Meet a Wedding Vendor: Little Acre
Today we’re speaking with Amber and Jane from Little Acre Flowers. This local flower shop has been in business for more than 6 years and recently launched their full-service wedding floral offering. Let’s meet Amber and Jane.
Amber – General Manager
Amber joined the Little Acre team in 2018 after several years of doing wedding and event florals as a “side hustle.” Not only does she love bringing joy to people’s lives through beautifully curated and sustainable floral designs, she also enjoys the business and logistics side of the floral world and thrives on being able to use both sides of her brain on a daily basis! Outside of the studio, you’re likely to find Amber curled up with a book, whipping up something in the kitchen, or on her yoga mat (but realistically… she’s probably chasing her rambunctious toddler around).
Jane – Event Manager
Jane joined Little Acre Flowers in 2020 as the Event Manager and a Floral Designer. Jane is passionate about the intersection of the floral industry, the events industry, and sustainable business practices. Jane assists planners and couples in bringing their events and weddings to life through sustainable floral design. Jane also oversees Little Acre's event operations; this includes working with local farmers + growers, sourcing seasonal flowers (resulting in a lower carbon footprint), and working to reduce waste throughout the entire design process. Outside of work, Jane enjoys volunteering at a local cat shelter, thrift shopping, and practicing yoga.
Tell us about Little Acre Flowers
We started about 6 years ago and are a female owned and operated business. We do daily deliveries Monday through Sunday and events in addition to that. Little Acre Flowers is DC’s only 100% locally sourcing flower shop, which means that we get all of our product from nearby growers.
Tell us how you got into this business?
Amber: I was doing flowers as a side hustle for a few years. I previously worked at a very fast-growing tech startup and I decided to do my own flowers for my wedding. I got hooked on flowers. I love nature and beautiful things. I started doing events on the side for friends and friends of friends and started my own thing. Now I'm full-time flowers, all-day, every day.
Jane: When I was looking to expand after working at environmental non-profit, taking what I learned there, the opportunity to manage the events at Little Acre popped-up. It was a great fit with Amber, the owner and the entire team.
What do you love about the business?
Amber: So much of our business is flower deliveries and as a delivery florist, it’s really gratifying to be part of people’s day to day. Honestly, I love every piece of my job. It’s a great place to be.
Jane: Having the ability to spend the first few hours of the day playing with flowers is a wonderful thing. Being able to be part of people’s lives and people’s days in a very special way is very rewarding.
Why is using 100% local flowers so important to your business?
It’s lower waste, it’s cleaner and it supports the local economy. All of the buying that we’re doing is going right back into our local community. The commitment to local is a commitment to giving people the highest quality flowers we could possibly find.
Tell us about Little Acre’s sustainable approach and practices
We are very creative in how we use the flowers so we just don’t waste nearly as much. I think it’s between 75 and 80% of flowers in the traditional floral industry that end up in the trash. We have very little waste and what we do have is all composted. When it comes to events, something we’re aiming for this year is to be 100% foam-free. We’re also working on eliminating all plastic in our deliveries. We work with our partner, Petal Share, to donate arrangements around DC after events are over.
What should a couple be aware of when working with a sustainable florist?
When you’re working with a florist that is local and sustainable, there is a level of letting go and being ok with not all flowers being available. Since we’re sourcing everything locally, that means that certain things aren’t going to be available. If you have any non-negotiables, it’s helpful to communicate those upfront when you sit down with a potential florist. You may have limitations, but it’s probably going to be even more beautiful because it will be fresher and more reflective of the time of year you’re getting married.
As with any vendor for your wedding or event, you have to trust the professional, knowing that your florist is going to deliver the best product and is going to keep your vision and your color scheme and your best interest in mind. We are going to find the most beautiful, seasonal option that best matches your overall aesthetic.
What’s one memorable experience you’ve had with a wedding?
We did a wedding last summer that was woodland inspired. The couple was getting married at the height of summer flowers so there was an abundance of flowers to choose from. We flowered the entire house, the front of the house, the bridge in the backyard. We created this very ethereal backdrop that they got married in front of with doors and curtains and tons of flowers cascading over the front of it. It looked like a scene out of Shakespeare when it was done. It was magical.
Do you have any advice for couples during the pandemic?
We’ve been very open to rescheduling and have asked couples to work closely with us and their vendors, especially their venue and their caterer. It is a day-to-day, week-to-week process and we’re asking our clients to be understanding of some of the limitations we may have.
Do you have a favorite moment from your own wedding?
I got married in the Fall. We had mums and ferns all over and had people take them home afterward. My guests really appreciated being able to bring the plants home. I always encourage couples to think about how they can extend the life of the things they’re using for their wedding. Whether it’s donating items, giving them to guests, or passing them along to a friend that’s getting married, that’s my one piece of advice.
Looking to get in touch with Little Acre?
Instagram: @littleacreflowers | Website: Little Acre
In our next "Meet a Wedding Vendor” video, we’ll be interviewing Rabbi Sarah Tasman. She’ll share how to find the right officiant for your wedding and how to ensure that your ceremony reflects you as a couple.