Today
we introduce you to a boutique business so new, it’s in a class all by itself, and we are excited to be one of the first talking about it.
Charlie & Olivia fuse design inspired by flowers and vintage to create the
perfect celebration. Elvira and Dawn have a love for making all things pretty which
drove them to open a design company which focuses on creating unique designs
for each and every client they take on. Offering services ranging from floral
arrangements and design conception to vintage décor and dinnerware rentals, as well as,
offering personalized services like handmade gifts and textiles, they are
unlike any other business in the industry. Their goal is always to create a
stunning backdrop inspired by the personality of the client with goal of making
each and every affair unforgettable. There’s no denying they have
a knack for mixing unique elements. If you want to learn more about them, their
services or to follow their design blog, check out the website at Charlie &Olivia. Or for even more info find them on Facebook and Twitter (@charlienolivia).
AMA: Tell us a little bit about your new business, and what you believe sets
you apart from other businesses in the event planning industry?
C&O:
When Charlie & Olivia sets out to do an event, we are passionate
about creating a stunning backdrop inspired by our clients for their guests to
enjoy. We are one of the few event design firms that offer Floral Design,
Vintage Dinnerware Rentals, Décor Rentals, and custom linens. We have the
ability to come in and help you wherever you are in your design planning
process. Whether you’re in the beginning stages, or wrapping up the final
design we do a great job of polishing and fine tuning. We have the ability to pretty
much do it all and one aspect we can be seen as a one stop-shop!
AMA: Your business is quite unique in that you come
up with design concepts, but you’re not a coordination service. What sets your
business apart from the average coordinator?
C&O:
We have often been asked why we don’t coordinate, especially because we do a
lot of the design groundwork that your typical coordinator would handle. We
decided early in the process of building our company that we wanted focus more
on the design element and less on setting the pace for events. However, we work
well with coordinators and have many coordinator contacts in the event planning
industry we work alongside with. This also adds another unique aspect to our
business in that we can recommend good coordination services, and that gives us
an edge.
AMA:
Do you have a favorite current floral trend?
C&O: We are not big on following floral trends and
rely more on our imagination and creativity. Our floral design concepts are
based on what is in season, we build on that and on what inspires us at any
given moment. Our designs are often
inspired by textiles, fabric, and patterns, things that surround our everyday
life. However we keep up with current wedding trends and follow many design blogs
on a daily basis, as well as, fashion magazines. This season, neon is very big.
It’s the “it” thing to do and we see many designers incorporating it. We see
how it’s being used and are enjoying playing with bright elements in our styling.
AMA: When working with a bride on her wedding, what
factors do you recommend she keep in mind when coming up with a floral or
design concept?
C&O:
We usually tell our brides to keep in mind that flowers are seasonal. For
example, if peonies are a bride or groom’s favorite flower, and they want to have
a November wedding, well we let them know that peonies around that time may be
harder to find. Not only that, but they could be 4 times the cost than if you
were to be planning a spring wedding. We often recommend that the brides and
grooms be open to what’s in season and we stand firmly behind our creativity
factor and believe that we will give them the exact wow factor they are looking
for, even if their favorite blooms are not available.
AMA: You work with and find a lot of vintage
inspired glassware, what recommendations would you make to a bride when it
comes to glassware or wedding china?
C&O:
We love the look of mismatched dinnerware. Our selection of vintage
dishes and glassware are designed to be just that, mismatched. We often tell
brides and grooms not to be afraid of not matching, especially because our
niche is making it all come together.
AMA: Any money saving or do-it-yourself
tips on keeping floral designs and glassware on the lower side of a budget?
C&O:
To keep the cost down on floral arrangements, we strongly recommend
going with what’s in season, that’s one of the best money saving tips we can
offer. Also, instead of purchasing vessels to help keep cost down further we
offer rentals. We do our best to work with our couple’s budget and we go the
extra mile to figure a way to make it work beautifully. Our favorite part is
seeing a smile on our client’s face when they get their first look at what
we’ve created.
