Floral Designers

“Before I know what flowers I’m going to use, I need to know what backdrop I’m going to create to show off those flowers.” Listen, as Andy and his guest Lewis Miller discuss how he came to be in New York City, his process with clients, how he gets inspired for his designs, how he has been able to maneuver through the pandemic, and so much more on this episode of The Wedding Biz.

Lewis is a floral designer and founder of Lewis Miller Design out of New York City. His client list includes leading industry professionals in fashion, design, photography, art direction, and architecture such as Bulgari, Carolina Herrera, Mayor Blumberg, Chanel, Tiffany, Versace, Bergdorf Goodman, the Whitney Museum, and more.

Lewis discusses how his pop-up flower flashes started and where he did his first one. He shares why he moved from Seattle, Washington to New York City and how he opened his small flower shop without fear or hesitation because he knew that was what he was supposed to be doing.

Listen, as Lewis shares his process when speaking with clients, a story about one particular wedding he did, in an unappealing ballroom, and the curveball he was thrown. Lewis also shares how he merges his company’s business aspect with his creative side and how the pandemic has affected him both personally and professionally.

Lewis is a poster child for how to run a business that can tackle a pandemic and come back bigger and stronger. He believes that if you trim the fat every few years and watch where you spend money, you will still be around when others are not. He is an inspiring creative, and you don’t want to miss this episode.

I wanted to give floral designer Preston Bailey a platform to share his thoughts, given what is currently going on with the protests and increased public consciousness about race relations. As usual, Preston allows himself to be vulnerable and refreshingly direct. We touch on his personal experience, experiencing racism for the first time, when he moved to New York City from Panama at the age of 19. Preston also talks about his early and continued experiences, as a black man, working in the event industry. And he gives wonderful advice, to people of color, both in and out of events. Please enjoy this very special episode of A Conversation With: Preston Bailey.

In today’s episode of The Wedding Biz, Andy is excited to welcome John Emmanuel. John is the premier floral designer out of Sydney, Australia. He is best known for creating exquisite grand scale floral installations, and whatever he creates has a stunning element of luxury. A known leader in his market, John has worked alongside many high profile Australian wedding planners in continuous collaboration with some of Sydney’s most luxurious events. He also hosts “The John Emmanuel Luxury Wedding Masterclass.”

John takes us on a journey of his childhood, the tragedy of losing his mother at age three, and working at his grandma and aunt’s floral shop at thirteen. He speaks about going to trade school on an apprenticeship at the age of fifteen to learn the floral business and why he has such a strong passion for weddings. He has a strong drive to succeed and he believes he got that from wanting more for himself and his children.

Listen in as John discusses how he felt when he sold the retail part of his business to concentrate on the wedding event side. They chat about his personal signature and how he defines it, the procedure he goes through from start to finish with a client, and why the reception flowers are the most critical part of the wedding for him.

Have you heard about John’s new line of luxury silk flowers? He says that they have been very well received and allow people, who wouldn’t be able to afford fresh flowers, to have the wedding of their dreams. John also describes his masterclass and what he will be teaching to the attendees.

The passion that John has for what he does is contagious. You feel this intense desire to go straight to his website and see his amazing floral design images. Look him up and then listen to this episode, you will be glad you did!

Floral artist Kiana Underwood is the celebrated owner of Tulipina an internationally renowned floral design studio that creates bespoke experiences for luxury weddings throughout the world. She has been named one of the top wedding floral designers in the US and is the most followed floral designer on Instagram. She is the author of Color Me Floral and the host of sold-out international workshops. She has also been featured in many magazines, and her work is always in demand.

Kiana and I talk about the importance of bravery and pushing past fear to create what you desire. Her life and her work is an example of how she has pushed passed this fear to create the art and life that she wants. She shares her story of moving to the US and how freeing her new school experience was. We get to learn how flowers were always part of her life and culture, but it took bravery, tenacity, and out-of-the box thinking to make floral art her business and life’s work.