Vendor Spotlight | Petals Couture
At The Laurel, we understand the importance of choosing your wedding day vendor team. Passion for the industry, a heart ready to serve and the excitement to celebrate your big day are all a must! This is exactly what Petals Couture delivers when they step through the doors of The Laurel. We were ecstatic to talk with Emily Ahlfinger, Owner and Lead Designer, about the start of Petals Couture, the ins and outs of the business, and what inspires her when it comes to designing one-of-a-kind florals. Enjoy!
From Emily:
My journey started in high school with my first job at a local high-end grocery store. From there my love of design and customer relationships grew. When I went to college, I worked at different shops and participated in internships with event planners. After college I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do- I went back to the grocery store flower shop while I figured out exactly what I wanted. My mom mentioned that there was a bridal show she saw advertised and it got me thinking about the possibility of starting my own business. So, with her encouragement, I created Petals Couture and signed up for the bridal show. I booked 7 clients which I was amazed about! From there, business took off.
Several years later, I met Sam, my now husband. At first, he would help me with a few set-ups, tear downs, errands for the business. Quickly that turned into a wonderful partnership. He has a wonderful drive for entrepreneurship, helped me take this small business I started and grow it into a business I never thought I would have, or better said... we would have together. I know we are very proud of how far we’ve come, how many clients we’ve served together and individually, and how we’ve survived 2020. :)
Our clients inspire me. They are each so different and bring something unique to the table. We see a lot of the same color schemes over and over but yet, there is always a way to create something special for them and make it different.
Gosh, we have had some of our most beautiful weddings at The Laurel. We’ve had some over the top stunners and some weddings that are beautifully simple. It would be impossible to ever pick a favorite!
I love the excitement we constantly see with each client that walks through our doors. The smiles on each bride’s face as we hand them their bouquet, or when they see their reception room set-up is unlike anything else. We get to be a part of a huge life changing moment and as stressful as that is, it’s all worth it seeing how happy each of our clients are.
I think what makes us unique is that we don’t have just one style. We are very versatile and can handle any style a bride brings our way. Ballroom to boho, we have it mastered. Another thing that makes us unique is we are a husband and wife team. You truly get the best of both worlds. Sam and I are so different in the way we think, yet we have the same passion and drive for each of our clients.
In our free time, Sam and I love to travel. It helps us unwind and experience new things. Our favorite place is Italy- there is some beautiful magic you feel when you’re there. We also visit different flower shops, buy flowers and make arrangements while we’re there. We never stop working and exploring lol.
Emily, thank you so much for taking the time to share the story of Petals Couture with us, and for serving our clients through the dreamiest florals! We wish you all the best as you continue to create gorgeous designs for years to come. We will be cheering you on every step of the way!
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