Vendor Spotlight: Stone House Creative
One of the many joys of our job is the incredible people we get to meet. Apart from our clients, we get to know other wedding vendors very well. When it comes down to it, we like to work with good people. Over the next series of posts we will be highlighting some of our favourite Winnipeg wedding professionals, people we've worked with and met along our journey. Hopefully, these profiles can help you connect with people who do amazing work and have great hearts.
Lauren Wiebe | Stone House Creative
We first "ran into" Lauren at a wedding where she provided the florals and we filmed. While we may have been at the same place at the same time, we never met each other that day. The connection was only made after we sat down with Lauren to do the florals for our wedding day. While I could go on and on about how hospitable, personal and professional Lauren is, we'll let her do the talking.
What's your story?
I've always loved flowers. My Mom and both of my grandmothers are excellent gardeners, and I grew up on a farm where there were lots of flower beds and lots of space to run around and play. I didn't know that I would end up in flowers, though. When I was in my last year of university, I started working for a local bridal magazine and this is when my love for weddings started. I quickly fell in love with the industry and though I didn't stay at the magazine long-term, I knew that I would stay in the industry and dreamed of being my own boss - I just wasn't sure how. I thought about being a wedding planner - I have some of the right personality traits for it, but after assisting a few weddings for a planner friend of mine, I knew that it wasn't the right fit for me (so much stress! Girls, thank your planners!). I stumbled into a position as the wedding coordinator for a local florist, and there it was: the perfect fit. I realized that I knew a lot more about flowers than the average person, and remembering my childhood, it seemed like all the signs were pointing in the same direction. I started SHC mid-way through 2014 and in my first wedding season, designed the flowers for over 30 weddings. It was exhausting, but absolutely wonderful.
What's the best part of your job?
Honestly, aside from scrubbing buckets after the weddings are over, I love every part of my job. Meeting with brides is always so much fun, and I love choosing the combinations of flowers I'll use. I really value organization, so checklists and processes, putting together quotes and ordering flowers, are all fun to me. But, the absolute best part of my job is designing the bridal bouquet. I love watching the flowers come together and I always put the best blooms into the bride's bouquet. It should be special.
What are you passionate about?
I love running my own business, and I spend a lot of time researching, connecting with other small business owners, and investing in my craft. I also love to sing. Throat issues a few years ago have held me back from singing a lot lately, but chances are very good that you'll almost always hear me singing or whistling show tunes.
What are you currently reading / watching / listening to?
I have been a Harry Potter fanatic for years, and this summer, I decided to listen to all the audiobooks while I worked on wedding flowers. It was so wonderful! I like to think that the excitement and magic of Howarts makes its way into my bouquets.
What's your Winnipeg gem?
I always tell people that Winnipeg is way cooler than they think. We have an awesome town! Jenna Rae Cakes is one of my favourites, partly because of the banana walnut bars with browned butter icing and partly because the girls are really good friends of mine. My husband and I always love Pizzeria Gusto for a dinner out, and I also can't resist the restaurant (and shops) at Pineridge Hollow. And finally, my favourite place to go is to the Centennial Concert Hall. I've performed there a few times and love going to see shows, and I think it's just the most beautiful, magical place and I always love to look up at the chandelier in the lobby. I try to bring a little bit of that magic to all of my weddings. My husband and I actually had our wedding photos taken inside the Concert Hall a few years ago!
Our interactions with Lauren have been great. If you're looking for a top notch floral designer for your wedding, you know who to go to.