“The children’s table is the midway, and each of the adult tables has a roller coaster or Ferris wheel — different things,” said Kaplan, who isn’t one to sit around her shop. “We’re on site the day of the event to coordinate the various talents and elements for the day so it’s a smooth transition from element to element to element.” With all this going on, you might wonder if Nature’s Bouquet even has time for something as typical as a wedding. Yet one of the biggest events Kaplan orchestrated was just that. “We did a wedding that was one of our over-the-top events,” she recalled. “We had lighted trees, room dividers, large pedestaled arrangements around the dance floor, lighted floral centerpieces and an arbor. All had antique green hydrangea, oriental lilies, roses, French tulips and magnificent foliage.” For an event that labor-intensive, Nature’s Bouquet usually does as much prep work as possible, as soon as possible — things like containers, ribbons, anything that can be done ahead of time. “We begin foliating the centerpieces at the beginning of the week; work on the roses midweek and put together the more fragile flowers like tulips just before the event,” Kaplan said. “Everything is monitored to get the flowers to the height of their maturity for the event. It’s not like delivering a dozen roses that you want to open slowly over the course of a few days. For events, we want the flowers to the point that they’re the most gorgeous on delivery. We want impact.” For Mother’s Day, Kaplan stocks up on the most-requested flora — feminine, pastel colors in hydrangeas, roses and lilies. For grandmothers, there are teapots with flowers in them (the lid is sensibly attached so the pot can be used for tea later on). “We custom design each arrangement,” she said. WELLINGTON THE MAGAZINE • MAY 2009
May 58-62 - Nature's Bouquet.indd 61
61
4/22/2009 12:19:13 PM