VENDOR SPOTLIGHT - Rainflower Company!
July 8, 2009 at 4:00 AM 
When hiring vendors for your wedding what are a few of the things you look for? Maybe someone knowledgeable, loves what they do, light hearted with a dash of fun? All of these buzz words sum up the perky disposition of Mirella Veltri.
Mirella and I bumped into each other on the internet and we share the same infectious passion for our industry and our clients. When I decided to interview some of my favorite vendors, Mirella Veltri from Rainflower Company was the first person that came to mind.
Enjoy our chat!
NR: What is your position at Rainflower Company and how long have you been in the floral industry?
MV: I am the Creative Director/Owner. My mother started out creating silk flowers when I was a kid and I was hooked. That’s where my idea of getting into flowers was planted.
NR: From your blog & website, I noticed that you are very passionate about what you do. What do you love about working with flowers?
MV: What’s not to love? (laughing) Honestly I sit in my studio sometimes and think to myself, is this real? Is this really my job? I worked in the corporate world for awhile & I felt very stifled, I loved the commodore but I was creatively unfulfilled. I love everything about flowers, I love the business aspect and working with clients and the creative outlet.
NR: I’m florally challenged. If we’re not talking about coronations or roses I’m pretty lost. What would you say is your favorite flower?
MV: I love coronations! Let me go on the record by saying, I feel they’ve gotten a bad wrap! (laughing). I’m not sure how that happened but they can be a little lacking when they’re only paired with babies breath. Now peonies are the perfect wedding flower and one of my favorites, they’re very impactful when they're dressed up.
NR: In 2009 many Brides are looking for ways to work within a budget. And there are various ways to work within your budget. Just recently I’ve noticed that you can go to Supercenter grab your groceries, your dry cleaning and the flower arrangements for your wedding. What is the difference between booking a Supercenter bouquet verses working with a florist?
MV: I think when you work with a florist you get much more hands on service. The grocery store is a grocery store and they have their place, like if you’re running in to grab a bouquet for a special occasion.
NR: Would a customer be getting the highest quality booking with the grocery store?
MV: In terms of quality, I’m not convinced that you’re getting the freshest flowers. They would purchase in such large quantities that the flowers are probably sitting around for a while before your wedding. Where as with a florist your flowers are shipped just a few days before the wedding or event. There is also more work involved since the flowers have to be treated & and arranged exactly the way you request.
NR: So you’re like a Wedding Planner only for flowers? Maybe the Flower Planner?
MV: I always tell my clients that I’m a planner for your flowers! When I’m with my clients, we have a lot of interaction and sometimes people change their mind. But clients need to know that they have the flexibility to do so. As the florist I have to be flexible and available to work with any potential changes. People really appreciate that personal touch.
A Florist will also think of things the bride may not, like, where will the flowers be kept the day of the wedding, they need to be stored properly. There can sometime be no cost difference to hiring a florist and doing it yourself. Why go through the stress?
NR: So would you agree that brides sometimes take on too much while planning their wedding? MV: Perhaps. I know that the D.I.Y (do it yourself) thing is popular right now and of course everyone wants to have a personal touch at their wedding. However, when you look at the bigger picture, your flowers may not be the task you want to do yourself. NR: In your opinion what are some things brides should look for when choosing a florist? MV: Be sure that you are comfortable with their style of work. You also want to be sure you get along with them, there has to be some sort of chemistry. Be comfortable that they’re listening to you and that they know what you want. Its not about them, it’s about you. You need to feel that they are concerned about what works best for you. When I work with a client, we often have a trial to preview my services. Is there such a time with floral arrangements? Most people are visual, so seeing a mock version of an arrangement or bouquet is a great way to make sure everyone’s on the same page. NR: That’s huge since you need to trust them to produce your vision and also show up on time for the wedding day. MV: Absolutely! That’s a huge responsibility and I’m always honoured when somebody wants to book me! It’s the best feeling because out of so many people, their trusting me with their wedding day! 
MV: Flowers are a huge way to tell a story. You can have a gorgeous wedding but if there are no flowers you feel like something missing. Its very bizarre, but they really bring on an energy to the event and create the space. What’s interesting about flowers is that you can really see a clients personality come through. It’s kind of funny how flowers take on certain personalities. NR: Could you give me a few examples?
MV: Well, Peonies have a romantic look while orchids have a much more modern striking look. Flowers reflect different personalities and much like you do with makeup, I already see a potential arrangement in my mind as soon as I meet them. NR: That’s true! Their makeup is done and she hasn’t even sat down yet. (laughing) MV: Right, you already get a sense of their style coming through and that’s how I work with my clients. NR: Can you finish this sentence? When choosing a florist you should never? MV: When choosing a florist you should never be closed minded. Be open to the various options of your florist. She may come up with something you may not have thoug NR: Is there anything else you would like to add as we wrap up?
Just to say that it’s important that you give as much information about your wedding to the florist as possible. I like to ask a lot of questions about the venue, her dress, what kind of music are they choosing, I like to know what’s going on so I can help her make a great decision about her flowers. It just gives me a better sense of who you are and what you like. It’s key that you as the client are happy. No problem, it was my pleasure!
ht of and give you more options then you imagined. I think its also important to remember that experience goes hand in hand with trust. 
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