Considering the incredible success Mark Held has had by focusing on doing one thing – flowers – and doing them better than anyone else, it’s no surprise that Andy and Melissa are able to extract many strategies from Mark’s interview.
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Mark Held didn’t originally see himself as a florist. His first arrangement– a project assigned to him at summer camp as a young boy– turned out to be poison ivy. But after a successful dance and theater career as a young adult, Mark wanted to continue his creative expression. His partner, Richard David, had just the outlet: a flower shop he was opening up. And he convinced Mark to join him for a bit. At the time, Mark thought it would be a temporary arrangement.
Fast forward a couple decades, and Mark Held is a prominent name in floristry. As a grounded, creative mind, he believes that flowers “breathe life into events” and is always looking forward to the future of his business and clients.
In this episode, Mark shares his perspective on career development, crafting a quality event, and the way he navigates the Hollywood scene as a professional florist.
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At 15 years old, Ian Prosser’s love of floral design began when he took an elderly woman in his community to flower-arranging night classes. Through apprenticeships and competitions– and some strong reservations from his family– Ian’s talent grew tremendously, turning him into the youngest person to receive Scotland’s Floral Designer of the Year at just 19 years old.
As a self-proclaimed, “detail freak” Ian built a successful business for himself in Scotland with his eye for detail and made the transition to the United States 32 years ago, where he re-launched his business with great success in his very first year. Ian’s passion and knowledge of the industry includes work with luxury and celebrity clients alike– even royalty! Learn what you need to know about building an iconic design and decor business in the luxury wedding niche through Ian’s stories, experiences, and advice.
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When we think about wedding and event floral designs, our imagination is often limited to bouquets and centerpieces. Today, I am talking to one of the premier event designers in the world. She sees flowers and foliage as a way to create lasting memories of events your guests will never forget. Mindy Rice, of Mindy Rice Design, is a native Californian with a creative lineage. Growing up, Mindy was taught how to think like a designer. Never feeling confined by the “rules” wedding floral arrangements like to follow, Mindy seemed to fall into the wedding business after designing events for the corporate world.
What makes Mindy unique is how she encourages her clients to step into their most daring self. She turns dreams into reality—no Pinterest board copy-cat ideas here! Today, Mindy is going to walk us through her process, from the exciting ideation stages to actually executing her most memorable pieces. She will share stories of how she has transformed a simple barn into a Redwood wonderland. Mindy will describe her favorite pieces, and how she uses color and perspective to transform any event space. Mindy’s goal is to create unique elements for each event that guests will really remember. She is not afraid to take a risk because she knows the risky pieces will always pay off. Every bloom and bough is placed thoughtfully so that guests will feel something long after the last toast and dance.
“Everybody has two personalities—who they really are, and who they dare themselves to be.” ~Mindy Rice
Today is not just about flowers and spectacle! Mindy and I will chat about what it means to own our own business, and how we can successfully balance our creative endeavors with family life. The event design business sometimes feels as though it could take over everything! Mindy embraces the life she’s been given and chooses jobs that will both fulfill her creatively and best support her family. Mindy is inspiring in so many ways, and I know she is going to transform the way you’ve always thought about flowers. Expect the unexpected when Mindy is around!
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