Today we’d like to introduce you to Maritza Walton.
Hi Maritza, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve always loved throwing get-togethers and parties for family and friends. As a gift to my older sister, I planned and executed her wedding when I was just 15. It was at that time, I fell in love with EVENT planning and and the FLOWERS that tell the story. It wasn’t until November of 2017, after working in the mortgage industry for over 20 years, that I decided to shake it up and follow my dream of becoming a Wedding & Event Planner and the The Ritz-Walton Collection was born. By the end of the first year, we executed 30 weddings!
During my second year of business, I went in-house at the Art Factory (40,000 sq ft facility) in Paterson, New Jersey. I was responsible for creating magnificent events and floral design. I learned all the intricacies of event execution and the tools necessary to create over 70 weddings. Not one to rest on my laurels, I was ready for a new challenge and opened Casa de Flora in June of 2022, New Jersey’s First Luxury Flower Cafe. The Cafe retails flower bouquets for all occasions as well as a Coffee/Pastry Cafe where customers work remotely surrounded by the gorgeous floral installations.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not. In 2019 a fire tore through my wedding showroom displacing us and destroying everything in its path. Then Covid not only delayed re-construction but the wedding cancellations started pouring in. Once construction was able to resume in 2021, we found a contractor to begin the new design and acquired the space next door to open Casa de Flora Bar. Construction was 90% complete when Hurricane IDA left both stores with over 5ft of water damaging everything in both shops. Without flood insurance (who knew we needed it), there were no funds to assist with recovery. I had to utilize what was left of my savings and also seek an investor to help me recover and open – and here we are going into 2023!
As you know, we’re big fans of Casa De FLora Bar and The Ritz- Walton Wedding Collection. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The Ritz-Walton Wedding Collection is a Wedding Floral Design Firm. We provide gorgeous florals for Brides seeking the Luxury Floral Experience. The Ritz-Walton Wedding Collection is also the sister business to Casa de FLora Bar, a one-of-a-kind Flower Shop and Cafe. We sell retail flowers, coffee, mocktails, pastries, salads, sandwiches and soups. We offer private events and host Sip & Clips (a floral therapy experience where you build your own bouquet at the bar and sip on wine, champagne, or mock-tails).
Casa de Flora has been featured on PIX11 and News12 NY, NJ, CT and PA.
What are your plans for the future?
We hope to open multiple Luxury Floral Cafes throughout the US.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.casadeflorabar.com
- Instagram: Casadeflorabar
Image Credits
Kesher Lambert – photographer Makeup – Felicia Graham Beauty dress _ Pantora
