SLOW FLOWERS Podcast: The Fabulous Bows and Arrows of Dallas (Episode 142)
May 21st, 2014
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Adam and Alicia, flower arranging at Cynthia Alexander’s Quarry Flower Farm in Frisco, Texas (c) Ryan Ray
Another great moment on the flowe farm, captured by their frequent collaborator, photographer Ryan Ray.
Alicia, up close, with some of her favorite just-picked, fresh-from-the-field flowers. (c) Ryan Ray
Today’s guest is Alicia Rico, co-owner with her husband Adam Rico of the Dallas-based floral and events studio Bows and Arrows.
This playful business name sums up their his-and-her style: Alicia is the feminine “bow” and Adam is the masculine “arrow.”
Their work has been showcased twice in Martha Stewart Weddings, and on every popular design and floral blog, as well as in countless other magazines.
Over the past few years, I’ve heard a lot about Alicia and Adam – and their fabulous floral aesthetic at Bows and Arrows. That’s because my friend Whitney White spent some time working with them as a studio manager when she lived in Dallas.
Whitney White in a 2012 Bows and Arrows photo shoot. Love this imagery! photo: (c) Apryl Ann
So last month, when Whitney and her beau Ryan Page were wed in Seattle, where they now live, Alicia and Adam came to join the celebration.
They were here as guests, and as part of the “friends of the bride” creative team who conjured up seasonal spring magic for Whitney & Ryan’s outdoor wedding — including at the wedding site, a local park, and at the reception venue – an intimate Italian restaurant that is a favorite of Whitney & Ryan’s.
Erica Knowles of Botany 101 Floral here in Seattle served as lead wedding designer and Texas flower farmer Cynthia Alexander of Quarry Flower Farm, a previous guest on this podcast, lent her creativity, as well.
Just hours before the ceremony, Alicia Rico taught seven bridesmaids how to make floral crows to adorn their locks. (c) Debra Prinzing
Alicia (right) with her former studio manager and bride-of-the-moment, Whitney White (left) (c) Debra Prinzing
Alicia, modeling a floral crown. (c) Debra Prinzing
Much of this flower-making took place before, during and after the bridal brunch that Cynthia and I hosted at my house the morning of the wedding. After hearing about her from Whitney, I was thrilled to meet Alicia and learn more about her design philosophy, the business she and Adam have built, their work as conceptual floral artists and more.
And after a spirited, hands-on, mini-floral crown workshop for 7 bridesmaids (only one of whom had any floral design experience), which took place on our back porch, I grabbed Alicia and convinced her to sit down with me for a short podcast interview. I wanted to get to know her – and I wanted YOU to get to know her, too.
More artistry from Bows and Arrows (c) Ryan Ray.
On their website, they describe having a philosophy as follows:
Just as each flower is unique from the next, we carry the belief that each bride is unique from the next. Founded in 2009, Bows and Arrows is dedicated to the creation and communication of beauty via the art of floral and event design. We approach each event with the desire to preserve the integrity and natural presence of flowers and environments. Inspired by art, nature and culture, we build our aesthetic and design around what personally resonates with each bride to create an event that is purposeful, hand-crafted and lovely.
Please enjoy our conversation and be sure to visit my web site, debraprinzing.com to see photos of Alicia and Adam, of their floral work, and to get details about their forthcoming design workshop in Marfa, Texas, the hip and hot destination.
Thank you for joining me this week. Because of the support from you and others, listeners have downloaded episodes of the Slow Flowers Podcast more than 11,600 times! I thank you for taking the time to join to my conversations with flower farmers, florists and other notable floral experts.
If you like what you hear, please consider logging onto Itunes and posting a listener review.
Until next week please join me in putting more American grown flowers on the table, one vase at a time.
The Slow Flowers Podcast is engineered and edited by Hannah Holtgeerts and Andrew Wheatley. You can learn more about their work at hhcreates.net.
May 25th, 2014 at 3:10 pm
I really enjoyed this episode! Thanks for sharing. It was so cool to hear about the farmer / florist working together. I love that!
May 26th, 2014 at 12:57 am
Your photos of handcrafted flower arrangements are gorgeous. You make floral arrangement looks so easy. I would love to have such arrangements for my elopement wedding. Thanks for the inspiration.