Stéphanie Dunand

So Art Floral

Flower designer

©MélanieLegendre

The bride's fairy godmother

Stéphanie specialises in luxury events and weddings
Her style is versatile and her arrangements are always custom-made
She first started her craft when she lived in Senegal

Stéphanie Dunand’s career as a floral designer sprouted in Africa and blossomed in France. It all started when she was living in Senegal. A flower lover since childhood, she met Ousmane who shared her passion, and together they decided to launch a florist's especially for expats, as there was no such thing there. The business flourished: "We wanted the best for our customers, so we used to get a great variety of flowers from Holland: lilies of the valley, tulips, orchids and many others," she says. Yet, soon Stéphanie got bored with the shop. As she dreamed of shifting her focus from selling bouquets to arranging flowers for weddings and big events, she moved back to her native France, where her luxury atelier So Art Floral was born.

Interview

©MélanieLegendre

©PhotographerinParis

What do you love the most about events?: The variety. Always being in the same place is not for me. I love the continuous change of scenery, from beautiful castles to luxury hotels, and the new challenges that I face daily.
What’s so special about weddings?: I cherish the emotional side of them. There’s nothing like seeing the bride and groom’s faces light up with happiness when my arrangements match their expectations. I really feel like I’m their fairy godmother.
Is your style traditional?: No. My floral training was quick: before opening my shop, I took a short course in Paris, then learned on the spot from important floral designers, who taught me both the classical and the contemporary styles.
How do you create an arrangement?: I usually make a moodboard to gather my various inspirations, but then I improvise. Sometimes, when I begin I don’t yet know how I’ll proceed, but then everything falls naturally into place. As for my choice of flowers, it depends on the time of year.

Stéphanie Dunand is an expert artisan she began her career in 2010