Why We Chose Grace+Love Candle Company

We were looking for candles from a shop that has a philosophy similar to ours—locally owned and operated, offering a quality product, community-oriented, and focused on sustainability. Grace+Love is owned by the wife and husband duo of Natalie and Jamahl Grace based in Loudoun County. One of their missions is to donate funds towards minority education. You can read about their inspiring story here!

How are Grace+Love Candles Made?

The entire collection is vegan friendly and cruelty free, using domestically grown soy wax, phthalate free fragrances, and lead-free cotton wicks. What does that mean for you?

Soy wax burns clean (no blackened walls) with no toxins, carcinogens, or pollutants. Derived from soybeans, soy wax is a renewable resource and supports American farmers. It’s also biodegradable so it cleans up nicely with just soap and water. Soy wax also burns at a lower temperature than paraffin which means your candle will last longer!

Our Current Fragrances

We’re starting with five fragrances which we believe offer a nice selection of floral, fruity, and earthy. Click on each photo for more information!

Give us a call and let us know what you think! We’re eager for your feedback!

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Before you give us a call, you’ll want to gather some information, and then the corsage or boutonniere designs itself!

Wrist or Pin-on Corsage?

Most people prefer wrist corsages, but you’ll sometimes find your grandmother prefers a pin-on corsage because that is what she is used to. Wrist corsages are nice because they go with any kind of dress or material. If the dress is strapless or has spaghetti straps, a wrist corsage is perfect because you don’t have to worry about where to pin the corsage. If the dress is made out of a fabric that isn’t sturdy enough to support the weight of a pin-on corsage, then a wrist corsage is perfect.

We have several different wristlet options to accommodate different sized wrists. Just let us know if your wrist is particular petite. You can even come in to try on the wristlets.

Color Palate

Are you trying to match a dress or a suit? Is this for a wedding so you want to coordinate with the wedding flowers? Are there school colors you want to include? For the most part, each element of the corsage or boutonniere can be the color of your choosing from the flowers, to the smaller supporting flowers, to the greenery, and finally the ribbon.

What kind of flower?

Roses are the most popular. For a corsage, we use several spray roses instead of the larger full-size rose in order to accommodate a woman’s smaller wrist size. Roses come in a variety of colors including the standard white, red, and light pink. But they also come in yellow, peach, lavender, burgundy, and orange. If you’re interested in one of the specialty colors, just call us about a week in advance so we are able to order the flowers for you.

If you want something a little more unusual, there are many other flowers that make beautiful corsages and boutonnieres. Orchids lend an exotic look and come in unusual colors such as the larger cymbidium orchid…

…or the smaller dendrobium orchid. Ranunculus offers a delicate look with gradations of color that are unpredictable and whimsical.

Calla lilies bring a classic sophisticated look and come in white, yellow, mango, pink/light purple, and a dark eggplant purple.

Additions

A traditional corsage and boutonniere is comprised of roses, baby’s breath, bakers fern, and a ribbon. We love requests for original designs. Some fun small flower additions are wax flower, solidago, astilbe, and statice.

Greenery comes in lots of different tones and textures including eucalyptus, myrtle, ruscus, variegated pittosporum, or even hypericum berries.

Ribbon

Most people include ribbon, but you don’t have to. Ribbon has so many characteristics including width, sheer or solid, matte or sparkly, or you can even choose two different ribbons.

You can certainly place your order over the phone. But if you’d like something more unique, you might consider visiting the shop. We have a huge selection of ribbon if you want to match fabric or just see the different colors and textures that are available. You’d be surprised at how many shades of blue there are! We can also pull various elements together like flowers, greenery, and ribbon so you get a feel for what the finished product will look like.

Whatever your needs are for corsages and boutonnieres, we’re here to help!

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Budget

The first question we’ll ask is what your budget is. Once we know your budget, we can guide you to the appropriate flowers that will create the look and feel you would like. Additionally, you might choose to prioritize the elements that are most important to you. Are having peonies in your bouquet more important than having flowers decorating the church pews? While nothing is set in stone until we’re within a month of your big day, knowing what budget you’d like to target will help us offer appropriate suggestions and guidance.

Inspiration

Oftentimes, people will ask us to send them photos of bride’s bouquets. The reality is that we can create any kind of bouquet that you would like. We have endless examples! It really helps us narrow down examples if you send us photos or a Pinterest board that shows the style(s) you like. In addition, these photos will help us determine the price of the bouquet!

Shape

When it comes to bride’s bouquets, there are three major shapes that we work with. The first is round and compact, often looking like a dome. Its opposite is a teardrop or cascading bouquet, a looser shape with trailing flowers and/or greenery. Finally, in the middle of those two is an open and natural bouquet with a more amorphous shape. Below are examples of each shape.

A round bouquet, a cascading bouquet, and an open bouquet.

Color Palette

Something else that’s important to consider is the colors of your bouquet. Whether you’re looking for a monochromatic bouquet or one that includes all the colors of the rainbow, we want to match the colors you’re looking for as closely as possible. Flowers come in all different colors and shades, so the more specific you can be, the better. And if you have a photo of the specific shade you want us to match, that helps us even more!

Flowers

The fun part of the bouquet is the flowers! Do you want just one kind of flower, a mixture of textures and layers, or a combination of flowers that all have the same look and feel? Many flowers such as roses and sunflowers are available year-round at fairly consistent prices. Other flowers such as peonies and dahlias are seasonal. While we might be able to procure them out-of-season, they are often prohibitively expensive. In this case, we are happy to suggest budget-friendly alternatives that offers a similar look without the strain on your wallet!

Greenery and Natural Elements

The last consideration is greenery and natural elements. While neither are a necessity for a bouquet, it can add a natural look as well as contrast to the flowers. Seeded eucalyptus is a popular greenery right now. Other kinds of greenery include (but not limited to!) ruscus, myrtle, green pennycress, bupleurum, and bear grass. Some brides love to add other natural elements for fun texture and variety. Thistle, berries, lotus seed pods, pine cones, safari sunset, are just some of the natural elements we have incorporated into beautiful bride’s bouquets.

Once you’ve considered all these points, you’re ready to order! Just give us a call or visit us in-store, and we’ll create the perfect bride’s bouquet just for you.

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We shortened our shop hours from 7pm to 5pm, even though our competitors were open later than we. This allowed (and continues to allow) us to have quality time with family each evening. When we were able to finally hire employees, we sought out individuals with the same qualities and values that we have as a family. We also sought out individuals that added to and improved the family atmosphere of our shop.

Our goal is to have a shop full of people that care about each other and our customers as much as they care about their own families. With big box companies gobbling up whole industries because they make purchases cheap and easy, we are able to do the one thing those companies can’t—treat you like family and offer you beautiful, artistic, unique designs.

Putting family first means offering our employees living wages. We are happier at work and kinder to our families when we get home if we are not stressed about money. We stay with companies longer when we feel valued and cherished. Most of our employees have been here for at least two years. There is so much value in that kind of longevity.

Our front of the house all know that Mrs. W is allergic to eucalyptus and Mr. S likes Ikebana-style arrangements. Our drivers know not to ring the B Sisters doorbell because it makes their dogs go crazy. Just text them, and they’ll slip out to grab the flowers. Casey talked to a long-time customer yesterday who was in a hurry. The call lasted 1 minute and 39 seconds because they knew his wife’s preferences and had all the information needed for a delivery. We’ve also had calls that last a half hour as we talk through options and offer suggestions to ensure we are creating the perfect arrangement for the occasion.

Our prices and delivery fees continue to be very competitive compared to other high-end florists (not Costco)! But the way and reason we structure our prices is founded in sourcing quality long-lasting flowers, supporting local regenerative (#sustainability #grownnotflown) family flower farmers, and putting family first by offering living wages. We continue to see the amazing benefits of this focus in our individual lives, the atmosphere of the shop, the quality of our arrangements, and the family-oriented customer service we extend to our customers. We all make choices to support businesses that focus on qualities and practices that align with our priorities. We hope knowing a bit more about our foundation and priorities reinforces the trust you have put into our wonderful family business!

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The wreath also contains: spray roses, freesias, button chrysanthemums, dried heather, spray eryngium, foliage, rosemary, hebe, and pittosporum.

She must have loved her gardens at Balmoral. The Queen’s family will be escorting her from Balmoral to London, and then to her final resting place. It’s wonderful to know she is surrounded by all that she loves—including Balmoral and the flowers that grow there.

Most of the flowers in the wreath are ones that Americans have easy access to. But I had never heard of eryngium or hebe. It turns out eryngium is what we call blue thistle. Hebe is a shrub that is native to New Zealand. It looks like a cross between bee balm and veronica to me. Sweet pea and heather are flowers that we have access to but are not ones that we tend to use, at least on the east coast.

Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, wrote a poem in memory of Her Majesty The Queen. The poem accompanied photos of the many flowers left in honor of The Queen.

Floral Tribute

Evening will come, however determined the late afternoon,

Limes and oaks in their last green flush, pearled in September mist.

I have conjured a lily to light these hours, a token of thanks,

Zone and auras of soft glare, orbing the sprays and globes

A promise made and kept for life—that was your gift—

Because of which, here is a gift in return, glovewort to some,

Each shining bonnet guarded by stern lance-like leaves,

The country loaded its whole self into your slender hands,

Hands that can rest, now, relieved of a century’s weight.

Evening has come. Rain on the black lochs and dark Munros.

Lily of the Valley, a namesake almost, a favourite flower

Interlaced with your famous bouquets, the restrained

Zeal and forceful grace of its lanterns, each inflorescence

A silent bell disguising a singular voice. A blurred new day

Breaks uncrowned on remote peaks and public parks, and

Everything turns on these luminous petals and deep roots.

This lily that thrives between spires and trees, whose brightness

Holds and glows beyond the life and border of its blooms.

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Online Orders

If you are placing an online order for delivery, just let us know in the “Order Notes” field that you have vases you’d like our driver to pick up. On the day of the delivery, we’ll call to coordinate a good delivery time when someone is home so the flowers don’t have to stay outside. Just make sure the vases are outside your front door, and our driver will collect the vases when making the delivery at no extra charge!

Phone Orders

If you are placing an order over the phone, just let us know you have vases you’d like our driver to pick up.  On the day of the delivery, we’ll call to coordinate a good delivery time when someone is home so the flowers don’t have to stay outside. Just make sure the vases are outside your front door, and our driver will collect the vases when making the delivery at no extra charge!

Drop Off

You can also swing by the shop with your vases if you’d like! Our shop is open Monday – Friday from 9am – 5pm, and on Saturdays from 10am – 3pm. You are welcome to drop vases off anytime when we are open. We like to send our recyclers home with a flower so there’s a little bonus to dropping your vases off in person! At a time when some counties don’t offer glass recycling, we’re here to help with recycling vases!

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Colors

Source: Pagemoral on Wikimedia Commons

Carnations, especially, come in a wide variety of gorgeous colors! Carnations especially come in practically every color under the sun, from pink to green to anything in between! There is a depth and richness of color that you can get in a carnation that you can’t really get with other flowers. Here at Fantasy Floral, we especially love the Moon Series Carnations (pictured above) for their vibrant purple hues! My personal favorites are burgundy carnations (pictured below in an arrangement.) They add a wonderful richness to the color palette and highlight the colors of the other flowers used. 

Strength in Numbers

Carnations, mums, and daisies are the epitome of the phrase “small, but mighty.” On their own, they may not look like much, but together they have the power to make an arrangement shine! The arrangement pictured above showcases the beauty of multiple types of daisies. Since these flowers aren’t as expensive as a rose or a lily, our designers can use as many of them as they’d like!

Complement Other Flowers

In addition to being beautiful on their own, carnations, mums, and daisies are versatile enough to act as gorgeous accent flowers! When used in this way, the smaller flowers highlight the beauty of the larger ones. Take the arrangement pictured above as an example! The purple carnations offer a subtle contrast to the large pink lilies while also complementing the tall purple veronica. 

Have I sold you on these flowers yet? If you want to send some to a loved one, give us a call today!

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Centerpieces

If you’re hosting Easter dinner or brunch, a centerpiece is a great way to liven up the table setting! The most important thing for a centerpiece is to allow your guests to see over it. For a rectangular table, something long and low would look lovely and complement the table shape. Or something low and circular for a round table. Alternatively, a short and compact arrangement in a vase is a great hostess gift because it could work both as a centerpiece and as an accent on a coffee or end table!

Corsages

If you’re in the mood for something a little more traditional, Easter corsages for the ladies in your life may be for you! Fresh flowers are a great addition to any outfit, especially one as fancy as your Sunday best. Whether you’re going to church or having a nice brunch with family, our designers will make sure that your corsages look as beautiful as the woman wearing them!

Easter Flowers

Spring is the season of flowers, and Easter brings some of the prettiest blooms to the table! I’ve written about seasonal spring flowers before, but some of our favorites for Easter specifically include tulips, hyacinths, and the ever-popular peony. Plus, thanks to our partnership with Old Dominion Flower Cooperative, we’ll have more unique flowers like daffodils on a weekly basis! 

Easter Arrangements

This time of year, we get to experiment with fun additions to our regular designs! Baskets are a popular vessel for flowers in spring, and we have all kinds of lovely pastel baskets here at the shop. We also have little plastic eggs in all sorts of spring colors! If you’re looking for a sweet addition to the holiday, one of our favorite arrangements this time of year is the whimsical Jelly Joy!

If you need any Easter flowers, just give us a call!

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Standard Arrangements

For sympathy flowers, many people opt for a standard flower arrangement in a vase or basket. When ordering these arrangements, it’s important to specify whether the flowers are going to a home or a funeral service. For a funeral service, our designers recommend a three-sided design so that the flowers are facing the attendees. If they’re going to a home, an all-around design can be put pretty much anywhere!

Color Palettes

Depending on the feeling you want the arrangement to evoke, there are several different color palettes you can choose from. You can never go wrong with an all white arrangement like the one on the left above. If you’d like to stay with a more sedate arrangement that has a bit of color, a mixture of white and soft pastel colors is a nice option. Sometimes the most appropriate arrangement is one that is vibrant and colorful to celebrate a life well lived and loved. The two arrangements on the right are great examples!

Funeral Service Flowers 

At Fantasy Floral, we have many options for funeral services. If you would like flowers in front of a podium or book-ending a stage, a three-sided arrangement like the one pictured on the left above is a nice option. For easel arrangements, we have sprays, wreaths, crosses, and open and closed hearts. These arrangements typically start at around $200. We can also do both half and full casket sprays, starting at $200 and $300 respectively. The price depends on the size of the arrangement and the kinds of flowers that you would like to use. 

Honoring Your Loved One

While we specialize in cut flower arrangements, we are sometimes able to add custom pieces to an arrangement in honor of your loved one. Two such arrangements are pictured above. On the left is an arrangement that we delivered to the family of a gentleman who was known for wearing bowties. We added a ribbon in the shape of a bowtie to the arrangement. On the right is an arrangement our customer ordered for her friend who had just lost her beloved dog. The customer asked us to do something spectacular and increased her budget to allow us to purchase dog toys to include in the arrangement.

We have photos on our website to give you ideas on shapes and color palettes. Just give us a call or come into the shop to discuss how you would like to customize your sympathy flowers.

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Just the other day, we had a lovely woman place an order for an arrangement for a 2-month-old baby that had just undergone open heart surgery… 2 months! I thought to myself, well babies are more resilient than we adults are. They haven’t yet felt the hardships of the world fall on their shoulders. And if they had, those memories would soon fade away. As I pondered this, the most striking thing I realized is that babies and children are constantly living in the now. They are intentionally living, being, and striving within their present moment.  

With so much going on in the world, it’s easy to forget that precious moments don’t just happen but are, rather, created. What was the last meaningful moment you remember creating? Where were you? Who was there? What did you feel, and why is this the moment that’s resonating with you right now? 

Working at Fantasy Floral, I am blessed to be part of the important moments in people’s lives—the joyful and the somber. Living intentionally is a choice, and this week’s important moment reminded me to choose to live…intentionally.

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