Vine & Oak Events: 10 Questions with Jackie + Erica

Florist - Jackie + Erica

Business: Vine & Oak Events
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania PA
Experience: 3 Years
Profile: Vine & Oak Events
Website: www.vineandoakevents.com

1. Introduction: What's your story?

We are Vine & Oak Events, two sisters who have a passion for all things design. We have created beautiful things with one another for as long as we can remember.

Both Jackie and Erica went to school for design and worked for years as designers. We have always known we would eventually start a business together. We love the idea of creating something together to share with the world. Event styling combines all of our favorite passions. It's about creating a place for people to come together— we get to set a mood, work with paper and flowers, choose beautiful textiles. It is the culmination of everything we love to design.

2. What's your experience as a wedding florist business? How many weddings are in there in your portfolio?

We have both had an eye for design our whole lives. We started private art lessons as very young children and continued on this path all the way through college, both earning design degrees. Our mediums have changed over the years but the fundamentals of design in our careers have always been there. In 2019 when we first decided to create Vine & Oak we hungrily took every class and workshop from all around the country that we could. We learned how to start and run a business, because although we had been unofficially been creating events for both ourselves, family and friends for years, it had up until that point only been something we just loved to do and not a job. We needed to learn how to take this love and turn it into what it has become today. Education is something we are so passionate about. We feel that no matter your experience level- there is always more you can learn. It doesn't matter how long you have been doing something or how good you are, it's important that you are always giving yourself the opportunity to grow. Since then we had the opportunity to create events for dozens of clients, turning both our dream and their vision, into a reality. Because we do full event production and styling and are beyond just floral designers, we take on a limited number of clients each year so that we can focus on their event to ensure we give each one the attention and personalization it deserves.

3. How far in advance do couples need to secure your services?

Most of our couples come to us about a year out. Our calendar fills up quickly. We currently are fully booked for 2022 and are now booking our 2023 clients.

4. How do you price your floral arrangements? What are the different packages that you offer and which one is your most popular package?

All of our work is completely custom and bespoke. We do not offer packages or predetermined pricing. We meet with our clients, determine their needs, discuss their vision, and then create a full proposal that is designed just for them.

5. How many meetings will you have with the couple, and how will they be involved?

We meet with our clients to discuss what their vision and needs are for their event. We like to get to know our clients personally, we want to know not just about their event but about them and their lives. This helps us tailor the event to them. We want our client's guests to walk into the event and feel it has captured who our clients are as a couple. Personalize it as much as we can. Once we get to know them, and what their needs are for their event, we create a fully detailed proposal for their event. We meet with them again and present all the ideas we could dream up for them. From there they take the proposal and discuss where their priorities lie and what aspects of the proposal they want to move forward with or adjust. Then we create a contract for them and use that proposal as a road map for how we will proceed going forward. We like to meet with our clients again when we get closer to the event and walk through the event space with them making sure we cover every little detail for the big day. In the last few months before is when we really nail down all the little details that will help our client's events be so special.

6. Who else is in your team and how many people on your staff will be at the wedding?

Jackie + Erica always work as a team. Our clients are lucky enough to have two amazing designers with them every step of the way. Day of, depending on the scale of the event, we bring along our event crew to help us execute the setup. We set everything up for our clients, make sure it's all as it should be, and then at the end of the night we come back and clean everything up and take it all away so there is nothing for them to worry about!

7. How would you describe your design style? (e.g. traditional, modern, rustic, organic)

Vine & Oak can be very versatile in it's designs, we do everything from light and airy, to dark and moody. Our signature style though is that, no matter what the color pallet or mood, we always include lots of texture in our arrangements. When it comes to florals all of our arrangements are loose garden style with whimsy and lots of texture.

8. Who will handle setup and delivery? What other services do you offer?

One of the reasons we like to do our walk throughs with clients and the venue is we want to make sure everything day of goes seamless and everyone is on the same page. We come in with our crew the day of, set up everything from our proposal, manage any rentals or deliveries that we have brought it, and make sure it all comes together seamlessly. If there is a flip for the ceremony and reception Jackie + Erica stay to make sure that is handled as well. At the end of the night our crew comes back in and cleans everything up so that our clients have nothing to worry about.

Along with our florals we also offer full styling, event production and rentals. Some of our clients look to us to help them select, and manage, rentals such as linens, place settings. We also sometimes bring in other vendors who we work closely with if the client is in need of something like a tap truck, or specialty vendor. Our full production team is able to create custom signage for your event, elaborate escort walls and displays. Sometimes our clients look to us for help with ideas on favors, and how best to incorporate them into the wedding so it all feels cohesive. Our favorite part is when favors serve a double purpose- like being part of an escort display. And last, if you are looking for rentals such as bars or lounges we have all of that in house as well- and if there is something you are looking for that we don't have in our inventory we have plenty of other great vendors we work with that we will help coordinate bringing it it. You don't just get a florist with us, you get the whole package.

9. What happens to the flowers after the wedding?

This is something we discuss with you prior to the event. Some of our clients like to take the flowers with, or allow guests to take them home. We remove the flowers from the vessels and leave them out in containers to be distributed. Other clients prefer we take them and remove them from the event at the end of the evening. In those cases we usually donate the flowers to local nursing homes or groups who can enjoy them for a few more days.

10. What is your cancellation and/or refund policy?

In the event of cancellation of the event, for any reason, the Retainer and all payments received to date shall be retained by Vine & Oak as liquidated damages, not as penalty, and shall be non-refundable in all respects.