Once Upon A Quarantine...
A Fairytale Beginning
Crystal, here!
Your residential flower fairy, well praised artist, and founder/owner of Ever After Bouquet,
Our fairytale begins in Enchanting Colorado in 2017. This is when I made the difficult decision to relocate to the unknown wilds of Southern California, leaving behind my beloved corporate sales desk, my business degree, my great resume and fabulous prospects (you know - leap of faith type stuff), to embark on a great new quest...
The Golden State and I had a whirlwind love affair, and while I desperately loved California, I quickly found that planting my roots would be no easy task. For a few years I found myself bouncing around working promotional gigs and trying to find my place in the Land of Milk and Honey, and then… the Covid-19 Pandemic hit.
Like many that unforeseeable year, I was unable to work and relied on unemployment while following the “Stay-At-Home Orders.” This was when my interest in Floral Preservation peaked. I could have easily been overcome with madness (or perhaps I was,) but with my fairy spirit, I looked inwards and tinkered outwards. For over a year I dedicated my time to learning, experimenting, and perfecting the craft of floral preservation techniques. It didn’t take long to realize that my newfound passion and hobby could actually become a business. So, I invested my unemployment paychecks into this expensive venture (with little certainty of the economic future), and Ever After Bouquet was formed.
When this passion began, finding creative molds was nearly impossible - they were extremely scarce, or non-existent to the items I had envisioned. There were no trending TikTok videos or in depth DIY tutorials on this Floral Science. Nevertheless, I dreamed and labored in love. I took notes, I crafted my own molds, and forced myself through the excruciatingly painful and expensive task of making every mistake possible (there are many). After much practice, my hands became steadier, and I was more self-assured in my techniques. Finally, I felt confident enough to accept the honor of preserving a wedding bouquet.
Against all odds, I took my shot into the unknown, and hoped that my business might bloom. And so here I am - delighted to be the first to introduce this modern twist on floral preservation to Southern California weddings. This is just my first chapter, and I cannot wait to blossom and grow with you. I sincerely hope to smell, feel, and craft your most precious blooms into lasting memories for you to cherish day after day, and pass down for generations.