We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lindsey Porter. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lindsey below.

Alright, Lindsey thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright, let’s jump into one of the most exciting parts of starting a new venture – how did you get your first client who was not a friend or family?

My very first official client was a wedding for two of my very sweet and trusting friends. I moved to Portland from living in Northern CA my entire life (30 years). I left to be with my partner and frankly to experience anything other than the bubble that I was so very comfortable in. 6 months after moving to Portland, COVID happened. I went from having two jobs, one as a very green and eager floral designer at a flower delivery shop and the other as a bartender in the evenings to…zero jobs. My partner was in his second year of medical residency and his work became slightly more stressful, we leaned on his friends/colleagues for sanity and social support. Our safe little COVID pod became really dear friends and I wouldn’t change it one bit. As most people experienced many shifts in life during that time, I was trying to figure out how to sharpen my design skills, apply my service industry talents and hopefully start my own business. This was in the back of my mind while I freelanced and helped other well known event designers in Portland. As the restrictions started to lift for social gatherings, I had more freelancing opportunities and learned a lot in a short amount of time. My partner and friends truly gave me the confidence to officially register my business. There were many personal doubts and so many small business questions that held me back for a while. The summer we moved from Portland to Bend, our friends announced they were getting married in Hood River mid September. The bride insisted on working with me and it felt amazing to have someone so sure of my work. I took her on a tour of the Portland Flower Market and explained my process. I let her lead the way for color palette and flower types, this isn’t my process now but it was fun to experience it through her eyes. I created a design board and we agreed on all of the items they needed. They paid for the flowers at wholesale cost and I made the trek to Portland the week of their wedding. From there I had to transport the flowers to Hood River where I stayed in an Airbnb and designed everything for the next two days. It was a beautiful property and they paid for my entire stay which was essentially my compensation. I was happy to be there and truly excited for the opportunity. Everything turned out better than expected. Their entire friend group and family helped set up the wedding alongside me. Attending the wedding, witnessing the flowers and the venue transition into the evening was so special. It was a warm and loving entrance into the small business world. I continued to freelance in Bend to supplement my income but now at my 2nd year in, I am officially on my own. I can’t stress enough how important it is to lift up your friends, family and community members when they express a passion. It is possible to change the narrative for yourself.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Lindsey Porter, I am a wedding and event floral designer. I got into the industry in February of 2019. I was in the food service and event industry for over 13 years and was getting incredibly burnt out. I worked at a private country club that had a large wedding venue, there were some weekends that we had three back to back weddings. By Sunday evening I could barely recall the couple or any details from Friday’s wedding. Most of the events would end by 11:00 or 12:00 in the evening. We would then have to clean up and set the new layout, tables, chairs, flatware etc for the following day. 2:00 or 3:00 am clock out time was fairly normal. The end of my shift would include throwing away any of the leftover flowers that the families didn’t want to take home. I have always loved plants, flowers and nature but I found myself re-designing and reviving these flower scraps once I got home. I wanted to know more about the process, the flower types and why I was so drawn to this medium. I decided to dive in and search for any workshops or trade schools involved in floral design. I lived in Northern CA and was sure there had to be something in San Francisco or LA. Nothing really credible came up, everything in CA was an expensive weekend workshop or a cryptic website trying to take your money. Then I stumbled upon the Floral Design Institute which is based in Portland. It checked all of the boxes just to get the basic training. The goal was to work in a flower shop and develop my skills on the job. I went through the month-long program and received a cute little certificate. Once I got home, I door knocked every flower shop in town with my resume. I landed and job and quickly learned every florist has a certain style that they resonate with. After working at a few flower shops and freelanced for many talented event designers, I was able to figure out my process and style preferences. I provide peace of mind for my clients on a day where there are a lot of moving parts and memories to be made. The hours in an event day fly by and worrying about your vendors is not an option. My ultimate goal is to give my client a beautiful representation of the vision we both came up with in our initial conversations. It is so important that I understand all of the little details of their event to create a floral aesthetic that exceeds their expectations. I believe what sets me apart is my service industry background and my work ethic. The moments where you feel seen and heard without having to over explain yourself are the moments I strive for. I am most proud of the reviews and responses I get after the events. I know it can be easy to get swept up in everyday life (especially after a wedding or heading to a honeymoon) but the time and effort it takes to thoughtfully put together their experience with me as their florist, it means so much to me.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I think my mission in this creative journey is learning to fully trust myself. In all of my other job experiences, I followed the rules, listened well and wanted to advance quickly. In those places though, I was never the boss or the decision maker. I needed these lessons to reflect and realize that I was just as capable as anyone else to lead a team or make big changes within a company. This creative path has been scary, rewarding and enlivening in so many ways. It feels like each day there is something new to learn and I am inching my way towards understanding this business and myself wholly.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

There are so many more online resources out there now than when I started. It is incredible! I love seeing the creativity and vast differences amongst the event industry. Since I didn’t have a mentor or someone taking me under their wing, I was left to do it the old fashion way and learn from my mistakes. I have completed online guides from established and very talented designers with their tips and tricks. I wish I knew about the floral wholesaler’s perspective earlier and how to request seasonal options easily. I live 3.5 hours away from the international flower market and so I have to pre-order items for delivery. Sometimes it is difficult for me to imagine a few floral items together when I cannot view them or hold them in my hands. It is a lot of cross referencing between the wholesale website and google images. Each time I figure out a floral preference, I take note of when they are available (even though this can easily change). You just have to go with the flow and understand we are all just trying our best!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.porterfloral.com
• Instagram: @porterfloral

Image Credits
Ivory Blush Photography Mark McInnis Photography Anna Boynton Photo Dani Leigh Photography Dana Rohlfs Photo Alex Elise Photography