We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jasmine Ye & Mariah Ruth. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jasmine Ye & Mariah Ruth below.

Jasmine Ye & Mariah Ruth, appreciate you joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

Both of us had hard working parents who instilled the same determination and discipline into us.

Jasmine: My parent’s were born in Shanghai, China. My mother moved to the United States with me when I was in 2nd grade. As a child, I never understood the lengths my mom went to provide for me. Children never do, do they? I didn’t understand why we moved from place to place for years, I just wanted to stay close to the friends I’d made. Now I know that she was moving us to different school districts, trying to find the best one to further my education. I didn’t understand why she rushed home from work to take me to the public library for read out lout events, just to rush back to work. Now I know that it was essential for learning English. I didn’t understand why she couldn’t stay home with me. Now I know that she was balancing multiple entry level jobs despite her college degree she earned in China. I didn’t understand why she sent me to school with fried noodles while my peers were eating chicken nuggets. Now I know she was just trying to hold on to our culture in the ways she knew how in a new and unfamiliar land.

My mom and I’s story is one that many immigrant families have. But of course, she’s my mom, so it’s special to me. She’s the hardest working woman I know and the sacrifices she made for me are endless. Even from a young age, I’ve adopted my mom’s determination. Her actions remind me that even when times are hard, the only way out is through.

Starting our own business wasn’t an easy decision. There is so much unknown and risk. However, I would just remember my mom, who packed her bags and left to an entirely different country, not knowing the language, the customs or what was ahead. She built a beautiful life for me and her bravery inspires me to do the most with the opportunity she gave me.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Jasmine: My very first job when I was freshly 16 was in the floral department at a grocery store. I remember my very first interview that I didn’t prepare for at all. When the hiring manager asked me to tell her about myself, I panicked and merely stated “I like dogs”. Bless her heart for giving me a chance because the rest is history. I’ve been in the floral industry ever since! Today, at Pink Peony, I specialize in events such as weddings, baby showers, and your cat’s 15th birthday party. With my background in Fine Arts and bachelors in Painting, I view florals as an art. Every arrangement I create is a new and unique piece, specially crafted to fit our client’s vision, vibe and style. My work is a great source of pride for me, as I won’t send anything out the door unless I absolutely love it. Another point of pride is my transition into sustainability. When I first started in floral, sustainability and the impact our field has on the environment wasn’t on the forefront of my mind. As I’ve become more experienced and my knowledge of practices broadened, I’ve been able to put sustainability at the top of my priorities. I’m always experimenting and researching new ways I can have a more positive impact on our planet. While I’m not perfect yet, seeing the progress I’ve made in terms of sustainability is something I allow myself to take pride in.

Mariah: My very first job was also at a grocery store, but it was in the frozen department. When the store realized that I was going to school for art they quickly moved me to the floral department which was a much better fit! There I learned all of the basics to floristry and really got to see first hand how flowers accompany some of our biggest moments in life. Whether it’s a school dance, wedding, anniversary, or funeral- flowers are there to make those moments extra special. It is such a privilege to be a part of those moments, and I will always be grateful for my experience I gained during that time. Now that we are on our own I am proud of our ability to give our brides our undivided attention. As someone who recently got married myself, I can truly understand and appreciate the importance of every detail, especially when it comes to the flowers. I know firsthand how vital it is for brides to have complete trust in their florist to bring their dream wedding visions to life. My personal experience being a bride allows me to empathize with our brides and connect with them on a deeper level. Moreover, my background in graphic design has greatly enhanced our ability to provide clients with an enjoyable and interactive experience through customized digital mockups. I really think that both of our art backgrounds combined with our traditional floral experience helps to elevate us to another level!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Jasmine: A lesson I’m still working to unlearn is how to say no. So much of my life has been dictated by yes. Yes, I’ll watch your dog for 3 weeks while you’re on vacation. Yes, I’ll run your errands for you while your car is in the shop. Yes, I can vend your wedding on that date. Before I know it, my entire week is booked and I’m running from place to place fulfilling my “yes”.

Do I love helping my loved ones and clients? Absolutely! That’s why I do it. But at the end of the day, when I finally drag myself home, it’s harder to say yes to myself. No, I shouldn’t sleep in. No, I shouldn’t relax and watch that new episode, My time has been spent at the expense of my own mental health. As a florist in the wedding industry, our hours can be unusual, long and hard. When I don’t take time to prioritize myself and my health, that affects my work. I can’t be as present in the moment. Sometimes I forget why I even agreed to be there. By saying no, I can take time to rest. It’s difficult to remember that rest is also productive. When I’m rested and healthy, I can enjoy my job and work more efficiently.

How’d you meet your business partner?

Mariah: Jasmine and I met while working at the same grocery store! We were both in floral and immediately hit it off. We went to the same high school, were going to college for art, had huskies and of course, shared a passion for floral. We spent the next several years developing our friendship and learning together. We seemed to be the perfect team. Any weaknesses one of us might have, the other makes up for in strength. Sometimes, we felt like twins, cackling about the smallest things that weren’t even funny until our stomachs hurt. Other times, complete opposites of a coin, Jasmine loves dark colors while I love clean whites. With our perfect mix of similarities and differences, we lifted each other up to the best version of ourselves, both in our personal and professional lives. We had always tossed around the idea of starting our own floral business together. As time went on, that little seed of an idea grew into Pink Peony as it is today!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://pinkpeonykc.com/
• Instagram: @pinkpeonykc
• Yelp: Pink Peony
• Tiktok: @pinkpeonykc
• Pinterest: @pinkpeonykc

Image Credits
pp1 heartbreaker: Grace @gracefullymade_in_ks pp2 disco: Jasmine Ye pp3 kelly&neal: Justin & Aubrey @visualhymm pp4 cloud9: Grace @gracefullymade_in_ks pp5 rice: Jasmine Ye pp6 kittymeow: Mariah Ruth