Before I start writing a vendor feature, I reminisce about when and how I met each owner. I remember seeing Tara’s working on blogs, magazines and thinking how romantic and beautiful her work was. I was looking forward to the day I would be able to work with her. Our encounter was pretty typical. I was a second photographer at a wedding and Tara was the florist. Another time we met was at the Working Workshop where I was able to learn a lot more about A Day in Provence. Then I knew that Tara was doing big things. I wanted to be a part of it. Last year I got the pleasure to be a part of Bridal Soirée styled shoot. She did not disappoint.
Tara, let’s create and shoot conceptual shoots everyday 😉
Tell us a little bit about you & your business.
A Day in Provence is a floral & styling boutique continuously inspired by all things floral and french, vintage and beautiful. I love doing what I do each day & feel really grateful to have my own business in such a fun loving, creative urban area.
How did you begin your journey towards being a florist?
The journey began years ago when my husband and I left our corporate careers & moved to Europe for nearly a year. I was in search of a new adventure, never dreaming I’d someday have a business of my own. I dabbled in flowers while living in Paris – stopping at flower shops of every kind & designing back at our apartment in the 6th arrondissement.
And a trip to Provence during that timeframe was oh so inspiring. The delightful food, pottery, fresh lavender & cobblestone streets…the focus on beauty in everyday life was a little something we wanted to bring back home with us. We moved back home to Minnesota months after & I started A Day in Provence one year later.
What is your favorite thing about being in your line of business?
I love the variety. Each wedding & event is treated like a brand new project for us. We never create the same thing twice. I also love the creative design aspects – the inspiration boards, the floral & ribbon selections, styling, and designing the floral pieces.
What is one thing your do not forget to tell your clients?
“You can relax now. We’ll take good care of you.”
If you weren’t in the floral business, what would you like to do?
Ooh, this is tough as I love this creative event industry. I’d maybe be a travel blogger or photographer documenting highlights of travels from around the world as my suitcase is always packed and ready to go!
Or, I always thought there would be such good energy working on a beautiful college campus…with students eager to learn & ready to take on the world. I could see myself working with students prepping to study abroad – such a life changing experience for me & is what officially started both my love for travel & never ending love for Europe!
How many weddings do you take each year? And, how far in advance should couples book with you for their wedding?
We generally take on just under 30 weddings annually with peak season occurring from May – October. We have wedding clients booking with us anywhere from 6-12 months out.
If you could make an arrangement for someone famous, who would that be?
Well, one of our floral career highlights was meeting & designing for the beautifully talented Julie Andrews in Saint Paul a few years ago. I’m not sure I can top that one (and she would have been high on my list to begin with, et voilà!). I mean, how lucky can a girl get?
