My best friend, Eyette, and I rarely see each other these days. Our lives have just been crazy busy respectively — she with her job as a teacher and deep involvement in youth ministry, me with my craft events, graphic design work and daily duties as wife and mom. Aside from late nights or odd hours chatting on Viber, it’s rare for the both of us to be free at the same time. But when we do get to hang out together, it’s always a good time.
Two weeks ago was one of those times. I got invited to attend a Bouquet, Corsage and Boutonniere Making Workshop by School of Styling at Greenbelt 5 and was also given the chance to bring along a friend. So I decided to invite Eyette. You see, she’s engaged to be married latter part of this year (Yeyyy!). So she’s also been occupied with planning and preparation for the wedding. It’s exciting times! A lot like me, she likes to learn how things are done and prefers the DIY way. So I thought it would be a real treat for her to learn a bit more about floral arrangements as she tries to put together ideas for her own wedding.
We ooh-ed and aah-ed as we walked in the workshop area and saw the tables covered in baskets and buckets of beautiful blooms. It was such a charming set up!
Our instructor was party stylist, Indy Ycasiano, who also runs School of Styling PH. She started out by carefully and thoughtfully teaching us the basics of creating a wrist corsage. She took her time to attend to each and every participant by going around the tables to help us get our arrangements together. She was very encouraging too. She laid down the basics and then gave us free rein in clustering the flowers we liked. Eyette and I had a ball selecting flowers and foliage, mixing and matching to create the arrangement we thought looked best. Afterwards, we made some boutonierres and then lastly, loose bouquets.
We had a lovely time! I mean, it’s nearly impossible to not be pleased when surrounded with fresh flowers. And I’m quite happy to see Eyette enjoy and take so much from it. The workshop gave her a clearer picture of what type of flowers and arrangements she wants for her wedding. She may not be the one putting them together but now she can more accurately describe to her florist what she wants.
We even did a little photo shoot because the workshop ended at a time of day when the light outside was just perfect. And while browsing through the photos later on, I couldn’t help but feel thrilled and equally sentimental about my dearest friend getting married. I just know — I’m 100% positive — that she will be a radiant bride! All the flowers that surround her will fade in the light of her beauty because she is truly a person who is not only attractive on the outside but carries within a beautiful soul. And looking back — waaay back — through all the years we’ve been friends, she really has just kept growing in grace. No matter what life threw at her, she would always ALWAYS come out better, stronger, and quite unavoidably, more beautiful. She blooms and nothing would and could ever stop it.
Many times have I wished, sometimes even bitterly, that I was more like her. But now that we’ve grown and matured and gone past all of our differences, I’m nothing but grateful to have her in my life because she has always inspired me to be a kinder, gentler, more patient, perseverant person — just generally better! And boy, what a lucky man, Jef, her fiance, is! I’ve always said Eyette was the most marriable and wife-able one and I do have a long list of reasons just why! (I’m sure Jef knows that by now, that’s why he’s marrying her right?)
So yes, I’m really quite excited for my dearest best friend. I know I know, this was supposed to be a blog post about the wonderful event we attended but I really wanted to get into how it became more than just a floral workshop to me. It was a chance for me and my best friend to bond while learning something new. It did accomplish that plus, I ended up appreciating this beautiful person all the more. See what wonders flowers can do? 🙂
Thanks to School of Styling (Em and Indy!) for inviting me to this event! Congratulations and wishing you more success in your coming workshops and creative endeavors!
And to Eyette — Thank you for agreeing to come with me! Sorry I got a little carried away with this post but I mean every word! I’m so happy to be of help to you as you prepare for your wedding day. Just say the word and we’ll make things happen! Also, I wish you get all the flowers you want for your big day arranged in the way you most desire!
Find out more about School of Styling and the events they hold by following their updates on Instagram (@schoolofstylingph) and Facebook.
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