Vendor Spotlight on The Bloom Bar
Hello and happy Wednesday! Everyone, meet our spotlight vendor, Kayli from The Bloom Bar in San Marcos!
Tell us about your business.
The Bloom Bar is a boutique floral studio specializing in Hill Country-inspired wedding flowers, custom designs for corporate events, and fun, interactive workshops.
What led you to floral design?
I’ve always been a creative soul, since I was a kid. Always an artist, always staying curious. I love working with my hands, and I found that I could always find my creative flow with floral design. It’s such a delight for the senses-always being surrounded by beautiful sights and smells! What’s not to love? J
What keeps you passionate about weddings?
I love LOVE, and I especially love working with brides to bring their vision to life. I feel like I get to be a small part of their fairytale, and there is nothing like the rewarding experience of making a bride happy on their wedding day! It never gets old.
How long have you been in the wedding flower business?
When I say floral design is a lifelong passion I’m not lying! I took my first floral design class in high school at 14-years-old and I still remember the first design I made. Working in a retail florist was my first job, I worked through college at another shop, and was always finding ways to sneak floral design into my job description as a public relations pro.
Where do you find inspiration?
We live in such a beautiful part of central Texas, so I love to take a trip down the San Marcos River on beautiful mornings to check out all the gorgeous trees and textures. I love Purgatory Creek trails and all the fun cacti along my walk. I love to incorporate natural, organic elements into my design, so taking some time to be in nature usually gets my creativity flowing.
What should couples know before hiring a florist?
I might be biased, but I think flowers MAKE a wedding. Carefully chosen fresh flowers can make the most plain venue absolutely stunning, add richness and color to a room, and just make everything fancier. It is well worth the investment, and I try to make suggestions to give couples the most bang for their buck. It’s possible to have stunning arrangements with the wow factor without busting your budget-you just need a savvy florist to help guide your decision making.
What questions should couples be asking that they don’t know to ask?
One of my biggest suggestions is to be flexible in your floral choices. Ask what is in season, and allow your florists some flexibility to choose the best textures and blooms in your color palette. I promise you that you’ll get a better product if your florist is able to choose flowers that are at their peak and looking fabulous.
I also guide my clients to choose several centerpiece options that will help give them some statement pieces while remaining more affordable on some tables. When in doubt, always ask to splurge on the bridal bouquet, arbor/arch and one element at the reception like a grand head table arrangement or entry florals. These are the most photographed pieces, so maximize your budget here!
What sets you apart in your industry?
I like to think that I have a lot of fun and go the extra mile to make my clients feel special. Most likely, I will end up being friends with the bride after the wedding. J I also try to be as real with my couples as possible. I think things like Pinterest and Instagram can set some unreasonable expectations and pressure, so I try to encourage brides to be true to themselves.
Outside of flowers, tell us about yourself!
I’m into all things creative! I’m always looking to take a fun new art class, learn macramé, take a wine-tasting course etc. I’m forever a student so I stay curious. I love to read (preferably in my hammock with a glass of red wine), go to the river with friends and my pup Lola, and cook fancy meals when I get the time. Yoga is my jam, and I always love checking out new music. My husband Derek and I met at 14 (apparently I fell in love with a lot of things at 14!) and we love to spend time together at his family’s ranch in LaGrange.
What common mistakes do you see couples making?
I always encourage couples to share all the details with me to make the evening cohesive: linen colors, the look of the invites, the cake style, the style of tables, and other elements of the evening. It’s easy for things to start to look a little hodgepodge if you don’t communicate details with your vendor. Hiring a planner helps. ;)
What your best piece of advice for couples planning a wedding?
Be yourself, have FUN, and hire trusted professionals to make your day as stress-free as possible!
What’s the most unusual wedding you ever did?
When I was in college, I did a surprise wedding for college sweethearts that met at my alma mater (SFA) and got married 20 years later, to the date. That was pretty cool!
What was the most memorable wedding you ever worked, and why?
My most memorable had to be the largest wedding I have ever done to date, which was one of my firsts in Austin. Though it looks super glamorous on the outside, design wedding flowers is pretty tough work, and just the feeling of sheer determination, crazy adrenaline and the sweet exhaustion at the end of the night after working so hard for three straight days and pulling off something so beautiful really gave me the courage and strength to continue. It made me realize I was in the right industry when I wanted to do it all over again the next weekend.
Where can we find you?
Social: @thebloombartx
IRL: Downtown San Marcos at 123 South LBJ Drive.
