It is so fun to get people through the wedding industry that so quickly become friends! Bianca with Anthemum is definitely one of those people! I met Bianca a few months back at our local Tuesdays Together meet-up. I absolutely love her and her business, so last week I went over to watch her create a floral arrangement and take a few photos. Keep reading to learn more about her boutique floral design business, including the story behind why she chose the name Anthemum!

What made you fall in love with floral design?
I’ve always loved flowers! Maybe it is because growing up I used to see how happy they made my mom. She was so clever with incorporating them into anything: birthday cakes, my hair bows, clothes, anything. But she also did it with such great style. The flower love must have passed on to me either through genetics or her contagious bliss when working with flowers. Some of my favorite memories are of when my dad would stop by the wholesale flower shop downtown on his way home from work. He would pick out her favorites and bring them home for her to style her own arrangements. On our trip to London a while back, I was inspired by the beautiful flower markets at almost every corner, I turned to my mom and said, you know if I ever started my own business I would hope to work with flowers. And to my surprise, this accounting/finance analyst mother of mine said that had always been a dream of hers. Fast forward to now, you can find her right by my side flowering it up with me, it’s so great! Aside from my mother’s influence, I believe I have also always had an ingrained fascination with plants, whether it be a flower, a tree, or a fruit/vegetable. I love how you can visually experience an entire life cycle right before your eyes. Flowers have been used for celebrations and adornments throughout history and across many cultures. I think these bursts of life stand as a universal reminder to cherish your own. Now the design part, that’s where the fun is! It combines working with color, mechanics, composition, textures, tools… I could go on!

Is there a story behind the name “Anthemum”?
Yes! It includes one of my favorite childhood storybooks and my own child.
Chrysanthemum is a lovely mother-daughter children’s book by Kevin Henkes that I just adore! And my own daughter’s birth month flower happens to be a Chrysanthemum. I put two and two together, and then learned that in greek chrysanthemum, or khrusanthemon, is derived from khrusos: gold + anthemon: flower. That’s when I fell in love with Anthemum for it’s simple meaning: ”of the flower.”

Describe your “style”:
Lots of greenery! Bonus if all or some of it is foraged! I have a lot of fun incorporating foraged elements in my arrangements. I think it makes my pieces more personal. It can add the perfect amount texture, and it celebrates a taste of the current season. As far as color palettes go, lately it depends on the mood I’m in and definitely the season. I enjoy soft earthy tones as much as I enjoy bright and moody pops of color. I love playing with color, texture, foraged greens, asymmetrical compositions, and the mechanics of it all!

What else would you like to share about Anthemum?
Aside from the typical pieces you would expect in a wedding, like bouquets, boutonnieres, and center pieces… We LOVE designing and creating original installations! This is when my architecture/construction background really plugs into my flower world! My husband and I have so much fun brainstorming and designing pieces that celebrate the lush blooms and greenery by creating depth, scale, and experience. He has a similar background, and we met while studying architecture in college :). Aside from being my design partner in these larger projects, he is my main inspiration. He’s an incredible designer with the most positive attitude, and is always encouraging me to pursue even my most outrageous dreams.

If you’re looking for a florist in the Austin area, you can get in touch with Bianca here. You can also keep up with her current projects by following along on Instagram!