Meet Our Design Team

We are so fortunate here at Bride & Blossom to have so many incredibly talented and creative designers working as part of our B&B family.  Our designers come to us with diverse skill sets and experiences, and we assign arrangements based on their strengths, to best execute each client’s unique vision and bring their proposals to life. We chatted with three of our talented team members  about how they got into the industry, what a typical day at the studio entails, and what it takes to be an extraordinary floral designer.

 

Dawn Hubbard

How did you get into floral design? Why were you attracted to it?

I was a beauty school drop out, for real! I took Cosmetology in a Vocational High School and hated it. But I did fall in love with the Horticulture Program – and that is how I “blossomed” out into flowers. I was attracted to the freedom of it. I liked the way the flowers smelled and the way you could make them look so interesting and pretty. I liked that they brought others so much joy.

Can you tell me about an average day at the studio?

An average day at the studio, that is funny! There is no average day, every day has its unexpected things that get thrown at you. Flowers come in wrong, someone calls out sick, that sort of thing. But one thing is for sure – we work really hard to make it happen and we try really hard to have fun and laugh a lot while it is happening. It gets you through!

What is your favorite part of the job?  What’s the most challenging?

My favorite part of the job is to put together a bouquet or centerpiece that looks aesthetically pleasing. The colors are on point, the textures go well, and the overall effect is just awesome! The most challenging part of my job is finding a work/life balance. It is generally a seasonal job, so when there is no work, you have a few months on your hands with no income and time to fill. Then, all of a sudden, you are slammed with work and have trouble finding food in your home or clean clothes. I have learned to schedule days off and take care of my body so that I can make it through the busy season.

What makes an extraordinary floral designer?

An extraordinary flower designer is someone who can do any type of flower arrangement necessary. Can you do a bouquet, boutonnière, an escort card table, or a centerpiece? Are your mechanics strong in your design? Can you do all types of styles of design? Are you of your word? Do you show up? If not, sit down, you aren’t an extraordinary designer.

You also teach floral design for Bride & Blossom’s flower classes. Can you tell me more about teaching and the environment you aim to create in the classroom?

As for teaching, I love it! It is one of my favorite aspects of flower designing! The classes are so eager and interested in learning. I love to hear their feedback as to the things that interest them so I can share with them the knowledge that they want. I like to impart the care of flowers, styles for your selection to set the theme, and what it is really like to be a flower designer. I try to instill the importance of mechanics and proper ways of doing things so their masterpieces stay alive and in one piece longer. I also like for them to have fun with it.

Click here for more information on our upcoming flower classes.

 

Jesus Martinez

 

How did you get into floral design?

Well, I was working part-time at a laundromat and I needed more work to support my wife and kids. My daughter, who has special needs, was five at the time and my younger son was three.  One day, my boss’s wife told me a friend of hers, who owned a flower shop in Manhattan, was looking for part-time assistance. So they spoke about me and they sent me over there. I started cleaning flowers, delivering, organizing vases and pots in the shop – that is how I got introduced into this industry.

What attracted you to it?

What attracted me to the industry was the fact that everything was new for me. It was like a new land undiscovered. The different flower decorations and plants were all so new to me but I have always liked to discover and learn new things in life and for me, this was a new world.

Is is different than what you expected?

Yes, because of how much work, care and dedication these flowers & plants need, to become these amazing arrangements, bouquets, and events at the end.

What is your favorite part of the job?

At the end of the event when you step back and see that after all the stress, hard work, and ups & downs, everything looks beautiful and spectacular. And everybody, especially the client, admires your work and it makes them so happy.  That particular part – to see and hear the happiness of that special person…that make me so happy and proud and you realize that all that hard work and stress…it is worth it.

The most challenging part of the job?

The most challenging part is those days when nothing’s going your way, and you have to work twice or more to make it happen. Sometimes things get twisted and everything feels impossible like when you order 3,000 Leinidas roses and they don’t come in as they’re supposed to, or when a windy day takes down a beautiful arch just a few minutes before the ceremony, or when you’re transporting arrangements on a very cold day and arrive to find most of the flowers frozen.  What we will do?…. in the end, we always make things happen and the event ends up amazingly beautiful.

What do you think makes an extraordinary floral designer?

Dedication, never giving up, the ability to improvise, limitless ideas, working your magic with what you have, not with what you want.  Love what you do and let your creativity flow.

 

Lori Lindenburg

Lori freelances with us under LoriLee Floral
Her beautiful work is on Instagram at @lorileefloral 

What attracted you to floral design? 

I have always had a passion for working with flowers, ever since I was a young girl. I love their beauty and their smell, how every flower and foliage is completely unique.  I find that I’m immediately drawn to flowers the moment I walk into a room, and I love to study designs and arrangements.  I have never been so passionate about anything before, and so I wanted to be surrounded by this passion every single day.

Is it different than you expected?

My first experience in the floral industry was completing a one week Year 10 work experience with a florist in Sydney Australia.  I was young and eager to work hard which helped when the reality of working with flowers became evident. Early mornings, heavy lifting and an unkempt environment (e.g. the flower stems falling to the ground instead of in the bin). I have never been afraid of hard work so this was a small price to pay in order to fulfill my passion.

What does an average day at the studio look like?

My average day at the Bride & Blossom studio starts with an allocation of floral arrangements needed for the upcoming wedding. First, I gather the flowers and equipment I need from the flower recipe list. Then, I begin by designing the personal florals first, which include the bridal bouquet, bridesmaids bouquets, boutonnieres , corsages and flower crowns. I spend a lot of time on every piece as they are very intricate, and it requires a lot of focus to make sure they look perfect.

When I’ve completed the personals, I do a large clean-up of the area I’ve been working in – this is normally a must!  Next, I’ll move onto the larger arrangements including the table, bar and alter arrangements. When these are completed, I will pack all the arrangements into boxes to get them ready to be transported to the venue.

It’s a long day with few breaks, but it’s a great atmosphere and lots of laughs with the other designers helps to make the day really enjoyable.  I end my day with yoga and a long shower.

What your favorite part of the job? 

Constantly creating unique and detailed arrangements with different flowers and foliages. I also love working with the team. We work hard but we’re always laughing and exchanging great stories.

The most challenging part of the job?

The most challenging part of the job is the physical toll it takes on your body. I work 8-19 hour days on my feet making floral arrangements and lifting/moving heavy objects, like large buckets of water and heavy flowers or branches.

What makes an extraordinary floral designer?

An extraordinary floral designer is someone who is passionate about working with flowers at any cost. They use the floral design principles to make aesthetically pleasing arrangements despite what materials they’re given to work with. They are constantly researching and trying out new ways to improve their arrangements.