By Sade Awe, Editor In Chief & Founder of The Bridal Circle

THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT WALKING DOWN THE AISLE WITH THE PERFECT BOUQUET THAT REFLECTS YOUR STYLE AND OOZES MODERN ELEGANCE AND BEAUTY….

Meredith Waga Perez of Belle Fleur New York is known for creating luxury floral designs for weddings.  Together with her business partner and mother, Marilyn Waga, Meredith has created an event design firm that is built on her love of color, floral, texture, romanticism and all things beautiful. Belle Fleur New York is known for the astute attention they pay to detail and their stellar customer client relations. Belle Fleur is considered one of the most sought-after floral design firms in Manhattan.

Recently we had the chance to have a one-on-one with Meredith to hear her thoughts on wedding trends, and to learn about Belle Fleur the company, as well as the amazing woman behind the brand.

{THE BRIDAL CIRCLE}: WHAT ARE BRIDES LOOKING FOR WHEN IT COMES TO TRENDS?

{MEREDITH PEREZ}:  Brides want their fairy tale to come true.  There is definitely a movement towards creating a celebration where brides and grooms focus on what it takes to entertain their guests. They want to throw an amazing fete for their friends and families. Each bride wants a personalized event. They want to entertain and create a lasting sensory experience, and they’re hoping their guests will walk away saying “that was so incredible!” Creating a unique experience rather than a cookie cutter event and adding flavor to the wedding. The persona of the bride and her fiancé is reflected in every detail, and every wedding should tap into an experience that each person walks away with.

As creative experts and wedding designers, we need to push ourselves.  We should be thinking along the lines of entertaining.  For example I am working with a bride who does not want any floral on her tabletop. She wants to use linens and candles infused into the décor, and then incorporate floral into the ceilings for a top to bottom experience.

HOW DO YOU SEE PINTEREST INFLUENCING THE BRIDE TODAY?

Pinterest is a game changer; no question about it. Our brides are more savvy. They can work on their wedding inspiration boards at 1:00am in the morning. It gives them newfound meaning to create their own wedding design through a collaborative process that we can build together. The brides are gathering so many inspirational images from Pinterest to draw from and I LOVE it!

HOW DO YOU HANDLE A BRIDE WHO COMES TO YOU AND SAYS I FOUND THIS AND I WANT YOU TO DESIGN THIS FOR ME, ETC?

This does happen and it’s an excellent point to bring up! There are some serious realities to this when a bride comes in and she has it all figured out based on photos she’s found online or in a magazine.  She comes in ready to design her August wedding around peonies, and of course, there are no peonies available in August. So we need to shift that focus, educate the client in the process and look at another option.

As a creative you don’t want to squash their ideas. You never want to impose your ideas on the bride. I put my ego on the shelf when they walk in, and make sure it’s all about them and not me. Expectations are clarified and all cards are placed on the table. There are so many ideas out there and the brides are collecting many different concepts. They want all the ideas at once and trying to work it all in is generally not possible for a lot of reasons. So, I have to gently help them pick and advise what’s appropriate for the season or event design.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE?

We perfect the style of quiet luxury and subtle opulence. That’s what we are known for. We are really into the details. We are not into showy design. Every single flower is curated and carefully hand selected. We make sure that every single flower looks perfect before it’s used in our arrangements.  Our work reflects prettiness, elegance and refined style. We are moving towards a slightly loser silhouette. Our work is very feminine and incredibly pretty.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED BY A BRIDE?

I have a vested interest in my bride and I want to tug at her heart. I put my personal touch into everything we provide for her, especially the bridal bouquet.  I like to personally deliver it to her on the day. I like to see the expression on her face and her surprise when I walk in holding her beautiful bouquet. I see her face well up with tears and I know that I have done my job, and that is one of the many reasons why I love what I do. That moment I hand her that bouquet  it makes me happy, it’s heartfelt and magical and leaves an imprint that I will forever love. That is why I will never get tired of doing what I do.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN FLORAL DESIGN?

I went to Parson School of Design for fashion both in New York and Paris. Although I loved fashion design I felt that I hit a roadblock, because I was not feeling inspired. I started working at a flower shop for free just to tap into doing something that made me feel good. Needless to say, I opened Belle Fleur New York and it just kicked off. I have always been a romantic. I love gardens, flowers and enjoy giving them as gifts to friends and family. So it was a natural fit to create a floral design business. I truly believe that when you have passion it just takes off!

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR PROCESS WHEN YOU MEET WITH A BRIDE.

I ask my bride do to a little homework before she comes in to meet with me. I want her to have some knowledge or some sort of direction. That could be clippings from a magazine, or something abstract, but I want them to come in with something. They can even use their iPhone to share images that they like. This gives me something to start from.  I want them to come in with something so that we have a great rapport dialogue. I want them to trust me.  I want them to feel comfortable with me and for me to become their sounding board for ideas, thoughts and inspirations. Our first meeting generally lasts around 2 hours and I serve champagne and chocolate while we get to know each other.  Because I want them to be comfortable with me, I usually recommend the first meeting be a one-on-one. To get a true sense of who she is without outsiders influencing her decisions.  The first meeting we work on the concept and we usually have about 90 percent done by the end. It’s an evolution but  by the time they walk out we have an idea of the design, then the tweaking begins.

I’m very old school, so after our first meeting I send a proposal that’s beautifully packaged with a handwritten note from me and a fresh bouquet of flowers that are delivered via messenger. It’s very important to me that she knows how dedicated I am to her special day.

HOW DO YOU SEE THE ROLE OF TRENDS PLAYING IN THE ROLE OF FLORAL DESIGN?

I think that’s it’s wonderful to have different types of inspirations in life.  For me personally I’ve never been one to focus on the hottest latest trends. It’s just not who we are.  I like more classic designs and I love the fusion of modern design with that classic style. We are not trendy and never will be. It is important to be aware of the different styles and trends going on. I take a more personal approach to my design. I am always inspired by amazing architecture and cinema but it does not run my business or influence my design when it comes to what I create for my brides.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A BRIDE WHO DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THEY WANT AS A WEDDING DESIGN?

I think it’s up to a creative person to pull it out gently and to have an open dialogue to explore it fully.  I usually start with a color palette. And you can gain speed and new ideas come into play in the design session. By the time she leaves in two hours you get a sense of who she is and what she likes and she walks away with a vision. Our brides have the ability to go into the floral shop and touch, smell and experience the flowers. This makes a big difference. I love brides who come with no idea of what they want. It’s exciting to see it take shape and be part of their design vision.

WHAT MARRIAGE ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A BRIDE AND GROOM?

Let the bride pick the flowers and let the husband pick the songs. Divvy up the responsibility. If a groom does not show any interest in the floral discussion, don’t worry about it. Enjoy it with a girlfriend who had a successful wedding. If your groom loves wine, let him focus on the wine. It’s your day babe so enjoy it!

WHAT PUTS YOU IN A CREATIVE MOOD?

It’s very complex on any given day as I’m inspired by a million and one things. What inspires me could be a place, a thing, a song, my children, my husband or my memory bank of yesteryear. Or, perhaps, spending the day in New York at a museum or having a discussion with other creative designers. Nostalgic details put me in a design mode as well. Using a grandfather’s cufflink, or a mother’s handkerchief all play a role in those nostalgic details.  This fulfills my wish for what I want to make at Belle Fleur or create my creative destiny.

THANK YOU MEREDITH FOR THE INTERVIEW!

For more information on Meredith Perez and Belle Fleur, we invite you to visit her website. www.bellefleurny.com