Butterflies of Blairgowrie – locally-grown seasonal wedding bouquets
Jul 20th, 2008 by Katie
Today we have the lovely Beatriz of Butterflies of Blairgowrie here to talk to you about her passion for flowers and for the environment…
Name: Beatriz Custodio-Strachan
Location: Blairgowrie – Scotland
Tell us a bit about yourself and your business
I grew up watching the women in my family create beauty with flowers. Photos that are reminders of this have always surrounded me in every home I’ve ever lived in.
In my shop I sell flowers that are fragrant and beautiful, each stem is unique and each design I create is unique too.
My business comes from wanting to create beauty with flowers that have been produced without damaging the environment by ethical growers, I do this every day and it makes my customers and me happy.
What or who inspires you?
Photos of my Great-grandmother, my Grandmother and my mother with armfuls of flowers, the beautiful flowers I work with, the brides themselves who come into my shop and care so much about making a difference, my children and their laughter.
On the environmental side I am inspired by my determination to make a difference and protect our beautiful planet for future generations.
I am also inspired by suppliers, the flowers and plant growers, who are as passionate as I am about producing flowers that have been grown in an ethical and eco-friendly way.
What do you enjoy most about running your business?
I love doing weddings, the whole romance of it, the dreams and the love I see but most of all being able to create beauty with fantastic flowers that are fragrant and natural. I really enjoy delivering flowers because no matter what mood the recipient is in as soon as I present them with a bouquet of flowers someone has sent to them their faces are transformed!
It never ceases to amaze me the joy that flowers bring to a person’s life, I see it so clearly when I deliver flowers to someone. I also enjoy meeting people who care as much as I do about the environment and the ethical issues surrounding the flower industry.
What is the most challenging aspect?
Helping people understand the difference between my flowers and those that they can buy in other establishments.
Encouraging people to have confidence in the flowers that are grown in the UK.
Trying to get customers to understand the consequences of buying 20 roses for £4 on the lives of the workers in the fields in South America and why buying one rose for £4 that has been grown in the UK makes a difference to the environment.
It is very challenging to stand up day in day out for these principles in a small community that has always done things one way and that way alone; I hope that this is slowly changing as we all continue to support ethical and environmental issues.
What do you feel you bring to an ethical wedding?
I offer couples the opportunity to have beautiful flowers that have been grown naturally without chemicals or pesticides with 0 airmiles. Unique and fragrant flowers made into designs that have been created with their personalities in mind. I offer flowers to feel proud of!!
How do you see the wedding industry changing over the next five years (if at all)?
I see more and more couples wanting to make a positive difference and to have a wonderful wedding without damaging the environment. I see the wedding industry becoming more aware of the difference that can be made by choosing a positive option and doing things in an ethical and environmentally conscious way.
Find out more about Butterflies of Blairgowrie – locally-grown seasonal wedding bouquets
