Meet Janelle Gerestein, owner and artistic director of Flowers by Janie, a Calgary-based floral design studio recently named Calgary's Best Wedding Florist by Avenue Magazine in its 2026 Best Wedding Services list. As voted by Avenue Magazine's readers, this is Flowers by Janie's fourth time winning this title. Alongside her is her husband, Oscar Lima, owner and artistic director of Castaño Films. Married for over 15 years as of 2025, this entrepreneurial duo has built both a life and creative career together.

Recently, Quiana Cheng, the marketing coordinator for Flowers by Janie, sat down with Janie and Oscar for an intimate interview. She asked them about the origins of their wedding businesses, how their paths intertwined 15 years ago, and their perspectives on love and long term partnerships.

To experience their warmth and chemistry firsthand, we invite you to watch the full interview video below, where their story unfolds naturally in conversation alongside their adorable fur baby, Tali. 

This blog expands on details not covered in the video and focuses primarily on Janie's perspective. For a fuller picture, we encourage you to also read Oscar’s perspective in his corresponding blog post here.

Janie doesn’t hesitate when asked to describe her business as a flower, though choosing just one is nearly impossible because of how much she genuinely loves flowers. Her passionate monologue shows that she sees Flowers by Janie as a ranunculus, a garden rose, or a peony that as it blooms, reveals layers of petals and can double their original size into something generous and unforgettable. It’s a living metaphor that parallels her 25-year journey as a florist and 15-year journey as an entrepreneur, one defined by patience, refinement, and a commitment to timeless floral designs.

Janie’s floral path began in high school in Brooks, Alberta where she grew up. A work placement sparked her realization that being a wedding florist was her destiny. From there, she pursued a Bachelor of Management degree at the University of Lethbridge, formal floral training at Olds College, and advanced floral design studies in London, England and the U.S., continuously improving her abilities. Her dedication is felt in every design that’s both luscious and flower-forward. Every bloom is chosen with purpose by Janie.

What many couples may not realize is that wedding florals are a different discipline than most assume. Janie explains that beyond the artistry of wedding florals is an intricate balance of sourcing, timing, storage, logistics, installation, and teardown. This entire process is carefully thought out to ensure every stem is at its best stage on your wedding day. Janie’s level of care truly adds to the transformational experience that her floral designs provide.

For Janie, love is an action shown through commitment by showing up, keeping one’s word, and being someone’s best friend and constant support through every moment. That choice first formed when she met Oscar at a young adults’ church group in La Paz, Bolivia. Her attempt to blend in was quickly undone by an unexpected question about Canadian politics from Oscar that instantly caught her attention. 

What followed for her and Oscar was an easy connection. Intrigued by Oscar’s intelligence and endless curiosity for the world, their conversations that wander through history, art, and even soccer teams never grow dull. 

After 15 years of marriage with Oscar, Janie’s grown to love his laid-back nature that grounds and balances her sometimes anxious nature. The same thoughtfulness and quiet romance carries in his work as a wedding videographer, where his eye for detail and sensitivity to emotion makes his films deeply personal. Janie admires that Oscar not only captures how the day looked, but how it felt, as his natural care for people allows him to create a film that lets couples relive the moments in the future, a personalized time capsule.

For couples seeking intentional, timeless floral designs and heartfelt wedding videos, get in touch with Janie and Oscar. They make a great team as a married duo and will bring the best of both sides to provide you with the best weddings florals and film. Let their love for each other and their craft be a part of your wedding day.

To complete the story, read Oscar’s perspective in his blog here, where he shares more about Castaño Films, his approach to wedding storytelling, and his reflections on love.