Situated amidst a growing selection of artsy boutiques and coffee shops on Broadway is a hidden gem of a flower shop that has the style and feel of downtown Toronto, yet it manages to maintain the charming appeal of main street small town Orangeville.
Suzanne Gardner opened her design studio in the trendy Liberty village area of downtown Toronto in 1996, followed by a retail storefront in 2005. After spending many years in the floral industry working at other shops, her long-time dream of opening her own shop was realized. Known for her creativity and passion for the business, Suzanne had the vision and experience to create a unique and art-inspired space that would differentiate her from her competition in more ways than one. “Flowers are always the same the world over and they’ve been the same for years and years. What makes them different is how you put them together,” says Suzanne Gardner “You have to have a creative bone and you have to be passionate. Every new season I get excited about the gorgeous new blooms that I get to put in my bouquets and arrangements,” says Suzanne.
Much like many small businesses, SG Flowers has had to make some adjustments over the past 24 months due to the COVID19 Pandemic, pivoting their downtown Toronto location to a design studio, and switching to curbside pickup at the Orangeville store off and on as public health measures shifted. ‘We want to keep our customers and staff safe, while continuing to provide them with the best possible products and services. We felt that this was the best solution, and it has worked out very well”, says Suzanne.
Suzanne’s signature style derives from a passion for simplicity. Presented individually or in simple, direct combinations of fresh, hand-crafted elements, a Suzanne Gardner Flowers design is immediately recognizable for its exquisite form and colour. In a simple clutch of just-so tulips, in a complex wedding arrangement, pitch-perfect corporate design or standing daily orders for home or business, the same principles hold true. Plucked seasonally from the Niagara soil or sourced locally from Ontario hothouses, hunted down from the finest global flower producers – all SG flowers are presented fresh-cut and uncluttered, with only their naturally occurring foliage for accent. Both locations are full-service flower shops, offering arrangements for weddings and corporate events, parties and other special occasions, and daily individually hand-tied bouquets.
Weddings, however, hold a special place for Suzanne. She loves the process of finding inspiration, creating and designing floral arrangements that are beautiful and meaningful, that will be captured in photos and enjoyed for many years to come.
Suzanne and her team love helping brides to create “signature bouquets” and floral arrangements for their wedding day. “Some brides know exactly what they want and bring in photos or ideas that they want us to recreate. Others need guidance or are looking for suggestions or design inspiration”, says Suzanne. “We pride ourselves on creating stunning arrangements that reflect the style and taste of each individual bride. Weddings can be stressful, and we strive to help take away that stress by creating beautiful flowers that they will love”.
Suzanne and her team have a wealth of knowledge and experience designing and creating floral arrangements for weddings, and they were kind enough to offer some valuable tips and advice to help make your wedding day flowers a perfect reflection of you, adding beauty and inspiration to your special day.
KNOW YOUR BUDGET
By establishing a budget before hand, your floral designer/ florist will be able to work with you to create arrangements that not only work for you aesthetically but also financially. Being up front and clear about how much you would like to spend on flowers will help to eliminate any confusion and allow them to work their magic within your means.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT FLORIST FOR YOU
Ask for references, check reviews, request to see their wedding portfolio, and schedule an in-person meeting to go over your expectations. Make sure you feel that you can work well together and that their style works with your wants/needs. Researching ahead of time can help to avoid stress and disappointment on your wedding day.
FIND YOUR INSPIRATION
Searching Pinterest, Instagram, Websites and Wedding Magazines and saving/clipping designs that you find appealing can help your designer to create something that works with your theme/personal taste.
MAKE SEASONAL CHOICES
Know that while you may love Sweet Peas, they may not be in season for your November wedding. Discuss with your florist what may or may not be in season based on your wedding date and work to include seasonally available flowers into your arrangements.
CHOOSE A THEME
Whatever your wedding theme is, whether it is sleek and modern, traditional, rustic or whimsical, your floral arrangements should compliment the overall “vibe” of your wedding. A professional floral designer can help to create something that works well with your wedding theme that makes a personal statement that reflects your personality and taste!
By following these simple suggestions, you can collaborate with your florist/designer to create something you will love within your budget that will compliment your special day.
Suzanne and her team offer complimentary consultations for any special event, and they would be honoured to use their experience and creativity to help you to achieve the perfect look or theme. Stop by to chat with Suzanne and her staff about their services, or just pop in to grab a hand-tied bouquet or gift for that special someone. I can guarantee you will not be disappointed.
Suzanne Gardner Flowers has two locations to service their clients.
Orangeville Location: 131 Broadway, Orangeville, ON, L9W 1K2 – Tel: 519-307-6500
Toronto Location/Design Studio: 1052 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON M5R 3G7 – Tel: 416-530-0065
Or visit their website at www.sgflowers.ca
WRITTEN BY: TANYA BOTTOMLEY | RESOURCES: SUZANNE GARDNER FLOWERS
