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Goan Interviews You Can Use - by Cecil Pinto
This time Cecil interviews Beatrice Pinto, the enthusiastic proprietor of EXPRESSIONS - The Flower Shop, Panjim, for some advice on sending floral greetings for weddings.
================ Question: The wedding season has started here in Goa. I suppose lots of people will be sending orders for flower arrangements to be delivered as wedding greetings?
Beatrice: Yes. From October we start getting wedding greeting orders. Mostly from Goans working in the Middle East. Wishing their colleagues, relatives, friends etc who are getting married in Goa.
Question: Do they normally request you to deliver the flowers to the reception venue?
Beatrice: Well if the sender knows both the groom and the bride extremely well, then the reception would be the appropriate place to deliver the flowers. But this is normally not the case. The sender usually knows either one party well and directs us to deliver to his or her house.
Question: Do you think the reception venue is the better place to do the flower delivery? Sort of getting two birds with one stone?
Beatrice: No. This is the wrong impression people have. Remember a Goan wedding reception is a noisy, confusing affair. The bride and groom are under a lot of tension. Sure they will accept and sign for a flower delivery but the next moment a dozen people have lined up to wish them and the flowers are forgotten. Or at least the identity of who sent this particular flower arrangement. Whereas if the flowers are delivered to say the bride's house earlier in the day, then she has the time to appreciate the flowers and the sentiment of the sender. And most often the arrangement features in the 'besanv' photos. Plus they have the option of taking the flower arrangement to use as part of the church decor and maybe later to the reception hall too. And we use absolutely the freshest flowers. So you will see them being appreciated at the next day's 'porton' too! So you have many birds with one stone!!
Question: So you advice not to send flowers to the reception venue?
Beatrice: I wouldn't exactly say that. Sometimes the sender knows both
families well. In this case sending to the reception would be ok. In fact
we at EXPRESSIONS have designed a special two-tier arrangement to be sent for wedding receptions. It is a metal stand with two flower arrangements at different levels. Very impressive looking and the bride and groom, and their families, can't help noticing and appreciating it. Also the photographers love this two tier arrangement and usually it features in the family portraits as well as close ups of the bride and groom. So your flower greeting is permanently recorded in the wedding album too!
Question: What about sending flowers to the church.
Beatrice: An absolute no-no. The bride and groom are particularly tense throughout the religious ceremony and are so relieved afterwards that their minds will not register any flower delivery.
Question: I hear that you also deliver cakes along with flowers?
Beatrice: We are primarily florists. On occasion we do deliver cakes. But for weddings we definitely do not recommend sending a cake. There's already the wedding cake and the rich buffet and drinks flowing freely. An additional cake will just add to a massive stomach upset for everyone involved!
Question: Any other hints regarding floral wedding greetings?
Beatrice: Don't wait for the last minute. Of course this applies to any greeting not just floral, and not just weddings.
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For free practical advice regarding floral greetings for any occasion please contact Beatrice Pinto directly at <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> or Cecil Pinto at <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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If you wish Cecil to conduct an interview with a professional regarding any specific subject (preferably Goa related) send your suggestions to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
If you have found the information in this interview useful please forward it to another Goan.
Goan Interviews You Can Use - By Cecil Pinto
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