Two weeks before South Windsor High School’s junior prom, The Prowl received an email from a local floral design business, offering to donate centerpieces for the SWHS prom. This business was Fairytale Flowers, owned and operated by South Windsor High School alum, Kerry Silvestri. Fairytale Flowers was able to curate beautiful floral arrangements to enhance the junior prom, and it is clear that quality customer service and giving back to the community is a corner stone of Silvestri’s business.

Kerry Silvestri was part of South Windsor High School’s Class of 2003. She began working with florals during her time at SWHS, starting her very first job at 16, where she worked at Floral Expressions on Buckland Road. Silvestri spoke highly of this experience, saying, “I remember how eager I was to begin working and deciding on what type of job or environment I could see myself in.  I come from a long line of artists and Parisian heritage, and my favorite subject in school was always Art Class. I think I always knew that I would end up in an art or design related field.”

Floral Expressions has since closed, but her time spent working there was enough to convince Kerry to pursue a career in floral design. “After day one at the flower shop, I was hooked,” Silvestri said.

After graduating from SWHS, Silvestri attended the University of Hartford, studying Studio Art, and later attended a floral school in Boston where she honed her skills in creating arrangements and operating a floral business. During her time in Boston, Silvestri was proud to earn a trade certificate, which she used to open Fairytale Flowers shortly after returning to Connecticut.

Silvestri’s ambition for running a business is deeply rooted in her family. She told The Prowl, “I grew up watching my family run a business together and I always dreamed I would have as much success someday as they had. I was very fortunate to watch my parents grow their business, moving from an in-home office to a full-service retail store and delivery company. I started my business from my family’s basement, grew it through determination, and aspired to open a retail store.”

Fairytale Flowers briefly operated out of a storefront on Talcottville Road in Vernon, but unfortunately closed down, citing “financial roadblocks”.

Despite this setback, Fairytale Flowers has persevered, and successfully operates out of Kerry Silvestri’s home in South Windsor. Silvestri has taken steps in recent years to improve her entrepreneurial skills, saying, “I invested time and energy signing up for special events, researching CT’s small business association resources, and watching tutorials on business plans, budgets, and marketing.” She has also utilized her website and social media platforms to share her floral design with a wider audience.

Specializing in luxe faux, or luxury artificial, floral options, Fairytale Flowers offers unique floral arrangements for weddings, parties, sympathy, and a variety of other events. For SWHS’s junior prom, Fairytale Flowers created two unique centerpieces; an assorted floral display, and a candle display, to match the event’s red carpet theme.

The floral display featured an ornate gold base with faux luxe flowers and feathers in deep shades of red.

The candle display included two red roses encased in tall vases, decorated with pearls and feathers, accompanied by a candle to complete the arrangement.

These custom centerpieces adorned each table at the event, complemented by the black tablecloths and tea lights provided by the Marriott, giving the evening a touch of elegance.

SWHS psychology teacher and junior class advisor, Mrs. Caless, shared with The Prowl, “The chaperones and administrators at the prom were very impressed with the quality of the floral arrangements, especially because they used both real and artificial flowers in the displays.”

Silvestri told The Prowl, “For me, the most rewarding part as a florist is knowing my art and creativity positively impact people, making them smile when they receive a bouquet or attend an event filled with my floral moments and designs.”

Fairytale Flowers’ custom centerpieces enhanced the 2026 junior prom, and are representative of the community-focused nature of SWHS alum Kerry Silvestri’s floral business.