March 2020 vs. March 2021
It’s hard to imagine that this time last year we were living in a pre-pandemic world. What was a life of freedom – leaving your house, aimlessly browsing the paper products aisle in grocery stores, dining indoors with large groups for dinner – is now wishful thinking. What a luxury it was to not think about grabbing a mask as you head out the door for a walk with a friend, which now would be a socially distanced meeting. March 2020 B.C. (before COVID) was a moment in time we at Helen Olivia Flowers took advantage of.
As we reflect on the past year, we remember our last event, Erin Go Glam, on March 13th, 2020 before the world and the event industry shut down. The luncheon hosted by Ridgewells Catering is an annual gathering for industry heads from florists, planners, caterers, rental companies, etc. to showcase our work and get together for Saint Patrick’s Day before event season takes off.
Erin Go Glam Event
Little did we know, unaware of the severity of what was to come with COVID, Erin Go Glam was the last hurrah and normal event for us in 2020. Aside from the elephant in the room that was the chatter of coronavirus, there was still that hustle and bustle we miss so much. Even a live petting zoo where sheep greeted guests! Attendees browsed around the venue space, perusing vendors, shopping at the jewelry tables while freely heading up to the bar to get a cocktail, provided by Cocktail Creations. What a wild concept to us now! River dancers entertained the crowd with their fancy footwork and put TikTok dancers to shame.
Escort cards were tied to a faux ivy wall as guests looked for their names to make their way to their seats. The luncheon tables were filled with centerpieces made of saturated greens, ferns, rich red ranunculus, various roses and delphinium to complete the wildflower look. The Irish Countryside theme allowed us to utilize all types of greenery including different types of moss.
We are grateful to have this event to look back on. It was such a pivotal moment in time and allows us to look toward what’s ahead. After quarantining with few events to plan for, our creative juices are flowing! Better yet, our team is ready to get back into preparing for events as they used to be.
An Update from Helen Olivia Flowers
Currently at Helen Olivia Flowers, our small staff of floral designers are fully masked and spaced out at design stations, with hand sanitizer bottles at the corner of each desk. We have closed our shop for walk-in shoppers but are offering curbside pick-up services. This is our new normal- and not what we were imagining back at Erin Go Glam last March!
Looking ahead to spring and summer of 2021, we continue to plan events with a focus on health and safety. We’ve shifted our business model from in-person bridal and design consultations to virtual calls and venues with smaller capacities. We offer new wedding flowers packages focused on the comfort level of our clients and the safety of our staff. From in-studio pickups to full-service installations, we are making the most of our events as we stay hopeful for the future!
2020 was a pivotal (are we sick of that word yet?) year we will never forget. Onward and upward! Here’s to more flower-filled days ahead.
EVENT VENDORS:
A/V: AVLD Events
Calligraphy: Meant to Be Calligraphy
Catering and Planning: Ridgewells Catering
Cocktails: Cocktail Curations
Decor: Design Foundry
Florals: Helen Olivia Floral Design
Music: Bialek’s Music
Paper: Saima Says Design
Photography: Simo Ahmadi, Photography by Simo
Portrait Salon: Love Life Images
Rentals: Nuage Designs, Perfect Settings, Something Vintage, Table Manners
Valet: MJ Valet
Venue: Dock 5 at Union Market
