INSIDER LOCAL BUSINESSES
3 Fab Florists Share
WHAT’S BLOOMING IN WEDDINGS
Table arrangement by Kaleidoscope Floral
TRADITIONS
You’re INVITED
Located on Fifth Avenue South, Arabesque of Naples is a fine stationer and gift shop celebrating its twenty-first year in Naples. From parties to weddings, the company specializes in exquisite invitations, working with local brides as well as those from around the world. They have built long-standing relationships in the foil and letterpress industry and are the preferred vendor for The Ritz-Carlton, Naples. With COVID restrictions loosening, Arabesque owner Sheryl Sashin says she’s receiving invitation requests for more than standard Saturday weddings. As venues open up, couples are scrambling to rebook delayed events, which means more weekday ceremonies—and more invitations to send out. “Mostly we are doing classic with a modern twist,” says Sashin, who adds that young brides are loving letterpress. She notes a trend in combinations of letterpress and engraving, as well as beveled or colored edges and folds with foil-printed pockets, often with a pattern. Despite the rise in digital correspondence, Sashin believes that nothing compares to a mailed invitation. “The physical invitation tells your guests that you care about them. It sets the tone for the entire event. It’s somewhere you want to be because it’s fabulous.” (arabesqueofnaples.com) —Mackenzie Griffith
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MATT RICE PHOTOGRAPHY
RUFINO HERNANDEZ, GARDEN DISTRICT At the beginning of COVID-19, Hernandez says it felt like 300 bridal parties were competing to reschedule dates. In response, couples became more flexible in considering Friday night rather than Saturday weddings. Hernandez has noticed that younger brides have gravitated toward earthy green elements, whereas more mature brides are interested in large flower arrangements. Hernandez likes to add details like custom monogram napkins, charger plates, and glassware to tie in with the florals. While future weddings are trending toward ornate, early 2021 weddings have felt intimate, like a gorgeous dinner party ripe with close friends and relatives. “We’re not doing the big numbers, but we’re still doing beautiful productions,” Hernandez says. (gardendistrictnaples.com)
MICHAEL LONGO, NAPLES FLORAL DESIGN This company normally decorates 100 weddings a year, but with the pandemic striking in early 2020, that number dwindled to only 15 last year. With the increase of intimate weddings, brides have opted for verdant alternatives like eucalyptus, succulents, and Italian ruscus, instead of cascading bridal bouquets, Longo says. Along with greener arrangements, many couples have simplified their decorations—think: ivory columns adorned with roses on the beach. Longo predicts that brides will soon be able to schedule the larger receptions they’ve long dreamt of. “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel,” he adds. (naplesfloral.com)
Bouquet by Naples Floral Design
SEAN STEVENSON, KALEIDOSCOPE FLORAL Stevenson’s floral designs resemble the Dutch masters’ still-life paintings and draw inspiration from wabi-sabi, the Japanese theory of embracing the perfectly imperfect. He finds beauty in the unmanicured look and says his free-flowing arrangements often evoke tears of joy. For a recent 12-person wedding, he wrapped vines of blush roses, tart bougainvillea, and citrus fruits around a tent, embracing a Florida flair. With less funds directed to large venues and food services, several couples allocated money to designing lush wonderlands. Stevenson forecasts that dried and preserved florals will carry into the 2022 wedding season. “I like creating a beautiful atmosphere,” he says. “It’s rare to be in a profession where you can have a positive impact.” (kaleidoscopefloral.com) —Kalia Richardson
NAPLES ILLUSTRATED
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