The picture above—the calm after the storm, the lights, the company we keep, enjoying good food around a table of friends: this is the life I live in Greenville, and I love it. Sometimes I get down about our small town and limited resources; but in other ways I love that everyone knows (almost) everyone else. And our little city is growing every day.

I opened Willow Florals in 2010, but wasn’t doing it full time until late 2012. In that time I have rented a studio, worked up to part-time employees, have booked over 40 weddings a year, and have gotten to work on some pretty cool projects like The Maker’s Summit, a magazine shoot for At Home Magazine, and the florals for a new book from Knack Studios. Weddings are still my main gig, but working on these other projects is fun and collaborative. 

I love cake, international travel shows, solo dancing and family. And not necessarily in that order. :) 

—Julie Dodds