Sarah Faoro moved to Gardiner when she was four. Of course, she brought her family with her. Her parents found nine acres and built a house on Burnt Meadow, where Sarah still lives today. Sarah’s Dad was a beekeeper and a flower grower, and Sarah knew she loved flowers early on.
Floral Affairs by Sarah started five years ago, and has become a viable business by relying on that great marketing technique called “”word of mouth.” Someone will go to a wedding or birthday where Sarah has designed and supplied the flower arrangements and fall in love with what they see. Or a friend will rave about Sarah’s skill and eye for the perfect floral design. Plus you will always find Sarah at the bridal expositions, near and far.
When Sarah begins plans for a wedding or party, she first has to ascertain the mood or “look” that her client wants. “Formal” looks include roses and calla lilies. “Modern” includes thistle and berries. Sarah also incorporates feathers and seashells and other “found” objects d’art.
When asked about the fleeting life of flower art, Sarah explains that is part of what makes it so precious. A bridal bouquet can be freeze dried, or duplicated in silk flowers. And Sarah always provides two bridal bouquets, one to throw to the bridesmaids, and the real one, which many brides want to keep.
At one recent wedding at Mills Mansion in Staatsburg, there were three locations that needed floral arrangements; the ceremony, the reception and the cocktail hour, all outdoors. Of course there was a big gust of wind and details flew everywhere. The sunflowers all ended up looking in one direction, not at all how they were staged. Sarah spent the next hour trying to rearrange everything and was able to reconstruct the design before the guests arrived.
Sarah orders her flowers from all over the world, especially in winter. Want peonies in December? No problem! Orchids from Thailand, flowers from South American or Florida, and tulips from Holland are all attainable. In Campbell Hall there is a big wholesale flower market where Sarah can be inspired as she walks through the aisles.
Visit Sarah’s web site: www.flor-alaffairsbysarah.com. You can reach her there for a consultation or your event.