In March 2024, journalist Mariana Morais devoted her column in Correio Braziliense, a newspaper from Brasília, to Jacqueline Benevides' career and to the invitation that took her to Saudi Arabia: decorating the wedding of the granddaughter of the country's first king, in Riyadh.
The column explains that the invitation arrived in May 2023 through an Instagram message. The bride wanted the wedding to feel like an art gallery, and Jacqueline was asked to join the team of artists in charge of the decor. For the event, the studio prepared nine thousand flowers, including giant flowers, organza and paper pieces and the table centerpieces.
In the interview, Jacqueline describes the work as "100% handmade: cutting, structuring, painting and shaping, a lot of testing and a lot of dedication." And she talks about what she took from the experience: "We learned a lot about Saudi culture, and I felt extremely respected and valued as a woman and as an artist."
The column also notes that Jacqueline, born in Cianorte, in the state of Paraná, and trained in Business Administration, discovered flowers during a period in the United States, where what began as an interest became a profession.
Read the full column in Correio Braziliense (in Portuguese)
A year later, the same project was the subject of a story by ANBA: ANBA: the 9,000 giant flowers of a wedding in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. To see the photos and details, visit the case study Saudi Arabia - Royal Wedding.
