By Felicia Greekas

As spring approaches and the season changes it brings a new feeling in the air. The days become fresh and light with the sun and rain bringing the earth back to life in full bloom. We clean out the clutter and make time for what’s really important.

This time of the year is especially important for brides and all the people who help support her and the groom for their big day. With so many plans a bride knows how important the people are who will help orchestrate the perfect day.

Enter Denise Halfyard, owner and operator of Halfyard Designs. In operation for just over a year, Denise is passionate about her work creating floral designs and decor for your dream wedding.

With over 10 years of experience you’re putting this area of your wedding in good hands. Ensuring strong consultation and guiding the bride and groom through the process, Halfyard Designs offers its clients support along the way.

Starting in Terrace, Denise got a job at a local floral shop. “I quickly discovered I had a talent for it and began to love it. Pretty much since I started, it’s become a passion.”

Within a year and a half she relocated to Vancouver and continued to pursue the industry, working in various floral boutiques learning a diverse set of styles. From contemporary and European designs to traditional English garden style she’s had the opportunity to train and diversify her abilities.

During summer of 2007 Denise was working in the industry for a wedding design company managing the business when she realized she could do it herself and how has been in operation since October 2007. “I love being my own boss, the one in charge. I always had ideas of how I wanted to do certain things when I was an employee...now I can bring those ideas to life.”

With all her experience before she opened her business she understands this is key and, “Passion for the job.” Denise says, “People go in thinking they can do it because it’s a ‘lovely job’ but there needs to be a natural talent to do it also.”

Starting her business didn’t come without challenges. Denise had a vision of how she wanted things to be, “but to get it all together and do it that was a big challenge.”

“My very first consultation as Halfyard Designs was also a challenge because it was all me.” But after that things went much smoother allowing her to find her way as a sole proprietor.

“My husband has been a huge support.” She tells me as she moved through the challenges, “I was questioning whether I should buy the business or not and he was key in encouraging me to do it.

“It’s nice to have that support and confidence. When I first thought of moving and opening a business in Vancouver it scared me to death.” But with much support from her husband and family she has been successful in her endeavour.

With a variety of options to choose from, Halfyard Designs offers floral design and event decor to help build your dream wedding. Including: floral design, decorating, rentals, chair covers, glass ware and ceremony rentals, archways and carpet runners.

Specializing in floral design, Denise takes pride in creating the bridal party flowers including the bouquet and corsages, adding her favourite part of the business, “The bride’s bouquet,” she says enthusiastically. “Anything that is different and allows me to be artistic with a bit of freedom, that’s what I want to do.”

About Halfyard services, Denise tells me, “All the bride has to do is come in, choose her colours and not have to do anything the day of the wedding.” Because that’s truly what a bride needs, to ensure a worry-free joyous start to the rest of her life.

With price ranges depending on the budget, an average wedding can cost between $2,500 - $6,000 depending on the items and flowers chosen.

Targeting anybody getting married or involved in the wedding planning, Denise has been fortunate to not have to do a whole lot of advertising. She’s the only preferred vendor for flowers at Brock House Restaurant, an highly sought after venue for weddings in Greater Vancouver.

Working closely with Dream Group Production, a wedding planning company, they refer clients to her also. Through Dream Group she also landed a wedding for an actress on CSI where Entertainment Tonight will be announcing Halfyard Designs for its contribution. Telling me, “It’ll be a piece of cake after this one is complete.”

She’s chosen to advertise in Aislewalk, a complimentary magazine given to brides and grooms and displayed at five wedding shows per year. Aislewalk offers an inexpensive way to be featured at wedding shows featuring full pages of her designs.

Denise has got much to be grateful for, with a steady and successful first year she’s making a name for herself. “Having people trust in me for one of the biggest days of their lives, that’s a huge honour in itself.”

Describing the past year, “It’s been very rewarding; it was a very successful first year. Lots of ups and downs and in the end I was very happy with how the whole season went. The first year is always hard and I have it over and done with.” Denise says with a smile.

Giving her the most satisfaction is making the couple’s day. “I love getting a thank you card saying how beautiful the work was and how amazing it looked.”

Other high points include being able to hire staff to take away a bit of stress. The first few months setting up and tearing down were a hard part Sometimes tear down would happen at 1am after the wedding was complete. “I wasn’t prepared for how happy I’d be the very first time I didn’t have to tear down, that was a high point.”

Inspiration is much needed in creating floral designs and decor, Denise’s comes from watching wedding shows, reading about wedding design and event planning including magazines and books. “I’m always looking at new things, trying to learn about what’s coming up and new designs.” Denise says of designing, telling me she is inspired “anywhere there’s a flower.”

Goals for this year are to expand her venues list as to where her designs are showing up. Through Dream Works she’s been able to do a lot of weddings, expanding her portfolio.

TACC has helped achieve her goal through financing her business. Telling me, “everything was explained in laymen’s terms. Donna has been very helpful to explaining everything so I can understand it.”

Halfyard Designs has a successful year under its belt and weddings booked for this year including the high profile wedding to get her name further out there. With these and many more to come, Halfyard Designs is building a prominent name for itself.

From a small town floral shop to the owner and operator of her own design company in a major city, Denise Halfyard is a great example and role model for other young entrepreneurs.

“Figure out what you love to do and make a way to make that your career.” Denise explains while thinking about advice for young entrepreneurs. “It’s important to make sure you love it and know you love it.” Great words for an entrepreneur well on her way.

Denise Halfyard
Halfyard Designs
www.halfyarddesigns.com
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
604.812.3925