Today we’d like to introduce you to Debbie Roberts.
Hi Debbie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Almost a true Floridian (I moved here when I was just two years old), I’ve always had a deep love for everything Florida has to offer: beaches, boating, and of course, gardening. My husband and I are about to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary, and we have three wonderful children.
In the early years, I focused on being a stay-at-home mom. Once my children were grown, I decided to pursue a professional career. Like many Floridians, I got my start at Publix. I explored several departments to find my niche and quickly found myself drawn to the floral department.
After about a year there, I transitioned to a large floral wedding and event company in Sarasota, where I discovered my true passion—designing florals for special events. Five years later, I joined an even larger event company that specialized in high-end weddings and managed their floral operations. The company also had a rental division, which allowed me to gain hands-on experience in large-scale installations for both weddings and corporate events.
By then, I had spent nearly a decade working in the Tampa Bay wedding market. With the encouragement and support of family and friends, who believed in me even before I fully believed in myself, I decided it was time to start my own business. After a year of preparation, we officially launched in January 2021!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting the business was the most daunting part for me, especially since we launched right after COVID. At the time, there was still a lot of uncertainty in the events industry due to venue restrictions and couples postponing their wedding dates. Fortunately, Florida lifted many of those restrictions fairly quickly, allowing couples to move forward with their celebrations.
Not long after, we were fortunate to ride the wave of the 2022 wedding boom. Since then, business has remained strong, and we’re proud to have produced over 250 weddings in the past five years!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
When I was a little girl, my mother was a horticulturist at Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, Fl. Although we moved around a lot, our house was always surrounded by plants and flowers and i can remember she was always outside messing about with them. I suppose i was born with a green thumb, which is why i feel this was my calling in life- to use my passion for the beauty of nature to bring happiness to people on such an important day in their lives. I feel so blessed to have such a good support system in my family and my friends in the industry. As a small business it allows me to pay more attention to the details, where all the magic is! I’m also proud to offer affordable pricing to brides who may be on a budget- big or small. I think that’s what sets me apart.
What’s next?
My future plan is to focus more on social media, as i know it is an essential part of the business in this day and age.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.styledinblooms.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/styledinblooms/?next=%2F
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.styledinblooms
Image Credits
@taratomlinsonphotography
@chelfrichweddings
@evokephotoandfilm
@bywatercollective
