Meet Jessica

Why an Event Floral Designer?

Let me tell you my story… I was always a deep thinker and a lover of life, but as many native Angelenos, I got lost in the vapid, hamster wheel of Los Angeles in my late teens/early 20’s. It wasn’t until I was twenty-five years old, and my little brother died, due to a rare and somewhat inexplicable phenomenon, that my eyes were opened, and my heart ready to receive the universe and start down a personal path worth living. I had no idea what I wanted to do, but I had to do something good, I had to live for both myself and my brother. I was never an academic, quite the opposite really, but regardless I felt compelled to go to college. Determined to get a full ride to the colleges of my choice, I did. I majored in cultural anthropology, because even though I was attracted to almost every social science and art subject, anthropology stood out to me, in my eyes was the only one that taught compassion; something our world needed, and still needs more than ever. The big plan was PhD., but 6.5 years later, graduating summa cum laude from USC, I needed a break. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my degree, I had a part time job that paid the bills, so I wasn’t desperate.

As a child I would watch, gently catch, and be captured by wonder and awe of their beauty. These little friends kept me in the garden, and because of which I was equally enamored by the intricacies, of the incredible flowers surrounding me.

I took time and started digging into myself for things that I was passionate about. I had a realization that I listened to public radio 24/7, and most of my free headspace was used for analyzing life's social problems and coming up with great stories that NPR podcasts, like This American Life, and Radiolab (my favorites) needed to produce. The more I thought abut it the more I realized that storytelling was a lot like anthropology, it too taught compassion, through hearing a different perspective. It also had another component that called to the innate psychologist in me, in that stories create relation, and help people feel less alone in life’s craziness, which can inspire spiritual and emotional healing. I decided that I would venture into that world, take the tech classes that I was missing, get an internship and be on my way. Much easier said than done. A lesson learned the hard way is that reality doesn’t favor independent adult students that work, and that internships are to be had while in college, not after…

I was drawn to arranging flowers, but because I needed them, more than ever. Just being around them was magical and healing for me. I continued to arrange, but more passionately and with a drive.

It wasn’t until just over a decade ago that I stumbled across the Los Angeles Flower Market, and my mind was blown. I didn’t want to leave, ever. I started making excuses to buy arms full of flowers and created multitudes of vases filled with gorgeous blooms to give away. Eventually offering my services to friends and family for their events. Before I knew it I was doing weddings, birthdays, anniversary parties, you name it. For most of those years it never dawned on me to pursue it as a career, I had always assumed I’d have to open a flower shop, and I’m too much a free spirit to be held down by brick and mortar.

Fast forward to early 2016, when another one of my younger brothers passed away in a car accident. He was the identical twin of my first brother who died. It was a surreal experience; inexplicable. The only thing that made his death even the slightest bit okay, was that he was now with his twin, which he suffered deeply without. A few days after his death, when some of the shock wore away, something strange occurred, for some reason the earth seemed vibrant, more so than usual. The greens greener, the flowers brighter, life was incredibly beautiful, and regardless of how unbelievably sad I was, I couldn’t ignore it. I was drawn to arranging flowers, but because I needed them, more than ever. Just being around them was magical and healing for me. I continued to arrange, but more passionately and with a drive. Then, less than a year after that my father passed away unexpectedly, and because life is just that way, one of my best friends and roommate passed three days later… Ya, I don’t get it either… But the flowers, they kept coming at me, and they were the one thing outside of my amazing support team that got me through it all. I had done so many memorials, baby showers, weddings and other events that year that my social media feed was filled with flowers, more that ever before.

 I am so grateful to have this amazing life where I get to be surrounded by nature’s most beautiful work, to be inundated by the healing fragrances and beauty that is naturally provided to us, and to get to create other people’s stories in flower form...

A friend of mine called me one day, and said she had a flower job for me…I was a bit confused, because I never called it a job, but yeah, I guess I do flowers!? It was a big event, but the arranging was pretty straight forward, nothing I couldn’t handle with some of my wonderful assistants. I was ecstatic, thought about the job all day long, figuring out logistics, finding the exact candles and vases needed, created a business card, preparing for the consultation and a mock trial…but, in the end she decided to go with someone else, before we even had a chance to talk! No matter, the fire was lit, I was officially an event floral designer from that moment forward. The ball started rolling and within the first two weeks of my official business I had booked three weddings, and it continued to build from there.

To think, my calling, my path was right in front of me the whole time, makes me chuckle. Regardless, I am so grateful to have experienced the many roads I walked and sometimes stumbled down and the incredible education I received.  I am so grateful to have this amazing life where I get to be surrounded by nature’s most beautiful work, to be inundated by the healing fragrances and beauty that is naturally provided to us, and to get to create other people’s stories in flower form, to get to share the beauty and uplifting power that flowers have, with so many people. I am so lucky to call myself a floral artist!!

Photography by Erich Chen

Michelle S.

Ridiculously Thrilled with the Flower Arrangements

If you want your flowers to outshine your own beauty as a bride, these are the flowers for you! All kidding aside, I am so ridiculously thrilled with the flower arrangements Jessica created for our wedding. Every time we show people pictures of the wedding, we always get a "wow" about the flowers. The arrangements were modern, unique, eye-catching and vibrant. I was also really pleased with how involved Jessica encouraged me to be about the decisions that go into the arrangements, including everything from the types of greens in the bouquets to the color of thread that wraps around the boutonnieres. The final product made our day extra special…read more