Meredith Waga Perez of Belle Fleur shares how her smart style and romantic sensibility evolved and how the two merge in her class at FlowerSchool New York
Meredith, tell us how you got started in flowers.
My floral memories begin at 8 years of age, pruning the peonies with my mom in her garden. Those were the best times! The ants drove us crazy, but we would relish the glory of the flowers blooming every spring. It’s no wonder that peonies remain my absolute favorite flower.
Where do you find your inspiration?
My clients influence me each and every day. I find it incredible to be the “messenger” of emotions. Take today for instance—a woman calls from France wanting to send flowers to her sister in New York City. We have a brief but lovely conversation about their relationship and how hard it is to be far from her sibling. I’m now completely involved and want so badly to capture the sentiment. We agree that a French flower such as Muguet would be ideal. And voila… my influence is in the gesture from the sender to the recipient.
How would you describe your style?
I’m a true romantic at heart, so our bouquets are known for being absolutely charming. The foundation of our designs is classic and timeless, but we always introduce an element of fashionable flair. Having a background in fashion design prepared me for creating my brand. We have our own distinct look and style that’s refined and luxe. My love for detail is expressed with subtly scented tissue paper, vintage ribbon, keepsake vases, and such. It’s not always the flowers that leave that lasting impression, but the complete package.
Can you discuss some floral trends you’re observing?
The Japanese are taking the floral industry by storm. This year I’ve witnessed the most incredible Japanese sweet pea and Lisianthus with these insane ruffles. They take my breath away. I feel as if this is the start of something very cutting edge.
Who comes to one of your sessions at FlowerSchool New York?
The school attracts the quintessential floral enthusiast– from the Park Avenue society set, to a floral shop owner flying in from Seattle to learn something new, to an ex-Wall Street type trying his or her hand at a different profession. They all have one thing in common, they all love flowers and have the desire to find an outlet for their creativity.
I know this class is one of a series on wedding flowers. Would you describe for us the inspiration for your design?
Inspiration is derived from the most simple to the most obscure places. A wedding concept can stem from a bride’s china pattern, or possibly from the lace of her wedding dress, or maybe it’s her love for birds, feathers, and nests. There is no rule. In fact, designing a wedding is the ideal time to break the rules and focus on personalization. I often ask a few random questions to my brides to get them to open up about a memory, an emotion, a vision; it’s an integral part in creating “the look” for the overall wedding concept.
And how about the process of instructing? What is involved?
The only prerequisite is to bring in the most beautiful flowers to class—from there we’re off to a marvelous start. I’m a firm believer that as long as you have stunning flowers, you can’t really create poor design.
What are some common fears and obstacles you encounter among your students? How do you walk them through?
I constantly remind my students not to overthink their work. There are some definite rules to design, but the key is not to let them inhibit or cramp your personal style. One of the more common obstacles is rushing through the creative process and designing quickly. The study of floral design is a cathartic one. Put on some music, pour a glass of wine, and get carried away in one of the most relaxing art forms.
Are you ever worried that you’re teaching yourself out of some business? And along the same lines, can you tell us about your apprenticeship program at Belle Fleur?
I’m not worried in the least bit. I’m not a competitive person by nature and feel confident that there is plenty of business to go around. At this stage of my career, I feel fortunate that students continue to enroll in my classes and want to hear what I have to say. It’s pretty amazing to give back to the industry and to inspire budding designers. We do have a fantastic apprenticeship at Belle Fleur. There’s often a waiting list, especially after interviews like this one!
For more information, visit www.bellefleurny.com or www.flowerschoolny.com.
