It’s High Times For Brides At Cannabis Wedding Expo
As legalization of recreational weed sweeps the U.S., marijuana-infused weddings—from bud bouquets to cannabis cakes—has become a growth industry.
BY RINA RAPHAEL 4 MINUTE READ
“A year ago, people would laugh at this,” howls Leslie Monroy, founder of Flowers on Flowers, which adorns its bouquets and floral creations with cannabis buds and leaves. “It would have been such a disaster.”
Monroy is riffing on her unique business during this past weekend’s Cannabis Wedding Expo, as she greets couples, event planners, and venue managers at her booth. UB40’s “Red, Red Wine” wafts in the background as the entrepreneur models one of her popular creations, an ethereal flower headpiece populated with multiple weed buds. She sits alongside a 10-foot floral canopy—blossoming with roses, lilies, and marijuana leaves—that’s gathered dozens of spectators taking selfies.
“This industry has gotten so much more fun,” explains Monroy. “People are more open to it.”
That openness fueled business growth for the two-year-old Flowers on Flowers. Sales tripled in 2017, and the California-based company just announced it sold out for the season after recreational pot in the state became legal in January.
This is just one of many success stories to be found at the expo in the ballroom of the iconic Sportsmen’s Lodge in Los Angeles. More than 30 vendors showcase how to infuse cannabis into one’s special day, be it through wedding cakes, tabletop linens, edibles, cocktails, centerpieces, or goodie bags. There’s even an all-inclusive cannabis resort in Jamaica hawking high honeymoons.
KEEP IT CLASSY
Charleston native Doreen Sullivan runs My Bud Vase, a small business that repurposes vintage antiques into vases with pipes for discerning smokers. “I normalize bongs,” she explains, pointing to delicate pastel ceramics that serve as discreet centerpieces.
This is her third Cannabis Wedding Expo, where she finds more brides (and mothers of the brides) looking to take a hit in a classy, understated way. Her booth is flooded with customers, many of them women oohing and aahing at the craftsmanship.
“A lot of brides want them as bridal gifts,” explains Sullivan.
The L.A. event was the third expo this year; there were two others—one in San Francisco and the other in Colorado—in previous months. The expos aim to serve as a blueprint for the future of wedding conferences as the legalization of recreational usage expands. The legal marijuana industry garnered $9 billion in sales in 2017, reports BDS Analytics. Combine that with the $55 billion U.S. wedding market, and the opportunities seem sky high.
