We were lucky to catch up with Malana Olson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Malana, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.

Sometimes when we are at weddings and finish totally transforming a room with florals I stand back and think “this was all just an idea in my mind at one point”

I had gotten my start in floristry in high school working for a local shop in my hometown. Every now and again we would have weddings book through the shop and I got to help with the design and be on-site to support day of, and I totally loved it. I would get so excited about weddings and found myself wishing I could specialize in them.

A few years and some Instagram searching later, I learned you actually could be a wedding specific florist! My dream was then fueled even more, so one night I was out with my mom and best friend and I pitched the idea to them “what if I leave the shop and start my own wedding floral studio? Do I sound crazy?” they both have been my main cheerleaders since day one so they gladly supported my choice.

Once I had made my decision I created my brand, set up my website, and launched my business! In regard to my design style I think that is another thing that is exciting about floristry, ideas and inspiration are ever-changing and there is always something new to discover and lean into. There isn’t any “right” or “wrong” way to do things, it’s all art. It took me multiple years to refine my style into something I was proud of!

Although there wasn’t much to show for it all the first year or so, that is the beauty of being a business owner. You need to be able to adapt, roll with change, learn what works, and most importantly not give up when things don’t always go as you hoped. 6 years later and this is has been my full-time job for years and we are booked full with amazing clients that trust us and our work.

I have learned SO many valuable skills in this industry and have met some of the most incredible people whom I am eternally grateful for!

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

I have been in the floral industry since I was in high school! I got my start at the local flower shop in my hometown and branched out on my own into the wedding world.

We offer full-service wedding floral design, what that means is we’re here to thoughtfully shape the atmosphere of your wedding day. Our full-service floral design brings your vision to life through lush bouquets, stunning ceremony installations, and thoughtfully crafted reception florals. We also offer a collection of candle rentals—adding warmth and soft light to every table and corner of your space. On the day itself, our team and I manage every floral detail with care, providing delivery, on-site styling, and end-of-night cleanup, so you can simply step into the beauty of the moment!

One of the things I am most proud of is our team! Wedding flowers specifically require lots of physical and mental labor each and every weekend, knowing I have a crew that’s got my back is something I am grateful for. It truly does take a great team of people to do things on the scale that we work in each week. To stand back at the end of our wedding day set ups and give hugs and high fives is the highlight of my days! I feel so fortunate to work alongside people who care so deeply about bringing beauty to each celebration with me!

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

One of the things I often wish I had back when I was starting was more information on the HOW.

I was always wondering how to do a full arch installation, hanging install, whatever it may be that I had not done before. I was looking for a step by step tutorial versus only seeing a finished product. What type of structure did they use? How do I suspend something from a ceiling? Where should I focus the weight of my designs?

There was very little information out there when I started. I am so grateful for/proud of the designers who have created a space for others to learn as I think there is much value in coming alongside and helping people simply begin.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I think a very rewarding aspect of this business is seeing our clients step into a room and go “oh my goodness!” to watch them experience the transformation of the space in real-time at the end of many meetings, planning emails, and digital inspiration their reaction has to be one of the most fulfilling things about this job!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.malanasophiafloral.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malanasophiafloral/

Image Credits

Jennifer Sanders Photography
Ethan DeGree Photography
Rachel Graff Photography
Lahzeh Photography