Meet Sarah Hughes | Floral Preservationist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Hughes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I worked as a floral designer for weddings for a few years. Weekend after weekend, I watched thousands upon thousands of dollars worth of flowers being thrown into giant trash bags at the conclusion of these events. That’s when I realized my childhood hobby could be saving some of these blooms and turning them into custom pieces of art that couples can enjoy for decades to come. By pressing their flowers, I’m taking something tangible from the couple’s wedding and making it last forever.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My medium is one of everyone’s favorites: flowers. Chances are, you’ve bought someone flowers or received them for some occasion. I preserve and frame people’s most impactful days by pressing flowers from weddings, baby showers, memorial services, you name it, and securing them inside frames that I make by hand from start to finish. My background in wedding floral design sets me apart from other preservationists because I have an intimate understanding of the mechanics and composition of any arrangement I’m given the honor of preserving. Having spent hundreds of hours designing wedding bouquets over the years, I can truly appreciate the artistry and intent that goes into every single stem placement, making it second nature for me to translate these elements into a two-dimensional version of a design that the recipient can keep for decades.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
As a big fan of brunch, nobody comes to visit me without making a trip to The Dunlavy on Buffalo Bayou. It’s like dining in a rainforest, but subtract the humidity, and add a ton of sparkling chandliers?? Magic, I swear. Across the street is Piggy’s, which is another great brunch spot. Or appetizer/happy hour spot. Or dinner. They have a huge outdoor dining area and a pretty extensive menu-I’d make a recommendation but you could literally close your eyes and point to the menu and never be disappointed. Get the carafe of mimosas in your fav flavor. Just get the carafe. And for my fellow caffeine addicts, Boomtown coffee is a favorite of mine. The sea turtle is a chocolate + caramel latte and it’s SO GOOD iced. Boomtown’s downtown location is in the bottom floor of the Bank of America tower. It’s this atrium-style food hall called Understory, making it a great spot for groups since there are several options. Lastly, Saint Arnold has a huge beer garden on the east side of town. (Everyone knows their beer is bomb but don’t cheat yourself by not ordering food.) They have a crawfish roll during crawfish season and it’s exactly what it sounds like-a cajun take on the classic lobster roll. So good. I’d love to suggest some active options like a good hike but I guess all I do is eat. Which is fine.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
All of my family, friends, and mentors who’ve shown me boundless support deserve a little bit of the spotlight. I wouldn’t be where I am now without all my cheerleaders.

Website: www.petalandpressstudio.com

Instagram: @petalandpressstudio

Image Credits
Petal + Press Studio