We were in the midst of several events and the room was a buzz, which tends to be the norm around here, when one of the designers held up an aisle marker and asked me does this look okay? Nope I said, and I might have even said I hate it, or it’s not “Hollyish,” which has become our in house term for my very particular standards. It was not the designers fault, in fact the flaw was in the recipe I had written. Now by all rights, the value of the design was there and it was only an aisle marker but in my heart of hearts I knew it was not good enough to have our studios name on it!!! That voice of mine is spot on every freaking time, I have listened to it for years, in fact it’s the very reason we have the many fabulous reviews we have. There has been a lot of talk in the flower shop that I am too picky and controlling and that every single design, ribbon color, and or creation should not have to have my approval or more importantly my enhancement. In fact this conversation has been going on so much that I feel a little guilty because I am so very particular. So I listened to a different voice and this voice said let it go… its only an aisle marker. So I let it go, I knew that every one of her designs was above and beyond all that I had promised and I simply said okay it’s fine let it go!!!
After the wedding the mother who was very important in the planning process of this wedding came to return some of the rental items. With tears in her eyes she thanked me for the perfection we had created, and she told me everything was exactly as she hoped it would be… except for one tiny little thing. She did not love the aisle markers, she still loved me, still loved our designs, but in truth she did not love the aisle markers. HOLY HOLLY!!!!! I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!!! This has had my head screaming for days, I need to listen to my designer voice!. I know intuitively what is amazing, I know what is perfection, and I know that the comment “it’s okay” or “it’s fine” is not good enough for this studio. Thankfully this happened, it says to me don’t change who you are or what you have built, and it says watch over everything like the crazy hawk that you are!!!! My standards my designer voice is what sets me apart from many of the other floral studios. I am relentless about each and every design. I need to listen to my designer voice!!
Photography by Anne Robert.
Awesome post Holly!! You put your heart and soul in your work and it really shows! That’s how I fell in love with you and your work in the first place~ 🙂
“Le mieux est l’ennemi du bien.” I disagree! I’ll take the best over good any day!
I realize that my previous comment may not be clear… I disagree with Voltaire that “the best is the enemy of the good”. I’ll take perfection over good enough any day, and obviously Holly would too!
I’m the mother of the bride at this event, and your post is why we all love you and your “Hollyish” designs. The flowers were absolute perfection and more beautiful than we could have ever expected. I will cherish the images of your work for that day forever. Thank You – Thank You!!
I love you!!!!!