“We are trying to raise the bar, to create work that is as good as what they create in New York, Paris, England.” So says Suzane Lee, owner and creative mastermind behind Granville Island Flowers.

Lee’s high bar is on clear display as you enter the Crème de la Crème Wedding Show at the Four Seasons Hotel. Gorgeous mounds of pink, white and crimson flowers grow up from tables, hang down from ceilings and weave through white candles. Inside the main ballroom, brides, maids, mums and the odd groom steady their phones to film serious models in twinkling white dresses weaving through great urns of flower white.

“The brides are very interactive this year,” says Lee. “Love love love it!”

Lee has been brainstorming the Crème de la Crème flower approach with Founder Soha Lavin for months. “This is the end result. I think this is why we have worked together for 11 beautiful years!  We bounce off each other’s vision and, it may sound unbelievable, but we still get goosebumps in what we do.”

As you wander from booth to tempting booth – mini strawberry red peppercorn ice-cream? Sugar-rimmed champagne? Salted caramel churros? – you see how many local artisans are focusing on the luxury wedding business.

Kyle Archibald – Marshmallow Craftsman from archimallows – is firing up his mini-torch to bring a campfire scorch to besticked marshmallows with flavours like lemon meringue, vanilla sprinkle, strawberry cream and caramel dark chocolate sea salt. If you’re feeling adventurous, why not dip your golden mallow into Baileys or Kahlua?

Jack Coffee is brewing locally roasted beans in a pour-over bar. Violet Grey Creative is fanning their custom-designed stationary while DJ Emilita and DJ Barron S, from GirlOnWax, spin us through. Just right of Hugo’s churros are the handmade tulle dream skirts from The Beautulleful Girls.

It’s great to hear all of the heartfelt enthusiasm between brides planning their magical days and artisans brainstorming a fitting twist.

“Vancouver weddings are so sophisticated now,” says Granville Island Flower’s Suzane Lee. “We do a lot of different designs. We don’t restrict ourselves.” Local artisans and planners support and play off each other in creating new wedding experiences. “You keep on learning,” says Lee. “You keep being inspired by each other.”

Written by Elizabeth Newton
www.creatorsvancouver.com

For more on Suzane Lee see: Suzane Lee Profile