Today we’d like to introduce you to Steph Leininger.
Hi Steph, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Thank you for taking the time to reach out! I started working with flowers in high school for the City of Fargo working on flowers beds within the park district. From there, I started out college at North Dakota State University thinking I was going to graduate with a civil engineer degree however horticulture and landscape design took my creative interest. I worked on a private golf course, Roaring Fork Club, in Basalt, CO designing and managing landscapes. I really loved working with my crew to bring visions of our clients to life on their landscapes. I continued my horticulture work in the Aspen – Snowmass area maintaining personal properties.
After that, I came back to Fargo to work on the Microsoft Campus managing 80 acres of landscape and interiorscape. Then I moved into property management which was a little bit landscape, a little bit yoga teaching, event planning and floristry. This is where I started to work within a vase vs the ground. I worked for a florist for a while and thought it would be really cool to grow what I design. Bringing my passion of growing outdoors and working with clients on their special day with floral designs. That’s what brings us to today. I grow and source from American flower farms for my floral designs for weddings and events.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting my business was relatively smooth, on paper. I have amazing mentors and friends that I learned from in my first year. I would say what I struggle with is patience. I wanted to have all the beautiful flowers growing to use for my weddings/events. I also needed the weddings to use the flowers for floral design, which was harder than I expected. I am learning that it takes time and clarity on my brand to attract the clientele I want to work with that love sustainability and locally flowers as much as I do. There were also ideas that I thought were the ticket to selling flowers and come to find out I disliked them so much that it was painful to even get myself to do them. My biggest struggle was me getting in the way and doubting myself. So relatively smooth, yes, however a bumpy road that I am learning from every day.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I grow flowers and greenery from seeds on my boutique flower farm that I use in my floral designs for weddings and events. I specialize in using only locally grown or American sourced flowers for all my designs. I like to source as close to home as possible when I need to order something I don’t grow. I also have a passion for sustainability using products that are good for the earth. I do not use floral foam in any of my designs. I am proud that I have found communities of people that I learn from all over the U.S. that I can implement within growing and designing. When clients book my services at least 6-9 months in advance I use their color palette and style to pick what flowers to grow, just for them. I am proud that I can say they will have seasonal, locally grown designs that no one else will. I think it makes their day even that more special.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
My core values: intentionality, environmentally conscious, resourceful, communicative, open minded, calm under pressure, continuously learning with action.
My best practices: design with purpose, enjoy the journey, work with integrity, treat others with respect, take pride in what I do, create beautiful flowers with integrity, treat others with respect, take pride in what I do, create beautiful flowers.
Pricing:
- A La Carte minimum investment $700
- Full Service Wedding Floral Design minimum investment $3000
Contact Info:
- Email: steph@botanicafloristry.com
- Website: https://www.botanicafloristry.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/botanicafloristry/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/botanicafloristry
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/botanicafloristy/
Image Credits
Danelle Janae Photography
Tomi Dawn Photography
Sophie Grace Photography
Kiley Marissa Photography
Lens View Studio
Ryan Telford Photography
Haley Frost Creative
