Camille's Floral Designs Press

Bridal Guide Magazine, February , 2009 Edition

Area Vendors offer Personal Touches - excerpt from an article on the January 31, 2009 Bridal Show at the Stateroom, Ship Bottom, New Jersey. Written by Laura Gooley, Correspondent. Photo by Shawn Huber.

Camille's Floral Designs of Manahawkin, celebrating their 30th year in business, creates custom work as well, designing floral arrangements for a variety of celebrations and events.

"Every bouquet is custom," Kathleen McKenna, Camille's daughter said. As such, cost depends on the season and types of flowers involved. They do take into consideration the bride and groom's budget and make efforts to work around it.

If a wedding is planned during heavy wedding season, couples should start consulting with the company 10 months to a year in advance. In the off-season, six to eight months is sufficient.

Camille began the business with her mother, and Kathleen joined full-time 17 years ago. They started out doing a lot of work in Atlantic City, Kathleen said, but there were always weddings going on. Now they do 4 bridal shows a year at the Stateroom, among others. Although Camille was unable to make the show, she was out in Las Vegas picking up some new vendors, she's still involved percent.

Bridal Guide Magazine, September, 2007 Edition

Personality, Purpose - excerpt from an article on what's hot for fall 2007. Written by Michelle Perry, Staff Writer. Photo by Robert Ward.

"I think a lot of brides are older today," said Camille McKenna, Camille's Floral Design, Manahawkin. "I think a lot of couples are paying for their own weddings. They know what they want. They want what they want and they are willing to spend for it."

Brides want more of their bouquet stems exposed, McKenna said. "Wrapping them in jewels, bracelets, pearls, and satin."

Beach Haven Times , May, 2000 Edition

Family Floral Business Continues to Grow - Pictured, left - top: Camille McKenna with her mother, Ruth Barrese and daughter, Kathleen Docherty (also pictured left - bottom). The author of the article was not listed. Photo by Robert Ward.

Her budding business began 20 years ago and would not have been the same were it not for her love of the craft and the proximity of her family.

Camille McKenna, 49, and her mother opened Camille's Florist on Jennings Road in 1980 when she was ready to go back to work after having children.

"I had been a legal secretary and didn't want to go back to doing that," said Camille who noted she didn't really enjoy the job. So she decided to start a business doing something she did like.

"That is the thing, I get up everyday and I love what I do," McKenna said.

The mother and daughter business team came up with the idea of opening a florist shop for two reasons; first because they had some experience with plants and flowers from a landscaping business one of their family members had, and secondly because they thought retail would never be boring, they said. "You wait on a different person everyday," McKenna said.

And although this theory has proven to be somewhat true, a good deal of repeat customers also frequent the shop noted the business owner; adding that it is a respect she enjoys. "You really get to know people when you have been here for 20 years, especially in this community," she said referring to the Manahawkin section of Stafford.

"The family part is not only us but our customers too, who have seen my family grow up," and vice versa, she said.

For the owner of Camille's floristry seems to be a labor of love.

Moments Magazine aboard Spirit Airlines, September/October/November, 1997

At this time the beautiful floral arrangements on display throughout the Trump Taj Mahal Hotel - Casino, as pictured in this and many other advertisements, were created by Camille's Floral Designs.