things to work with!  Earth tones as well as purple and maroon hued blooms bring out the various shades that a mushroom cap and stem provide. Trust us - it's cool!

IF YOU COULD CREATE YOUR DREAM GARDEN, WHAT WOULD YOU INCLUDE, AND WHY?

I am a huge fan of English Gardens, and love the vibe they give off. They always seem like the best version of organized chaos, not to mention the colours and scents they exude. Most definitely my dream garden would have David Austin garden roses, both shrub and climbing for their various colours, size, and fragrance.  Lavender is a must for their grey hues, purple flowers, and of course their smell - widely used in aromatherapy. Some of my other favourites I'd include would be hydrangea, delphinium, Japanese anemone, geranium, various echinacea, ivy, and allium!

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HAS SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCED YOUR BUSINESS AND CREATIVE PROCESS?

It sure has! Social Media, especially instagram, allows our prospective clients to peek into our world and get to know our style of design. It seems it is the first thing that soon-to-be-wed couples do when searching for their vendor!  It is also great to follow the works of other designers locally as well as around the world - admiring and being inspired by new and unique designs.

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DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE FRAGRANT BLOOM?

It is such a hard choice as I truly find the beauty in most scents, but I think it would be a tie between a Charity or Juliet David Austin garden rose and freesias. To me, these scents bring out the essence of beauty and romance. One of my favourite things to do with my team is to literally “stop and smell the roses” or flowers. It gives you an appreciation of what you're working with and what mother nature has provided us with. I do the same thing with my couple clients when we are doing any mock-ups or design consultations - it seems to make them smile and get even more excited for their wedding day.

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WHAT EXCITING PROJECTS HAVE YOU GOT LINED UP FOR 2024?

Back in 2011, I started a charity fashion event called Catwalk for a Cure, which evolved into Catwalk Events. These fashion shows incorporate local designers who create one-of-a-kind looks for models, but most importantly cancer survivors and those undergoing treatment. Since 2020 we have had to postpone, but we are excited to finally bring it back for 2024! We also have some really incredible soon-to-be-wed couples that will allow us to stretch our creativity and create some incredible designs.

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LASTLY, WHAT TRENDS OR DESIGNS CAN WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING FROM 33 MUNROE?

We want to move toward more complex, floral heavy pieces that give Monet painting-type vibes. In the opposite direction, we also want to dive into the world of architectural-type pieces and Ikebana - I always find beauty in simplicity.

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