Meet a Wedding Vendor: Brittaney Sard

Next in our “Meet a Wedding Vendor” series, we’re talking with Brittaney Sard, Founder of Petals for Hope. 

Brittaney Sard, founder of Petals for Hope (PFH), is a professional with over 8 years of experience working in the communications sector. After feeling unfulfilled, she left her job and started PFH with the intention to use this as an outlet while she transitioned to a new full-time career. Using her marketing and public relations background, Petals for Hope quickly blossomed to service all 50 states.  She holds a master's degree in Communications and is currently studying Psychology with the intention to earn her PhD to be able to offer more in-depth resources to her organization. Mother, traveler, and lover of all things creative, Brittaney uses these repurposed blooms as a vessel to connect with people to remind them that they do still matter and that there is still hope. In addition to operating Petals for Hope, she works full time in marketing and communications. 

Tell us about Petals for Hope

Petals for Hope volunteers go into weddings and events after they’re over and pickup flowers and greenery. We then recut the flowers, rearrange them and deliver them to hospice, nursing homes, hospitals, and pretty much anyone that can use a little joy.  

Our mission is twofold in that we’re composting anything that we can’t use. If there are broken stems or an excess of greenery, we will compost that. We’re also going back to nursing homes and hospitals to pick-up the bouquets after they’re no longer fit for display and composting those flowers too. 

What inspired you to start Petals for Hope?

I was transitioning out of a corporate career where I felt I wasn’t helping people. I left that position and started Petals for Hope as a transitional career and it really took off and turned into something a lot bigger than I expected. 

What do you love about what you do? 

When I did my first delivery, I saw the impact that it was having on residents at a nursing home who didn’t get regular visitors. I realized that the flowers are just the vessel that we’re using to connect people and give back. When people at a nursing home or a homeless shelter are not feeling seen, having someone come in and not only give you flowers but also sit and have a chat with you, is impactful for them. 

What should couples know about donating their wedding flowers with you?

Our process is very streamlined and simple because we understand that the couples and wedding planners are already stressed out. I don’t want donating flowers to be a huge, overwhelming process. We get an inquiry, we confirm the date and put it on our calendar and at the end of the event or wedding we send in our team and they remove any flowers or greenery, except for arrangements the couple wants to keep. The volunteers take the flowers back and go from there. 

Tell us more about your volunteer model.

We have chapters in different cities that are run by volunteers and I oversee them to make sure things are running smoothly. If there’s a city that we’re not established in and someone reaches out, we have the resources and systems and a web of volunteers to accommodate a donation. 

How are your coping with business in the pandemic?

We were brainstorming ways that we could continue giving back and contributing and came up with contactless deliveries. We partnered with floral farmers to source the flowers directly from them so that they’re not going through a lot of hands. We’re picking up the flowers from the farm with masks and gloves and one person is arranging the flowers and then doing contactless deliveries. We’re partnering with hospice and nursing homes and we’re also taking requests for healthcare workers or people at home by themselves that could use some cheer and doing doorstep deliveries.  

What’s a memorable experience you’ve had in your work?

My favorite places to visit are hospice which probably sounds weird. Recently one of my coworkers realized that I ran Petals for Hope and told me that her grandfather was in hospice and that someone had come to deliver flowers to him. It was one of our volunteers, Monica, who is amazing. She helped him smell the flowers and he wanted to know about the wedding and the dress the bride was wearing, so she shared those details with him. My coworker said it was one of the most amazing things to see and experience. The flowers were there throughout the rest of his life and then she took them home. Most of the time, we don’t hear about the impact after we leave so it was incredible to see our efforts come full circle. 

Looking get in touch with Brittaney? You can find her here: 

Instagram: @petalsforhope 

Website: petalsforhope.com  

In our next "Meet a Wedding Vendor” video, we’ll be interviewing Alexandria Hammond, co-owner of Get Plated Catering.