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More Than Flowers: Why Every Design Should Tell a Story

I recently was invited to join the Beautiful People of Flowers podcast by Mayesh. I was a little apprehensive because I prefer being behind the scenes. Plus, there was that initial thought: What would I say? Why would anyone listen to me? What could I contribute to a conversation about flowers that hasn’t already been said, or couldn’t be said by someone more eloquent or with a longer body of floral work than me?

Imposter syndrome reared its ugly head. 

I expected to talk about flowers and share my story. What I didn’t expect was how much it would make me reflect on the journey that brought me here. As florists, we’re often asked what our favorite flower is, what inspires our designs, or what trends we’re loving right now. Those are fun conversations, but they only scratch the surface. I found myself reflecting on something much bigger. Why do I create? What do I want my floral legacy to be? That question has stayed with me long after the interview ended because the answer has never been simply flowers. Simply put, I started with why. What is the why behind Hiawathia Floral Design Co.? Why do I keep going after moments of doubt and challenges? Why have I invested so much in floral education? What is behind my passion for floristry? For me, flowers have always been about connection. How do I connect people with flowers? How do I show the power of flowers? How do I showcase floristry as an art medium? Flowers celebrate our happiest moments, comfort us during our hardest ones, and help tell stories that words alone sometimes cannot. That belief has become the foundation of everything I create.  

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Every Creative Chapter Led Me Here

If you’ve followed my journey, you know flowers weren’t my first creative passion. Music taught me rhythm, emotion, and harmony. Photography taught me composition, light, perspective, and how to tell a story through a lens. Fashion inspired me to think about texture, movement, bold color, and expression. Along the way I also found myself learning website design, blogging, e-commerce, graphic design, and product development. Some people joke (my mother in particular) that I can’t sit still long enough to master just one thing. Looking back, I wouldn’t change a single chapter. Every experience shaped the designer I am today. Nothing was wasted.

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Flowers Are More Than Decorations

It’s easy to think of flowers as beautiful decorations. I see them differently. Every bouquet, centerpiece, installation, wearable floral piece, has to be more than just something pretty. It is an opportunity to tell a story. When I begin designing, I don’t start by asking, “What flowers should I use?” I start with the objective, “What story are we trying to tell?” On every wedding consult, I start off the call by asking the story of how the two met? That is not just an icebreaker question. It’s a tool to see the emotion and the beginning of constructing the bones of a really good love story. My first design question is, ” What do you want your flowers to say on your wedding day? How do you want your quests to feel when they walk into the space? The answer guides every design decision. It influences the flowers I choose, the color palette, the mechanics, the movement, and the overall experience. That’s what transforms flowers from decorations into meaningful works of art. When I design for Art in Bloom, I go and sit with the art whenever possible. I look at the piece, I sit with it. I think about how do I feel when I look at the piece. What colors are used, what do I feel when I look at them? What is the artist saying through their art piece? Honestly, this exercise has helped me hone in on my niche of floral storytelling.

  I similarly use the same process for my signature and original concept series,  Fashion Meets Floristry. I look at the fashion, and I think about what captivates me. Is it the color, is it texture, or is it the way the dress is flowing like water?  I take those thoughts and feelings and translate them into flowers. I’m not trying to recreate the dress with flowers. I’m interpreting what it makes me feel. A sweeping silhouette might become the movement of a branch or a cascading stem. An unexpected color combination like chartruese and lemon might lead me to flowers I wouldn’t normally pair together as seen in my favorite Fashion Meets Floristry interpretation.  Texture in fabric might inspire the contrast between something soft and delicate and something structured or sculptural. Fashion Meets Floristry gives me the creative avenue to explore flowers as an artistic medium. It allows me to explore the intersection between fashion and flowers without the boundaries of what a bouquet or arrangement is traditionally supposed to look like.

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Fearless Color Creates Emotion

One thing you’ll quickly notice about my work is that I love color. I embrace it because, for me, color represents life and vitality. Not because it’s trendy, but because color tells a story and conveys emotion when words cannot.

Nothing conveys romance quite like the whispers of soft blush roses in a bouquet, or the cheerful energy sunflowers can bring to a family member or friend who needs a little joy. I have my own special connection with sunflowers, a story I also shared on the podcast and one that I love telling.

Sunflowers hold a particularly special place in my story. They were the flowers I began bringing to my grandmother during my weekly visits with her, and watching the joy and comfort those flowers brought became the genesis of Hiawathia Floral Design Co. That experience shaped my belief that flowers are never simply decorative. They create connection, hold memories and communicate something when words sometimes cannot. I share the full story of how those sunflowers started my floral journey here.

Bright tropical palettes celebrate joy, while deep jewel tones create drama and mystery. Color is often one of the first things people experience before they even notice the individual flowers themselves. That’s why I believe fearless color has the power to create unforgettable memories.

Color is one of the first things people experience before they ever notice the flowers themselves. That’s why I believe fearless color has the power to create unforgettable memories.  

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Artful Storytelling

My tagline is simple. Fearless Color. Modern Romance. Artful Storytelling. Those aren’t just words. They’re the foundation of every design I create. Whether I’m designing wedding flowers, an immersive installation, wearable florals, editorial work, or botanical products, my goal is always the same. Create something beautiful. But go beyond that. Create something meaningful. Create something unforgettable. Because when flowers tell a story, people remember how they felt. And that’s what lasts long after the flowers are gone. For instance, I recently designed a sympathy meadow, In that meadow, I used monochromatic whites. While I lean heavy into bold colors, I also understand the power of white. White is the absence of color. In the case of this sympathy meadow, I wanted to convey peace, serenity, and innocence. The story that I told was a fox peacefully sleeping in a meadow.

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Looking Forward

As I continue growing Hiawathia Floral Design Co., I’m excited about what’s ahead. More weddings. More artistic collaborations. More immersive floral experiences. More opportunities to connect flowers with fashion, photography, art, and storytelling and to then connect those translations with people. On the podcast I also share my mission statement that I drafted when I started Hiawathia Floral Design Co. That mission statement is the grounding principle for my work and guides how I show up in the world florally. The Mission Statement is this, “spread love, joy, comfort, and cheer through the art medium of floristry using colorful, and eco sustainable floral practices.” My tag line is, Beautiful Flowers are for Everyone and Everyday! Because I believe flowers belong in every chapter of life. Not simply as decorations. Not only flowers seen at a wedding or funeral. But as experiences, memories, and as works of art.

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Final Thoughts

When someone asks what I do, the answer isn’t simply that I’m a florist. I’m an artist. I am also a storyteller. Flowers just happen to be my favorite medium. Every wedding, celebration, installation, brand collaboration, workshop, bouquet, is an opportunity to share with  people with my passion for flowers. A chance to connect people with the power of flowers. Every design begins with a story waiting to bloom. If you’re looking for floral designs that reflect your personality, celebrate your story, and create an unforgettable experience, I’d love to create something meaningful with you. Ready to begin your floral story? Contact Hiawathia Floral Design Co. to schedule your consultation.

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