Elvie’s Floral Preservation & Design

Janelle Warren was inspired to develop Elvie’s Floral Preservation and Design by her own wedding bouquet.

“Of course, wedding bouquets have a lot of meaning and memories attached to them, and I realised that floral preservation has a long tradition that goes back thousands of years,” she said, in an interview last week.

That interest led Janelle, who was living in the Petawawa area with her then new husband Austin, who was serving in the Canadian Armed Forces, to do some in depth research.

“I spent months educating myself through online tutorials, books, connecting with fellow preservers, and many many trials and moldy flowers.”

Four years later, in 2022, Janelle took the next step and started up a floral preservation business.

“Why couldn’t I grow this into a job that will provide for my family? Why couldn’t I do this? Well - I could. And I did. I started putting myself out there and little by little I have watched my sweet Elvie’s flourish and grow into the incredible business it is today”

The name of the business reflects Janelle’s priorities, as it is named for her two daughters Ellie and Vi.

In the close-knit community in Petawawa, Elvie’s Floral thrived.

Janelle uses traditional pressing techniques with her “Pressed Florals” which are encased between glass in a matted picture frame. A second option, 3-D florals preservation, uses a drying agency and deconstruction and reconstruction techniques to preserve “blooms in their natural 3D shape but removing the moisture, retaining the natural colours and textures, leaving blooms looking almost the exact same as they were the day of the wedding or event.” The end product is floated in a frame.

All of the frames that Elvie’s uses are custom made by Janelle’s wood worker father Perry, making Elvie’s a true multi-generational family business.

When Austin ended his military career and transitioned to law enforcement, the Warren’s moved to Inverary and Janelle brought Elvie’s with her.

“It is taking some time, with the move and all the changes, for the kids and ourselves, to get Elvie’s re-established here in a new community where I am just getting known,” said Janelle.

Also, there are not a lot of weddings in January.

“This is the time of year for couples who are planning a wedding later this year, to consider arranging for floral preservation,” Janelle said. “If my services are booked in advance, I am able to get the bouquet as early as possible after the wedding to begin preservation before any deterioration sets in.”

It takes about four months to go from fresh bouquet to a framed end product.

“There are many time-consuming steps along the way, but in the end, the bouquets retain their colour and will remain as they are for decades to come.”

Janelle said that being able to provide her customers with a lasting set of memories is the most rewarding part of her business, and she is excited to meet new people in her home community, and across South Frontenac and Kingston, over the next few months and years.

For further information about Elvies Floral Preservation and Design, go to Elviesfloralpreservation.ca, email [email protected], or call (613) 264-7467