We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Laura Wilson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Laura, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

The floral world is full of risks: Can I be as creative as I want and have it resonate with people that will hire me? Will I gain business from this styled shoot? Is this expensive flower going to last through the wedding I need it to? Is this install going to hold up? And on and on.

But taking risks, especially in a business, is what it’s all about!

When I was trying to figure out what my “niche” was, I would try my hand at all different styles of things. But I came across a bride who had a style I really loved but hadn’t gotten to really stretch my creative legs with and she said “do what you want!” That is music to a creative’s ears but can also be a little daunting when you don’t know how it will be received. The southern wedding design market is a little behind the times as far as trends go. But, I went for it. I didn’t make a lot of money on that wedding, but it got me a LOT of business from people who loved the design, and that was a game changer!

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

So, hello! I’m Laura Wilson and I own Flaura Botanica, a wedding and event floral design business. I have been in the flower world now for about 10 years, and I’ve owned the business for 6. We only do events, and this makes us uniquely equipped to create an ambiance for a space that requires a sensory experience to cement a memory. Flowers, and art in general, tend to stir up emotion. This is the goal, especially for our wedding clients.

Every piece is intentional and carefully designed to look a certain way. I will dream up things to do for a project 6 months from now, or purchase something in the spring that would be perfect for someone’s wedding in the fall. I try to be thoughtful about the needs of my clients well past the initial booking.

My style tends to be a little more edgy. I choose unique materials for bouquets to backdrops. But there is also romance in there as I am a hopeless romantic. I love movement in flowers and how they can carry the eye all over a room, or focus in on an area. I love the masculine vibe of texture and the unique accents it gives. Dried flowers tend to satisfy this for me, while fresh flowers lend a feminine softness that balances it all. Together they create a definite look for my brand that’s a little less traditional and sets us apart.

Aside from the more “business-y” things here, I am a sensitive creative. This business has really taught me a lot about myself as a person. To know my worth, to be more confident in my skills, that it’s ok to be fearless, that it’s ok to say “no”, to realize that what I want and need from this business isn’t always about business at all! It has saved me on more than one occasion in more ways than one. I am so thankful for my clients and friends that have supported me on this journey.

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

I had to learn early on that there is no one way to do things. I agonized for a long time about the perfect way to make a bouquet, create a huge installation, or make a centerpiece. I got my start at a regular florist who did daily deliveries, funerals, and weddings. They were very by the book about how something should be created. But, in reality, there is no “right” way to do these things. Art is sometimes a process of trial and error. Not to mention event florists are a lot of times engineers as well! We use everything from pool noodles to chicken wire to create the things we dream up and that’s perfectly ok!

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

My business has been through quite a bit in it’s 6 year life. It’s been through a move to an entirely new city and market. Starting over in a new place is always daunting, and yet it really flourished here in the Atlanta area. It’s been through a pandemic and financial crisis with everyone else. Even with reschedules and cancellations, the business had it’s best year in 2020. We then survived through the crazy 2021 season with overlapping events, new couples and rescheduled ones all crammed into a year.

This year is the first year that the business has supported me solely. I went though a divorce and had to really figure out how to financially do things all on my own. It has been scary and I honestly didn’t know if I could do it. But God has watched over me and given me clients that are wonderful. I am learning to be strong and resourceful. Getting to the end of this year will really be a testament to my resilience not only as a business person, but also as a person.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.flaurabotanica.com
• Instagram: @flaurabotanica
• Facebook: @flaurabotanica