Geek Chic Floral – Vendor Spotlight

Today, with the utmost pleasure, we present another installment of our vendor spotlights. This time, we’re introducing one of the most talented bouquet artists in the area. Meet Anna a.k.a. Geek Chic of the Geek Chic Floral Boutique. Anna is the designer and maker of some of the most beautiful bridal flowers. She hand-dyes the petals, puts them together into flowers, and combines it all into beautiful bridal bouquets, table center pieces, and other decorative details of your wedding. With her dedication and enthusiasm, your design will be personalized down to the shade of the petals and to the finishing touches like elements representing your and your fiance’s story. If you wish that you could keep those beautiful flowers forever to cherish, Geek Chic will be the perfect vendor for you. Scroll down to see some of the behind the scenes and finished pieces as well as to learn what Anna says. We especially loved the story of the Disney themed flowers.

 One of my favorite things about Geek Chic Floral are all the local artist they work with. One table features Anna’s incredibly talented family.  Anna’s husband, Zach, is a talented photographer, Upstate Shooter Photography and Anna’s parent’s are incredible artist as well.
Tell me a little about you and your business
Geek Chic Floral Boutique creates floral arrangements out of wood & paper flowers. Our work ranges from home decor to weddings. GCFB also now has a gift shop in the front of its storefront! The gift shop is filled with fun and unique items all made by various small businesses from around the United States!
How did you get into your business? How long have you been doing it for?
I have a black thumb, so I have never really been able to appreciate the beauty of fresh flowers in my own home. They would always die within 24 hours of me obtaining them. My husband always used to gift me alternative flowers when we were dating (glass, silk, solar, ceramic, and wood). He gifted me a sola wood bouquet years ago, so when we were planning our wedding I knew I wanted them! Unfortunately the business he originally purchased from started having a decline in customer service & eventually closed, which meant it was up to me to figure out our wedding florals.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Seeing the brides face when she sees the bouquet for the first time in person. Each bouquet is custom built for the bride, most bouquets have a lot of sentimental meaning to the bride. Some bouquets have sheet music to their first dance, a favorite book, a flower that is significant to a family member, notes from the groom, etc.
 
Tell me a story of one of your favorite clients/project
This is a hard one, I have so many favorites! Although probably one of my favorites is a recent bouquet I built for a bride! They were actually the very first couple to book a consult with me in the beginning stages of my business! The couple got engaged in Epcot, and the bride was a Disney lover (same as me). The couple decided to do a travel themed wedding, with each table being a different country in Epcot. So much detail & customization went into this order. Her bouquet included a map of Epcot, as well as some vintage maps from the different countries. I also included a couple hidden mickeys, and she provided me with a piece of her moms wedding dress to tie around the bouquet handle. Her fiances bouquet included sheet music & book pages from Pride & Prejudice because she loves music and Jane Austen. I also created flowers out of vintage maps for all of the tables!
What is the average turnaround time for these beautiful customized floral arrangements?
Once it is the couples turn in line, the process generally takes about 1.5-2 weeks. It depends on the order itself, and if the bride wants any changes made during the building process.
What makes you different from others in your field?
Well the most obvious answer would be that I really am the only florist in the area using wood flowers! The other difference I feel is the amount of sentimental value I put in the bouquets for the brides. Adding those little special details are things that the bride is going to cherish forever! I also have a very different building process then most! I dye 5-7 flowers and send photos to the bride for approval, if the color is not what the bride is looking for I redye the flowers. I do this until I create the perfect colors for the bride! I then also send photos of the bouquet during the building process to ensure that the bouquet is turning out the way the bride envisioned. If the bride wants to make changes, I break apart the bouquet and build it again. We do this until the bridal bouquet is perfect, at no additional charge to the bride! I want the bride to look at that bouquet for the rest of her life, and always smile when she sees it. I make sure it is 100% what she wants before I even wrap it up!
 
What tips can you give to upcoming brides?

Do not get sucked up in what everyone else wants for your wedding day. It is you & your fiances day, no one elses. I hear so many brides talk about doing something because it is what someone else wants, but they really don’t know if they want to. I am guilty of it as well, it is your day. It is also only one day of your life, one day. A very important day, but it is still only one 24 hour day. Don’t lose sight of that, don’t lose sight of the fact that you are celebrating your love & commitment to someone else. The person you are marrying is the most important part of the day, not the food, not the dj, not the size of the guest list, not even the flowers.

 

Where can brides-to-be find you online?
They can find out more about me and my business at: