Living, breathing wedding favours, reflecting a trend for sustainable celebrations, are the new and refreshing twist on wedding receptions, sending guests home with a potted plant, rather than the standard candle or cup.
Long before the trend of couples opting for eco-conscious wedding decor and live favours, like potted plants caught on, Edviges Fernandes, a software engineer from Madel was already nurturing a love for plants, gifting them as tokens of affection and love to her loved ones.
Her enduring love and passion blossomed into a shared hobby with her husband, Presley Dias, also a software engineer by profession. It all began at Edviges’ house in Madel, Margao, as her mother’s deep-rooted habit led to her green journey, now called Garden Studio Goa.
“In front of our house, we had a very big garden with different types of plants, as a result of which, the love for gardening grew in me. After I got married to Presley, I would to take him to plant nurseries,” smiles Edviges.
In front of our house, we had a very big garden with different types of plants, as a result of which, the love for gardening grew in me. After I got married to Presley, I would to take him to plant nurseries.
Edviges Fernandes, Founder of Garden Studio Goa, Margao
Presley smiles and quickly replies, “Yeah, she would take me to nurseries and I used to buy saplings. She used to talk about succulents and show me how they could be propagated. Over the years, I learnt a lot about plants. I would also learn about plants through the internet.”
SOCIAL MEDIA TO THE RESCUE
It was when they realised they had such a large variety of plants that they decided to start Garden Studio Goa in December 2018.
“We started a social media page, and after posting about our little venture, we began getting inquiries. They were mostly return gifts for birthdays and parties, which were of course in small quantities,” says Presley, as the couple now gets orders for roughly 150 to 200 plants as wedding takeaway gifts.
WEDDING FAVOURS
Initially, they had planned to make only a few, and sell birthday takeaways and return gifts. But, after they shared pictures on social media, enquiries began flooding in, with people wanting different ideas and samples.
Edviges, who shows samples of potted succulents as we converse, says, “Pinterest and Instagram have many such ideas, where people are opting for green gifts. However, among Goans, it is the norm to give candles and wooden items as thank you gifts.'
"Since we had a lot of plants, we just started posting photos and details about them on social media, and as as result, we began getting orders.”
We started a social media page, and after posting about our little venture, we began getting inquiries. They were mostly return gifts for birthdays and parties, which were of course in small quantities
Presley Dias, Founder of Garden Studio Goa, Margao
She informs that many couples opt for succulents because they look cute. “Among succulents, there are some which need a lot of care, while others are hardy. So, we explain this to customers, and leave it to them to choose.”
The rates of the succulents, when ordered in bulk, works out to around Rs 110 onwards depending on the type of pots used, decorating, tags, size and containers. Apart from succulents, they also offer a variety of other plants.
TAKE HOME A MEMORY FROM GOA
Upon discovering that their 3-year-old daughter enjoyed playing in the mud, they now look forward to introducing this venture to young kids.
“We have started devising a starter kit, wherein all the material required for gardening, like cocopeat, seeds and pots, will be provided. This is for someone who is starting out. Instead of taking home a souvenir, tourists can take this home and plant it, like a memory from Goa,” she says.
The couple works as a team, putting in the effort to ensure everything is done perfectly – from sourcing the plants, propagating them, making tags, decorating them with burlap sheets, transporting them to the venue, and handling their social media pages.
So, the next time you plan on giving takeaways for a party, why not consider a plant from Garden Studio Goa?
DETAILS
NAME: Garden Studio Goa
LOCATION: Margao/Cuncolim
CONTACT: +91 7821051673
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/gardenstudiogoa
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/gardenstudiogoa