Delivering The ‘Wow' Factor

Upton Grey’s florist to the stars Paula Rooney is looking forward to Christmas, as she tells Rebecca Fletcher

From working with luxury brands to masterminding showstopping floral installations for a plethora of events, it’s easy to see how Paula Rooney has earned her well-deserved reputation amongst an elite world of floral designers.

An exquisite eye for detail and her down to earth nature amongst other attributes have made her the ‘go-to’ designer when it comes to weddings and events in some of the most luxurious venues and locations across the globe. Boasting an impressive list of corporate clients as well as celebrities from former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw and his soprano star wife Camilla Kerslake who tied the knot in Provence last year through to none other than Her Majesty The Queen, Paula’s standout designs have seen her named as one of the top ten floral designers by not only Hello! Magazine but Country Life, Harper’s Bazaar and Tatler too. She has even dipped her toes into the world of couture, creating a dress made entirely from cascading shades of roses inspired by the pink bubbles of sponsors, Taittinger Champagne, for the Fleurs de Villes Mannequin series.

Paula’s longstanding love affair with flowers started when she went to college. Finishing her studies at the Welsh College of Horticulture, she went on to travel the world working on the QE2. There she learned a thing or two about the importance of precision and delivering consistent high quality, something which is a cornerstone of her own business. Paula even did a stint working for a bespoke Christmas company, dressing homes of the rich and famous ready for the festive season.

“Every little thing had to be just right. It made me really think about how I did things – made me elevate my skills,” says Paula. “It’s that sleek execution which I’ve adopted as part of my own business motto now.”