New Hampshire Magazine's Bride Spring Summer 2024 - 48

The Bloom Buff
Q A&
with florist Alyssa Van Guilder
It's based in the small suburban town of Goffstown,
but Apotheca Flowers' reputation for floral artistry has
spread around the country after 18 years and 70,000
wraps of flowers designed for over 400 weddings.
The company's owner and creative director-Alyssa
Van Guilder-is the reason why. Bringing years of
knowledge on floral design and a passion for art and
all things garden to the table, she leads her team in
creating custom-designed, out-of-the-box bouquets and
arrangements infused with unique flowers from around
the world. From petal to posy, their goal is for each design
to evoke a sense of inspired beauty-magic that is
amplified when shared with others on your special day.
Q: What do you love most
inspires you?
about what you do? What
A: I love making people happy
and giving shape to emotions
through color, texture and design. We
love to look at our wedding designs in
particular as a way to tell someone's
love story, share a bit of their personality
and contribute to the creation of
a tangible, shared experience.
Q: How would you describe your
A: Authentic, artistic and earthy
design style?
with an infusion of elegance.
Q: When should couples start
A: We typically start meeting with
thinking about florals?
clients 12-18 months out. Even
if all of your ideas aren't yet solidified,
it's a good idea to book vendors you
love and your ideas can grow and
take shape over time!
Q:
Do you have a favorite type of
arrangement?
46 | New Hampshire Magazine's BRIDE
A: I'm definitely infatuated with
interesting color dances and
earthy additions like moss, branches or
bark and elements that add movement.
We playfully call these additives " sticky
outies and hangy downies. "
Q:
Q:
Which flowers would you
recommend based on time of
year/season, color palette and budget?
A: Tulips, anemones and hellebore
are good cool-weather options,
while peonies are the beauties of May
and early June. Dahlias are the queens
of summer and early fall, and hydrangea
are always good budget stretchers
as they offer good volume for the price.
What advice would you give to
couples who are starting the
planning process?
A: I think it's important not to stress!
In the beginning, let yourself be
excited about exploring ideas and images
that you connect with. Over time,
you will see a pattern of what truly
speaks to you. I love to ask our couples
what feeling they are hoping to create
" I think it's important
not to stress! In the
beginning, let yourself be
excited about exploring
ideas and images that
you connect with. "
for themselves and their guests. Once
they have that figured out, it's a great
barometer to measure ideas against.
Q:
What do you wish couples
knew about the floral process?
A: Flowers are beautiful expressions
of emotion, and they require a lot
of time, labor, and TLC throughout the
process to make sure they are perfect
contributors to your day! Be flexible
with your florist-hire someone you
connect with, make sure they understand
your vision, and then give them
freedom to bring it to life in the best
way possible.
apothecaflowershoppe.com
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Cara Totman Photography and Jill Hoyle Photography
http://www.apothecaflowershoppe.com
New Hampshire Magazine's Bride Spring Summer 2024

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