Twin Cities florists jump on viral ‘ramo buchón’ trend ahead of Valentine’s Day
Brittany Vega, who is a small businesswomen making ramos buchones, elaborate bouquets that have become a viral Valentine's Day trend.
Dymanh Chhoun | Sahan Journal
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Audio transcript
CATHY WURZER: Glad you're with us here on Minnesota Now from MPR News. I'm Cathy Wurzer. Of course, you know tomorrow's Valentine's Day. And one way to show a friend or significant other how much you care about them is to give them flowers. If you want to show you really care, according to one social media trend, you might give them a bouquet of roses as big as a bike tire gathered around sparkly paper ornaments and glitter.
These mega bouquets are called ramos buchónes. They've been popularized on TikTok over the past couple of years, especially in Latino communities. A recent story from Sahan Journal introduces us to two young florists in the Twin Cities who jumped on this trend. Brittany Vega and Joselyn Chacon are on the line. Brittany and Joselyn, welcome.
JOSELYN CHACON: Hi, thank you for having us.
CATHY WURZER: Absolutely. Brittany, I'm going to begin with you. Of course, my Spanish isn't good. I'm so sorry. Explain-- did I do a decent job explaining what a ramos buchónes is?
BRITTANY VEGA: Yeah, so it's kind of like what you said. It's usually a big bouquet consisting of from anywhere from 50 to 200, 300 and up, so in the hundreds. It's usually luxurious with crowns, glitter, diamond pins, all of that sort of stuff.
CATHY WURZER: Oh, my gosh. Joselyn, I mean, which word among of those two words means "bouquet" in Spanish? What's the meaning of it in this context?
JOSELYN CHACON: So the ramo is bouquet, and bouchon, which is like the word for extravagant or very luxurious, that's what the name is about.
CATHY WURZER: OK, so that is how it describes this humongous bouquet. They look beautiful. And I'm looking at pictures on TikTok. I mean, my goodness. Why do you both think this really ignited in terms of popularity? Brittany, what do you think?
BRITTANY VEGA: Kind of how, like you previously mentioned, TikTok, I think, is a big one, social media, seeing influencers with these big, extravagant bouquets. They're all over TikTok right now as well. And I think that's kind of how it started spreading more faster.
CATHY WURZER: Mm-hmm. By the way, how did you get into this, Brittany?
BRITTANY VEGA: Um, I think it's actually kind of a funny story. So I had started with making bottle arrangements, so like alcohol bottle arrangements. I had started with those originally. And one day, one of my brother's friends had texted me, asking if I could make him a ramo bouchon. And I was like, I've never made one before, but I'll give it a try. It was 100 roses. And from there, from that day, it just kind of went from there.
CATHY WURZER: Oh, my gosh. Joselyn, how did you get into this?
JOSELYN CHACON: I got into during my gap year before college. I really used roses as a way to show my self-love. I would go to the grocery store and buy myself roses because I really wanted to focus on loving myself. And I realized how much flowers meant to me. And I realized that they gave me a lot of happiness, too. So I wanted to be that happiness for other people as well.
And I also noticed that ramos bouchónes were a thing through TikTok. So I kind of got inspired from there. And I, one day, kind of just threw myself into it. And I never looked back.
CATHY WURZER: [LAUGHS] Well, as I say, of course, I love anything that's kind of-- I like the grand gesture, right? I like glitter, and I like all of this. And so you both will have to help me out here. Would you consider this a serious gesture of love if someone were to give you one of these, Brittany? What do you think?
BRITTANY VEGA: Yes, after doing them, I realized how much time and effort and how expensive they are. So if someone gets one for you, you're special. You're special.
CATHY WURZER: [LAUGHS] Joselyn, what do you think?
JOSELYN CHACON: Yeah, I definitely agree with Brittany. It's definitely a very dreamy thing to get because of how luxurious and big they are. It does take a lot of time to make them. And they can get expensive, too. So it's a really well thought of gift to give someone or to receive. So it's a huge sign of love and appreciation.
CATHY WURZER: Now tell us, how much are folks spending on these bouquets, Joselyn?
JOSELYN CHACON: For me, my prices range from 115 to 500 at most for the bigger bouquets. But I also have budget-friendly options, where I freestyle the bouquet, and I personalize it myself. So that's between 75 and 180.
CATHY WURZER: Wow, OK. So, yeah, you are right. If someone gets you one of these, you are definitely high on their list of favorite people. [LAUGHS]
JOSELYN CHACON: [LAUGHS] Yes.
CATHY WURZER: Brittany, do you have a favorite ramo you've made?
BRITTANY VEGA: I think it's actually the one I did on Sahan Journal. I think that one has to be my most-- like my favorite one so far.
CATHY WURZER: OK, and I'm going to tell people to go see that, too, because that is pretty impressive. Joselyn, do you have a favorite that you've made?
JOSELYN CHACON: I love pink bouquets. Pink is my favorite color, but I really do love making the freestyle bouquets, just because it gives me a little more creative freedom. And it's nice to know that my customers trust my work enough to know that I'll make them something that they'll love.
CATHY WURZER: All right, now Brittany and Joselyn, tell folks if they want to get a hold of you, where can they do that.? I think, Brittany, you have Designs by B in Bloomington, right? Is that correct?
BRITTANY VEGA: Yes, that's correct. I have an Instagram page and a Facebook page.
CATHY WURZER: OK, and Joselyn, where do you sell bouquets?
JOSELYN CHACON: I am located in Brooklyn Park. My business name is Siempre Con Amor. And you can find us on Instagram or Facebook at flores.sca, which is F-L-O-R-E-S dot S-C-A. And we're happy to help you anytime you need flowers.
CATHY WURZER: I'm assuming both of you are really busy for tomorrow, right, Brittany?
BRITTANY VEGA: Yes, correct.
CATHY WURZER: Yes, [LAUGHS] and Joselyn.
JOSELYN CHACON: Yes, it's busy, but really grateful for all of it.
CATHY WURZER: All right. Thank you both for joining us. And best of luck tomorrow. It's really fun to watch, to get to hear what you're doing. Best of luck.
BRITTANY VEGA: Thank you.
JOSELYN CHACON: Thank you for having us.
CATHY WURZER: Absolutely. Brittany Vega's been with us. And of course, we've also talked to Joselyn Chacon. And they told you how to get a hold of them. See that story, by the way, at Sahan Journal. You can see that at sahanjournal.com. You can also go to mprnews.org for details.
These mega bouquets are called ramos buchónes. They've been popularized on TikTok over the past couple of years, especially in Latino communities. A recent story from Sahan Journal introduces us to two young florists in the Twin Cities who jumped on this trend. Brittany Vega and Joselyn Chacon are on the line. Brittany and Joselyn, welcome.
JOSELYN CHACON: Hi, thank you for having us.
CATHY WURZER: Absolutely. Brittany, I'm going to begin with you. Of course, my Spanish isn't good. I'm so sorry. Explain-- did I do a decent job explaining what a ramos buchónes is?
BRITTANY VEGA: Yeah, so it's kind of like what you said. It's usually a big bouquet consisting of from anywhere from 50 to 200, 300 and up, so in the hundreds. It's usually luxurious with crowns, glitter, diamond pins, all of that sort of stuff.
CATHY WURZER: Oh, my gosh. Joselyn, I mean, which word among of those two words means "bouquet" in Spanish? What's the meaning of it in this context?
JOSELYN CHACON: So the ramo is bouquet, and bouchon, which is like the word for extravagant or very luxurious, that's what the name is about.
CATHY WURZER: OK, so that is how it describes this humongous bouquet. They look beautiful. And I'm looking at pictures on TikTok. I mean, my goodness. Why do you both think this really ignited in terms of popularity? Brittany, what do you think?
BRITTANY VEGA: Kind of how, like you previously mentioned, TikTok, I think, is a big one, social media, seeing influencers with these big, extravagant bouquets. They're all over TikTok right now as well. And I think that's kind of how it started spreading more faster.
CATHY WURZER: Mm-hmm. By the way, how did you get into this, Brittany?
BRITTANY VEGA: Um, I think it's actually kind of a funny story. So I had started with making bottle arrangements, so like alcohol bottle arrangements. I had started with those originally. And one day, one of my brother's friends had texted me, asking if I could make him a ramo bouchon. And I was like, I've never made one before, but I'll give it a try. It was 100 roses. And from there, from that day, it just kind of went from there.
CATHY WURZER: Oh, my gosh. Joselyn, how did you get into this?
JOSELYN CHACON: I got into during my gap year before college. I really used roses as a way to show my self-love. I would go to the grocery store and buy myself roses because I really wanted to focus on loving myself. And I realized how much flowers meant to me. And I realized that they gave me a lot of happiness, too. So I wanted to be that happiness for other people as well.
And I also noticed that ramos bouchónes were a thing through TikTok. So I kind of got inspired from there. And I, one day, kind of just threw myself into it. And I never looked back.
CATHY WURZER: [LAUGHS] Well, as I say, of course, I love anything that's kind of-- I like the grand gesture, right? I like glitter, and I like all of this. And so you both will have to help me out here. Would you consider this a serious gesture of love if someone were to give you one of these, Brittany? What do you think?
BRITTANY VEGA: Yes, after doing them, I realized how much time and effort and how expensive they are. So if someone gets one for you, you're special. You're special.
CATHY WURZER: [LAUGHS] Joselyn, what do you think?
JOSELYN CHACON: Yeah, I definitely agree with Brittany. It's definitely a very dreamy thing to get because of how luxurious and big they are. It does take a lot of time to make them. And they can get expensive, too. So it's a really well thought of gift to give someone or to receive. So it's a huge sign of love and appreciation.
CATHY WURZER: Now tell us, how much are folks spending on these bouquets, Joselyn?
JOSELYN CHACON: For me, my prices range from 115 to 500 at most for the bigger bouquets. But I also have budget-friendly options, where I freestyle the bouquet, and I personalize it myself. So that's between 75 and 180.
CATHY WURZER: Wow, OK. So, yeah, you are right. If someone gets you one of these, you are definitely high on their list of favorite people. [LAUGHS]
JOSELYN CHACON: [LAUGHS] Yes.
CATHY WURZER: Brittany, do you have a favorite ramo you've made?
BRITTANY VEGA: I think it's actually the one I did on Sahan Journal. I think that one has to be my most-- like my favorite one so far.
CATHY WURZER: OK, and I'm going to tell people to go see that, too, because that is pretty impressive. Joselyn, do you have a favorite that you've made?
JOSELYN CHACON: I love pink bouquets. Pink is my favorite color, but I really do love making the freestyle bouquets, just because it gives me a little more creative freedom. And it's nice to know that my customers trust my work enough to know that I'll make them something that they'll love.
CATHY WURZER: All right, now Brittany and Joselyn, tell folks if they want to get a hold of you, where can they do that.? I think, Brittany, you have Designs by B in Bloomington, right? Is that correct?
BRITTANY VEGA: Yes, that's correct. I have an Instagram page and a Facebook page.
CATHY WURZER: OK, and Joselyn, where do you sell bouquets?
JOSELYN CHACON: I am located in Brooklyn Park. My business name is Siempre Con Amor. And you can find us on Instagram or Facebook at flores.sca, which is F-L-O-R-E-S dot S-C-A. And we're happy to help you anytime you need flowers.
CATHY WURZER: I'm assuming both of you are really busy for tomorrow, right, Brittany?
BRITTANY VEGA: Yes, correct.
CATHY WURZER: Yes, [LAUGHS] and Joselyn.
JOSELYN CHACON: Yes, it's busy, but really grateful for all of it.
CATHY WURZER: All right. Thank you both for joining us. And best of luck tomorrow. It's really fun to watch, to get to hear what you're doing. Best of luck.
BRITTANY VEGA: Thank you.
JOSELYN CHACON: Thank you for having us.
CATHY WURZER: Absolutely. Brittany Vega's been with us. And of course, we've also talked to Joselyn Chacon. And they told you how to get a hold of them. See that story, by the way, at Sahan Journal. You can see that at sahanjournal.com. You can also go to mprnews.org for details.
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