Limerick businesswoman honoured with national award

A LIMERICK entrepreneur whose love of pressed flowers began at just eight years of age has achieved another major milestone, taking home the Exceptional Service Award at the inaugural One Fab Day Wedding Awards 2026.

Nell Stritch, founder of PRESSED FLOWERS BY NELL, was among Ireland's leading wedding professionals celebrated at the awards ceremony in Dublin's College Green Hotel on Thursday, November 5.

The awards, organised by One Fab Day, Europe's leading wedding platform, recognise the outstanding businesses, individuals and creative talent shaping Ireland's wedding industry.

For Nell, the award is particularly meaningful given the personal story behind her business.

Having learned the art of flower pressing from her grandmother, Nancy Lawless, at the age of eight, Nell has carried forward a family tradition and built a thriving business around preserving one of life's most treasured occasions.

Speaking about the achievement, Nell said: “Winning this award is something I will remember for a very long time. When you run a small business, so much of what you do happens behind the scenes.

“There are countless hours, decisions, challenges and moments of creativity that go into building something. To have that recognised by an organisation like One Fab Day is incredibly special.

“I'm so proud of what we have built here in Limerick and absolutely delighted to bring this recognition home.”

Based on Roches Street in Limerick city, PRESSED FLOWERS BY NELL specialises in preserving bridal bouquets, transforming the flowers from a couple's wedding day into bespoke framed keepsakes.

Each piece is individually created, with a focus on capturing the natural beauty and sentimental value of the original flowers.

The award also coincides with an exciting period of investment and expansion for the business, including the launch of a brand-new website this weekend.

Nell said: “This is a really exciting time for us. We've invested significantly in a completely new website, with a particular focus on making the experience for brides better than ever. We want couples to be able to explore our designs, understand the preservation process and feel inspired by what is possible.

“We have put so much thought into the customer journey and the visual experience, and I genuinely believe this will take the business to the next level. I'm really looking forward to sharing it with everyone this weekend.”

The business has also continued to expand its retail presence, with PRESSED FLOWERS BY NELL now stocked in Brown Thomas Limerick and Cork.

Its newly launched Christmas collection for 2026 is available in both stores, as well as directly from the Limerick studio and online.

Nell's journey has been one of steady growth, from her earliest experiments with pressed flowers to establishing her first studio on Roches Street in 2019 and developing an internationally accessible bridal preservation service.

Reflecting on the future, Nell said: “I've always believed that you can build something really special from a small beginning. Limerick has been such an important part of my journey, and I'm incredibly proud to run this business here.

“There is so much more I want to achieve, and between the award, the new website and our growing retail presence, it feels like we are entering a really exciting new chapter.”