Some spaces don’t whisper their personality—they shout it from the rooftops. El Presidente, the vibrant Mexican restaurant from Stephen Starr, is one of those spaces. Think taxidermy wolves, circus-striped walls, tasseled bar stools, and enough color to make a paint box blush.
When we were asked to design the florals for a wedding there, we knew subtlety wasn’t invited to the party.
Letting the Space Lead
At She Loves Me, we believe in drawing inspiration from a venue’s natural energy rather than competing with it. A good space already tells a story—our job is to add new layers of texture, emotion, and surprise. El Presidente’s story was bold and maximalist, and we were all in.
The ceremony took place in front of a hand-painted mural of a western desert sunset—a cinematic backdrop that begged for drama. We responded with tall copper beech branches from our local growers, huge aloe leaves (a last-minute grocery store miracle), and clusters of mini watermelons and dripping lime garlands to echo the restaurant’s playful energy. Magenta orchids, red garden roses, and crab apple branches added punch and contrast, pulling the eye across the scene like brushstrokes in a painting.
The Centerpiece: A Bar Arrangement That Anchored the Room
In a space that already hums with energy, a floral installation needs to ground the chaos, not compete with it. For the bar, we created a sculptural arrangement that centered the room—a lush, fruit-laden piece featuring a giant fresh papaya and another cascading chord of limes. It felt joyful, abundant, and a little irreverent—exactly right for the setting.
Risk, Reward, and the Power of Collaboration
It helped that our bride wasn’t afraid to take risks. She trusted us to interpret the space through our own artistic lens, which gave us permission to play. And with the incredible Samantha from Simply Chic Events at the helm, the day unfolded seamlessly—proof that collaboration and courage make the best kind of creative alchemy.
Our Philosophy: Craft Over Convention
Floristry, for us, isn’t about matching the napkins or sticking to a color palette—it’s about creating moments that belong to a place and a feeling. At El Presidente, that meant embracing chaos, chasing contrast, and finding beauty in the unexpected.
When you listen closely, every space tells you what it wants. Our job is simply to translate.
