Wedding Window

Urban Poppy is a wonderful southern floral design boutique dedicated to providing couples with the ultimate floral designs for their wedding day. Anissa, owner of Urban Poppy, works with couples to create floral decor that is completely customized for their event. From soft and sweet to bright and bold, Anissa does it all, giving each wedding its own touch of beauty!

Photo Credit: Urban Poppy

What inspired you to start your business?
Although I grew up in NYC, our backyard was full of flowers. As a little girl and with each new season, my mom would walk around with me and would name the little shoots and buds that eagerly pushed up out of the soil. Many of these flowers would be cut for enjoyment indoors and to give as nosegays to our teachers: snowdrops and crocuses, violets and daffodils, wild roses and peonies, and scores of others.

I’ve always had little arrangements when I was little or from wildflowers picked alongside a country road during my college days in Ohio. Although most of my work was in baking, coffee shop tables would be graced with a little arrangement.

As it goes with many folks introduced to the wedding business, my first bridal flowers were for a close friend’s wedding. She and her guests sincerely loved them. After I sold my cafe and decided to hang up my flour-covered apron, I had a long conversation with my parents whilst figuring out my next venture. What have I always loved since I was a child I asked. My father said that was easy: flowers. Although I found myself traveling and living abroad the next few years as a guide and teacher, I held on to that idea.

Several years later, returning to the States with my own wedding to plan, I designed the flowers; I was my second client. Our wedding was recently featured in the Knot Georgia magazine and January of 2011 marked the official beginning of Urban Poppy.

Photo Credit: Urban Poppy

Photo Credit: Urban Poppy

What options for customization do you offer?
Every bride is unique, therefore, so is every arrangement and bouquet. I explain to brides that I am a wedding floral designer, not a florist. This difference, I believe, allows me to place my full attention on each bride and design around her individual style. So I guess it would be fitting to say that all of Urban Poppy’s flowers are custom.

If you could give one tip to couples who are planning a wedding, what would it be?
A general tip would be try not to change your style and color palette every month. In other words, once you have chosen your look, whether it be modern, romantic or vintage (just a few examples) and the color palette, make sure they are a reflection of you and try to stick with them. There are so many gorgeous ideas and photos out there; like regular candy, too much eye candy can make you feel a little overwhelmed as well. This allows your vendors the time they need to truly capture your look and create a cohesive vision.

Another strong word of advice for any out of town destination bride is to invest in a reputable wedding planner, whether it be year of, month of or day of. They only seem like an unnecessary expense until the bride is running around in her Vera Wang sweating in 100 degree heat trying to arrange chairs and guests and figure out where the band is and are they really in the right historic square? Excellent planners are worth their weight in gold. This day was meant for you, the bride, to enjoy, not to have a nervous breakdown.

Photo Credit: Urban Poppy

What is something that most people don’t know about your biz/you?
My background is in graphic design. As a designer, I’m not just thinking of whether the flowers are the right colors; I’m thinking of the dress, the cake, the bride’s personality, the color of the table linens and the season. Designing is creative problem solving. I love creating unique and wonderful florals for my brides. I could create the most beautiful arrangement, but if it’s not what my bride was imagining and wanting, I’ve failed as a designer.

What is your one must-have item/product/tool to have on-hand when you’re working?
My clippers and some good tunes.

If you had to choose one word (or phrase) to describe yourself/your business what would it be?
Beauty (not, myself; I’m cute that’s about it, lol). I love being able to create beautiful work in a gorgeous environment. Sometimes the arrangements really shock me when they are finished with how lovely they are. I give all the credit to the flowers

5 Things that make you happy?
Aside from flowers, of course …
A good book in a sunny spot with my cat.
The sunrise and watching baby squirrels wake up and play in the tree outside my sunroom while I’m drinking a yummy cup of coffee.
Traveling and living abroad with my gypsy husband.
Playing soccer with the boys and stealing the ball from under their noses.
The smell of the sea and the distant sound of a ship coming to port. It is the sound of a promised adventure.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?
A reminder to brides to enjoy their whole wedding weekend. Many of us women really do have a hard time delegating and relinquishing control. Especially if you are a DIY bride, plan well and delegate tasks early to folks you trust. Work with vendors you trust and like and that really take the time to help you and explain things.

Photo Credit: Urban Poppy

Photo Credit: Urban Poppy

Photo Credit: Urban Poppy

Photo Credit: Urban Poppy

Photo Credit: Urban Poppy

Photo Credit: Urban Poppy

Photo Credit: Urban Poppy

Photo Credit: Urban Poppy