We were lucky to catch up with Ellie Wright recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ellie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How do you think about vacations as a business owner? Do you take them and if so, how? If you don’t, why not?

Being a floral designer for weddings, the majority of my work schedule is is from May-October. As I began my career in this industry I found it really had to be able to take a vacation during my “peak season”. I am lucky enough to work with my mom and my aunt, so I know that when I do take time off they have my back. However, I try to take my larger vacations during my off season-I have found that even though I work with family I still find myself getting anxious wanting to know how an installation went and that everything was handled.
When I’m in my peak season, our schedule each week generally runs from Tuesday/Wednesday-Saturday. If I do take a vacation I try to plan it out from Saturday afternoon-Monday. That way I can still enjoy some time off but get back in time for designing and wedding prep.

Ellie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Ellie Wright, and I am the co-owner and lead floral designer of Ella Floral Design, a boutique floral studio specializing in weddings and events. I’m lucky enough to own and operate the business alongside my mom, making Ella Floral Design truly a family-focused company from the very beginning.

Our journey into the floral industry started in the event venue world. After earning my degree in Event Management from Iowa State University, my family and I owned a wedding venue where I first discovered my passion for floral design. When the opportunity arose to provide florals for our couples, I learned the basics from a former employee and immediately fell in love with the artistry involved. Since then, I have pursued ongoing education and advanced training to continually refine my skills and elevate our designs.

At Ella Floral Design, we are known for creating lush, floral-forward arrangements where blooms take center stage, and greenery is used thoughtfully to provide structure, shape, and movement. I specialize in a romantic, elevated style that blends organic elements with a sense of refined elegance. Some of my favorite projects are large-scale installations, where I design everything from the structure’s initial sketches to the floral recipes and the final onsite installation.

When meeting with clients, I take a collaborative and personalized approach. During our discovery calls, I love hearing all the details they’ve envisioned for their wedding day—from the overall style and color palette to the little touches that make their celebration unique. While I’m always happy to offer creative ideas and guidance, it’s important to me that clients feel heard, comfortable, and confident sharing their true vision. My goal is to bring their dream day to life with thoughtful, custom floral designs that feel timeless, intentional, and uniquely them.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

During our second full year in business, we faced one of our biggest challenges yet. We had the largest wedding we had ever booked quickly approaching when a major incident occurred with one of our key designers. Suddenly, we found ourselves without enough hands to execute the event — and with no time to lose.

We immediately rallied, gathering a team of individuals from our community to help pull off what became an epic and unforgettable event. Normally, our weddings operate with a tight-knit team of 2–3 people, but for this one, we needed a crew of 10+. Leading up to assembling that team was one of the most stressful periods we’ve experienced, but it also revealed our resilience, adaptability, and commitment to our clients.

Throughout the process, I had countless conversations with my core team — my mom and my aunt — strategizing exactly how we would make it happen. We developed a detailed week-long schedule, broke it down by day, and pivoted as needed. One decision that stands out was choosing to leave the studio, take a brief rest, and return late at night (from 11 PM to 1 AM) to finish the floral installations so the blooms would be as fresh as possible for the event.

Looking back, that wedding not only showcased our design expertise but also highlighted our ability to work under pressure, lean on each other, and collaborate seamlessly with new team members. It reinforced that resilience isn’t just about pushing through — it’s about being willing to adapt, trust your team, and find a way forward no matter the circumstances.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

We recently went through a rebrand, which has been one of the best catalysts for attracting new clients. When we first started Ella Floral Design, we didn’t spend much time defining our ideal client — in fact, our ideal client was simply anyone who came to us. As exciting as it was to be growing, we realized over time that not every client was the right fit for the style and experience we wanted to offer.

Through the rebranding process, we were able to refine who we truly wanted to work with and what types of weddings and events best aligned with our creative vision. Since then, we’ve been much more intentional about how we present ourselves through our website, social media, and marketing. As a result, we’ve seen an increase in inquiries from clients who not only have the budgets we’re excited to design within, but also have fresh, inspiring styles that align with our aesthetic.

While word-of-mouth and venue referrals have always been valuable sources of new clients for us, it’s been incredibly refreshing to see more organic inquiries from couples who genuinely feel like the right fit. It’s made the entire design process even more fulfilling, and it’s reinforced the importance of building a brand that clearly speaks to the clients you want to attract.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ellafloraldesign.com/
• Instagram: @ellafloraldesign_