Lessons from Flowers: 2020 Edition

July 19th, 2021

2020 started out so hopeful. I attended the Team Flower conference in Pasadena. The next week I took Amy Nicole’s Bouquet Bootcamp. I love education and I loved getting it in right at the beginning of what was sure to be a busy year. A profitable year. The MOST profitable year yet. (ha ha ha)

Photo: Rebekah Lemire Workshop: The Floral Coach

We did two beautiful weddings, a few brand activations, and one AMAZING celeb event (NDA be damned). We did our final design meetings for our spring weddings…

Photo: Brooke Allison Photo Planner: Events by Emily Kay

Photo: Miki and Sonja Photography Planner: Moxie Bright Events

And then the world shut down.

Our studio building, aka The Original LA Flower Market, shut down, and I had a couple hours to take everything “valuable” out of my studio. To watch my vendors throw their product/profit in the garbage. Talk about a surreal and heartbreaking day. What IS valuable in your business/workspace/life when you have to choose what to take with you?

After a month at home without flowers, I tentatively dipped my toe back in, and started figuring out how I could safely get flowers (both locally and from my wholesaler). There was a veeeery strange period of picking up flowers 100% no contact- checking out my pull from a parking lot, and then putting it in my car before dousing myself in sanitizer lest any covid nasties were hitching a ride.

I arranged flowers in my backyard and turned my tv/guest room into a temporary cooler by cranking our AC.

I advertised my new delivery biz solely via instagram AND the response was overwhelming.

Clients, old and new, embraced flowers in a way that felt absolutely sacred. The joy I witnessed when I delivered flowers from a grandchild to their grandmother, who was isolated at home alone, was beautiful and heartbreaking and so very meaningful.

Photo: The Hendrys Planning: Opus Events Co.

Photo: The Hendrys

Photo: Heirlume Photography Planning: P.S. & Associates Event Planning

Photo: Michael Gomez Photo

Photo: Faye Casaje

There were elopement blooms too- in national parks, backyards, hotels, and homes.

2020 was an excellent reminder for me about just what I love about flowers.
An opportunity to come back to my WHY again and again, one bouquet at a time.

Flowers are magic and they have the power to transform spaces, people, and bad days alike. Flowers are a powerful reminder to be present, and they teach us to cultivate a more mindful relationship with ourselves and the world around us.

They remind us that joy is now.

This is one of the lessons I’ll be taking into 2021, and the busy season ahead.
How about you? What did you learn or relearn about your business in 2020?

Photography:
All photography by Winston & Main, except where credited otherwise.

Rebekah Lemire / The Floral Coach / Brooke Allison Photo / Events by Emily Kay / Miki and Sonja Photography / Moxie Bright Events / The Hendrys / Heirlume Photography / Michael Gomez Photo / Faye Casaje

A Colorful Valentine’s Day Wedding at The Harper

February 12th, 2020

Obviously I had to lead with this beauty.
Holy hell do I love this bouquet.

Although this beautiful hand-painted backdrop from Papermoon Co wasn’t too shabby either.

Cocktails, Cake, Jewels, Balloons…definitely like the direction this is going.

There goes Balloonzilla blowing our socks off with her gorgeous balloon garland!

How ridiculous are these bold blooms? We used a combo of Japanese ranunculus, anemones, ranunculus, carnations, spray roses, and sweet pea in shades of red, pink, and yellow to create these colorful centerpieces for this beautiful table scape designed by Anything But Gray Events.

And now back to our bride and her amazing custom made ensemble from Rmine.
It’s actually a jumpsuit!

And another of that bouquet with the perfect ribbon tails.

The cutest getaway car adorned with more blooms!

All the bold details, cute bouts, and a beautiful flat lay by Peterson Design Photo.

Yum! Working with Nicole Bakes Cakes is always such a treat!

A little post even realness. Because we all reach a point where finding a glass is just too much work.

But it’s all okay, because we’re coming home to this lounge.
Aren’t we??

Vroom! Vroom! Gotta run!
Happy Valentine’s Day y’all!

Go check out our feature on Green Wedding Shoes!
We’re also featured on Friar Tux Blog!
We’re also featured on Southern California Bride!

Vendors:
Venue: The Harper / Planning & Design: Anything But Gray Events / Photography: Peterson Design & Photography / Moon Backdrop: Paper Moon Shoppe / Floral Design: Winston & Main / Paper Goods: Roseville Designs / Cake: Nicole Bakes Cakes / Balloons: Balloonzilla / Dress: Rmine / Suit: Friar Tux / Ring: Brilliant Earth / Beauty: Beauty by Miss Ruby / Car: Drive Vinty / Lounge & Chairs: Collective Rentals / Specialty Rentals: Party Pieces by Perry / Linens: BBJ Linens / Table Top Rentals: Signature Party Rentals

Colorful Floral Clouds & Bold Ombre Blooms

January 22nd, 2020

I’m always so flattered when other vendors or industry peeps hire Winston & Main to bring the blooms ESPECIALLY when they give me the creative freedom to really go for it.

That’s the dream.

So when David of La Pinata Party Rentals reached out about creating something extra special for his *extra special* birthday party this ombre floral fluff dream became reality.

All 21 feet of it. Floral foam free + 100% reclaimed post event too.

Light it up! I designed the entire table in an ombre, florals + tapers too- moving from yellow to peach to orange to pink to red to blue to purple. SO much fun. SO many tapers.

The pink & red arrangement may have been my favorite because the double tulips were RIDICULOUS for October.

Although, blue & purple are definitely the winner for being MOST on trend- Pantone named Classic Blue as it’s Color of the Year shortly after this.

Talk about an incredible host- David treated his guests to a welcome bar, an epically colorful + delicious dinner catered by Hungry Bear Catering Co., a Xylophone Band AND a post-dinner surprise arcade reveal. YES, an entire arcade. Host AND birthday goals.

The velvet tux wasn’t a bad touch either.

Action shot.

This color combo was the most challenging for me, but I was so happy with the way it turned out. Also, #carnationsforever.

More fluff. You’re welcome.

Love to see our flowers getting papped.

Class photo time.

Ready for her glamour shot.

Head in the clouds.

And an action shot of us making it happen.
Ladders are an indispensable part of great floral design.

Hi-fives all around. Showing you this one despite whatever is going on with my face.

Thanks for capturing these colorful clouds in all their glory Julie Shuford! You the best!

BOOM!