Wedding florists

MARION PARISH (BOTTOM LEFT), BECCA STUART AND BECCA’S MUM PENNY DUNN LAUNCHED THE GARDEN GATE FLOWER COMPANY IN CORNWALL

Becca was juggling motherhood with a curtain-making business when her friend Marion suggested they set up their own cut-flower garden. “We both loved horticulture and felt ready for a change,” Becca says. “It seemed like the perfect opportunity to collaborate.” The challenge was finding a plot on which to put their plan into action. Enter Becca’s mum Penny, who owned an organic family farm outside Fowey and had a field to spare. All three women pitched in, planting up the space with everything from roses to ranunculus. Eleven years later and The Garden Gate Flower Company provides blooms for weddings and events, as well as offering floristry courses. Although Marion has now left the business, Penny is still very much involved: “Having Becca around more and sharing sunny days outdoors has been wonderful,” she says. thegardengateflowercompany.co.uk