Vendor Spotlight – The Stalk Market

For this edition of Vendor Spotlight, we are thrilled to feature The Stalk Market, Grand County’s favorite florist and our’s too! We recommend them to all of our couples getting married in Grand Lake, Granby, Winter Park, Fraser, or Tabernash. We also use them for corporate events, such as Grand Openings and social events including graduation parties!

How long has The Stalk Market operated in Grand County?

Mindy has owned and operated The Stalk Market since June, 2013 – this year will be our 7th year!

Where are you originally from?  And how long have you lived in Grand County?

Becky – I’m originally from a little town called Saxonburg that’s about 45 min north of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. I moved to Grand County in the fall of 2014, so this year will be 5 years in the county!

Mindy – I was born in California and moved to Denver when I was just a baby.  I moved to Grand Lake in 1996.

How long have you been working as a florist? 

Becky – I started helping out at a high-end florist in Pittsburgh as a part time staff member in 2013. There I did much of the set up on site and prep for the larger pieces. When I moved to Grand County in 2014, looking in at the local florist seemed like a natural transition and here I am 5 years later!

Mindy – I didn’t have any florist experience until we opened our doors.  I remember getting our first order for a corsage and watching videos over and over to learn how to make them.  I was blessed with an amazing mentor (the famous Bob Scott) who came by numerous times to teach me new things!!

How would you describe the importance of your role and why do you feel a couple should hire a professional florist for their wedding or event?

We strongly feel that a local florist will be able to guide you towards the most cost efficient, longest lasting and size & style appropriate designs for the venues in their area. A local florist will know the availability and the specifics of the flowers in their local climate.   We can help to ensure the flowers you are purchasing not only look great the day of your event, but also in the photos that you will keep for years to come.   **  As a personal recommendation, I would time and time again hire a florist for my wedding. As a bride that created all of her own floral pieces for her wedding, I would have much rather spent that time being with my friends and family that traveled hundreds of miles and spent their precious time and money to attend my wedding. I was so exhausted by the DIY aspect of it by the day of I was too spent to really dive in and enjoy my big day.

What do you attribute to your success as a florist?  What do you think makes you stand apart from other in your field?

Our team! They are an amazing group of ladies that The Stalk Market is incredibly lucky to have. Our suppliers are pretty great as well. Without them and their constant devotion to ordering fresh flowers weekly and working with our huge orders – we would be lost! Mindy and I make a pretty unique team. Mindy is fabulous with the behind the scenes type of work & is incredibly resourceful. She’s someone who I am constantly learning from. I on the other hand excel in organization, design and physically making whatever the challenge is – work. With our talents combined, there is little that we cannot accomplish!

At what point in the wedding planning process should clients hire you? 

Clients should consider hiring their florist at least 4 months in advance. However, if you are concerned about dates booking up, I would contact them 6-8 months in advance and book the date quickly. The details can be finalized over the following months. This will allow your florist time to tend to any needs or delays that may arise along the planning process, especially if you are planning via email (destination weddings).

What is the most important thing that couples should ask someone in your profession before hiring them?

“Does my desired design match my budget?” This is an extremely important topic that has come up more and more since Pinterest has become a part of the planning process. We like to put together a professional proposal for our clients that lays out the cost of each item designed specifically for them.  If you are able to ask this question first, we may make recommendations that will help to keep your florals in your budget and be able to respect both yours and your florist’s time in bidding out or creating these pieces.

What is the best part of your job?

Seeing people smile (sometimes even cry (with joy)) when you deliver their flowers to them! Whether it’s a birthday arrangement or a bridal bouquet, there’s nothing like the joy of someone receiving a floral design that you have created that blows their socks off!

What is your best advice for wedding clients?

Don’t hesitate to ask for help! Coordinators (like TeNeil!!) are a wonderful resource to have that will ensure your big day a success!   Additionally, if you are planning a destination wedding relying on a local vendor to give you recommendations will save you a lot of time and ensure you assemble a great team.

How many people are on your team?

Becky – Currently Mindy and I are the only full time staff members. During wedding & event prep we may have anywhere from 2 – 6 additional staff members on to help us turn those beautiful blooms into amazing designs! During the summer, in addition to our wedding team/staff – we will have 4 additional staff members to maintain our retail area and take care of our customers.  Our team is incredible with a diverse background that helps us ensure we are able to be the best at taking care of our customers.

Meet our Team:

• Becky has a background in film production as a coordinator – supplemented by her desire to create things with her hands & an affinity for nature; she was naturally drawn towards floral work and directing teams to get the job done.

• Mindy has a background in finance – she saw a need for a floral shop in Grand Lake and made it happen with the guidance of another floral designer. While she leaves most of the designing up to Becky now, she is pivotal in the behind the scenes and always makes sure The Stalk Market is at the top of their game.

• Our part time staff:

  • Jodie – She’s one of our core wedding team members and is hands down one the most creative people we know. She helps us on her days off from her full time job as an emergency dispatcher and we rely on her for innovative designs and solutions to new design challenges.

  • Dee – another one of our core wedding team members – Dee was the floral manager for King Soopers for 15 years and has a college degree in ornamental horticulture.  She works as the elementary librarian in Granby.  Lucky for us she has summers off!!  She is a guiding light to all of us as we have learned more and more about floristry over the years. She is incredibly talented and a go getter that makes sure everyone is up and at em’!

  • Alli W. – Core wedding team member – She has a background as a designer at a florist in Vail. She works with us in the mornings during the summer & on holidays and helps to prepare for the day ahead. She has been a great asset in new-to-us designs that she brings to the table from her past floral experience.

  • Allie M. – She grew up in the county and will be our Saturday delivery person this year! She is new to the team but we are thankful and excited to have her.

What is your favorite thing about Grand County?

The constant – breathtaking view – of the mountains. Sunsets, wildlife & a bit of a slower pace than the city. I can’t tell you how many times that my husband and are just in disbelief that we get to live in such an amazing place – and we’ve been here for 5 years! It never gets old!

What is your favorite thing to do in Grand County?  

Gosh – I personally love getting to sit back and take it all in – whether I’m on a boat, sitting on a rock during a hike or just hanging out on my deck – I love just sitting back, taking a moment, breathing deep and relaxing.  Grand County is an amazing place.