AVON —  

Brian Gates has a wealth of party planning and beautification techniques that he’s bringing to AshtinRae’s Floral & Design Studio in Avon.

Gates and his business partner, Gary Brenneman, can offer a “one stop shopping” experience for brides or anyone else planning a special event.

The business has been helping area residents to beautify their homes and special occasions for some time but the retail store only opened late last year.

“Our goal is to be a basic florist which helps with weddings, funerals, and special events,” Gates said. “But because of my background, we can just about do anything.”

Gates spent more than 20 years in the catering business, helping provide food and decorating for corporate events.

“Basically anything you would want to beautify with a flower we can do,” he said. “We can cater a wedding on a budget. We can also coordinate the decor and oversee the whole process.”

Gates said he’s done just about everything a bride may need for her wedding.

“I always offer my services as the wedding coordinator to all my brides,” he said. “I could never imagine doing everything for a wedding and not delivering it myself.”

He said he still gets a great feeling of pride when he sees a wedding or special event go according to plan.

Gates left corporate America about three years ago to go into business for himself.

Brenneman has a strong business background and says he’s enjoying learning the decor and catering world.

Brenneman had his own computer shop, A+ Computers, in Plainfield for many years, so he has experience in owning and operating a small business.

“And we don’t like to make our customers wait,” Brenneman said. “We try to get back with people as soon as possible. If we say it will be Tuesday by 3 o’clock — it will be Tuesday by 3 o’clock.”

And since Gates has been in the business for so long he has developed a list of contacts that help him give his clients a good price.

He’s also started to offer flowers for wedding and funerals for rent.

“Not only do we do fresh flowers,” Gates said. “We have many silks. And we do the work so it’s even cheaper.”

Fresh flowers are often purchased for funerals and are thrown away after just a day or two. AshtinRae’s offers rental pieces that can be used for a fraction of the cost.

He said he and his staff put on their boots and jeans and do the labor themselves.

“I really like it if a bride comes to me first before she has started booking things,” he said. “Because many times I can do it for less money. I’ve done some very beautiful weddings on extremely small budgets.”

Often, he said, brides and their parents don’t think they have enough money for a wedding coordinator.

“But they don’t know how inexpensive we can do things,” Gates said. “But I don’t want a bride to think they have to get everything from us. We can help her with whatever she needs.”

The name AshtinRae’s comes from Gates’ children — Sara Ashtin and Brandin Rae.

“It’s my kids’ middle names,” he said.

Gates said he came up with the name and ran it by Brenneman.

“I thought ‘wow, that really fits what we’re trying to do,’” Brenneman said. “How did you come up with that? I thought it was a perfect fit. And both kids work here, so it’s perfect.”

AshtinRae’s has photographers and hair designers on staff and can also offer custom bridal jewelry that is affordable. They also pride themselves on making any venue beautiful.

“We recently did a wedding in a bowling alley and it turned out amazing,” Gates said. “Many brides today are going for a non-traditional environment. We want her to have whatever she wants.”

Brenneman added, “Brides also need to know that planning a wedding does not need to be stressful. Even on a tight budget, we can help create a beautiful wedding.”

Gates and Brenneman will be bringing AshtinRae’s Floral & Design Studio to the Brides to Be Expo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 18 at Five Star Catering (formerly Primo West) in Plainfield.

For more information on AshtinRae’s, call 285-8770 or 408-9456 or e-mail to ashtinraesfloral@gmail.com.

brenda.holmes@flyergroup.com