Check Out Maritza Walton’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maritza Walton.

Hi Maritza, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m originally from Brooklyn, New York, and today I’m a wife, mother of three, and entrepreneur based in Bloomfield, New Jersey. My professional background is in finance, including more than 20 years in mortgage underwriting. That experience taught me how to evaluate risk, pay attention to details, and understand the numbers and skills that continue to serve me as a business owner. But creativity and helping people have always been a big part of who I am.

My entrepreneurial journey took shape through Ritz-Walton Wedding Collection (now known as the Wedding Floral Collection), my wedding floral and event design business. Flowers gave me a way to turn a vision into something people could walk into and experience. I loved being part of such meaningful moments in their lives, and that work opened my eyes to how much I could create.

In 2022, I founded Casa de Flora Bar, a floral café in Bloomfield. I wanted to create a beautiful, welcoming space where people could enjoy a meal, make a bouquet, and spend time together. Our signature Sip & Clip® experience brought those ideas together. Building Casa allowed me to combine my love of flowers, hospitality, and bringing people into a room where they feel special.

From there, my work expanded into intimate event spaces, the Holiday Selfie Studio Experience, and Parlour & Vine. Each concept grew from seeing another opportunity to create memorable experiences for people and families.

As my businesses grew, so did my desire to share what I was learning. Through Bloom & Build Girls Edition, I’ve helped introduce young girls to entrepreneurship, confidence, and financial literacy. Through The Bloom Blueprint, I help aspiring entrepreneurs turn their ideas into practical plans. Helping others has been a thread throughout my life whether that meant helping someone find work, learn a skill, or recognize that they had something valuable to offer.

Getting here has required faith, persistence, and a willingness to adjust. I’ve had to learn how to balance being the creative person with being the person responsible for making the business work, all while showing up for my husband and children.

Today, I’m focused on building businesses that can thrive beyond my daily involvement and creating opportunities that reach beyond me. I’m proud of what I’ve built, but I’m equally proud when something I’ve created gives someone else the confidence to begin.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has certainly not been a smooth road. There have been beautiful milestones, but there have also been seasons when I was creating beautiful experiences for other people while privately figuring out how to keep everything moving.

One of the biggest challenges has been managing the financial demands of entrepreneurship. A business can look busy and successful from the outside while still navigating slow periods, payroll, inventory, and unexpected expenses. My finance background gave me a strong foundation, but carrying the responsibility for your own business is a different experience. I’ve had to make difficult decisions about staffing, spending, and which ideas I could realistically pursue at a given time.

Another challenge has been learning how to move from doing everything myself to building businesses that can operate without my constant involvement. When you care deeply about the details, it can be difficult to delegate. But being the designer, problem solver, marketer, and person responsible for every decision can become exhausting. I’m still learning to put better systems in place, set clear expectations, and ask for support.

There is also an emotional side that people don’t always see. Balancing marriage, motherhood, and multiple businesses takes intention. When you’re constantly responding to what needs your attention, it’s easy to overlook your own progress. I’ve experienced moments of self-doubt and imposter syndrome, even with real accomplishments in front of me.

One of the hardest lessons has been learning that helping others also requires boundaries. I love sharing knowledge and opening doors, but I’ve had to learn to value my time, protect my energy, and charge appropriately for my work.

My faith has carried me through many of those seasons. I’m proud that I’ve continued, but I’m also learning that perseverance includes making changes, resting, and being honest about what is sustainable. I want to build something lasting, and that requires taking care of the woman behind the businesses, too.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an entrepreneur, floral and event designer, and business mentor. My work brings together flowers, hospitality, celebrations, and entrepreneurship. Across everything I do, I specialize in taking an idea and turning it into an experience that people can see, feel, and become part of.

Through my wedding floral and event design business, The Wedding Floral Collection, I create floral arrangements and settings for weddings, proposals, and special celebrations. My style is lush, elegant, and thoughtful. I pay attention to how the entire space comes together, because every detail contributes to how someone experiences their occasion.

I’m also the founder of Casa de Flora Bar, a trending floral café in Bloomfield, New Jersey, known for its pink aesthetic, bouquet-making experiences, and signature Sip & Clip®. We bring flowers into everyday life in an approachable, social way. Guests can come for brunch, create a bouquet, celebrate a milestone, or simply enjoy time with someone they love.

Casa De Flora also includes 2 separate intimate event spaces that hold from 20 – 80 guests.

In 2024 I came up with a vision to create The Holiday Selfie Studio Experience, where we create seasonal settings for families to capture memories.

Through The Bloom Blueprint, I mentor aspiring entrepreneurs, helping them think through their ideas, understand their numbers, and develop a practical path forward.

My Bloom & Build Girls Edition Summer Enrichment Camp extends that work to young girls through confidence building, creativity, and entrepreneurship in a 5 week camp.

What sets me apart is the combination of my creative eye and my financial background. I can envision a beautiful room, but I also understand the planning, pricing, and operations required to make that idea a business. That perspective shapes both what I build and how I teach.

I also bring the experience of starting, operating, adjusting, and continuing through difficult seasons. When I mentor someone, I draw from decisions I’ve had to make myself. I understand the excitement of a new idea and the responsibility that comes after the launch.

What I’m most proud of is creating opportunities for my family, for people I’ve employed or trained, and for women and young girls who need to see that their ideas have value. Over the years, I’ve helped people learn floral design, explore business ownership, and develop skills they could use to move forward.

I love creating something beautiful. But seeing someone gain confidence because of something I taught them, or take a step they were once afraid to take, gives that work a deeper purpose.

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
When I think about my favorite childhood memories, I always go back to my great grandmother’s home. It was where we gathered for Sunday dinner after church and celebrated so many holidays. I can still remember the excitement of waiting for everyone to arrive, knowing we would all be together.

Some of my most meaningful memories are of helping her prepare, cleaning the chandeliers, carefully cleaning the china, and getting the house ready for our family. At the time, I thought I was simply helping my great grandmother. Looking back, I realize she was teaching me how to care of a home, welcome people, and make an occasion feel special.

I know without a doubt that her training has everything to do with the woman I am today. So much of what I love, beautiful spaces, thoughtful details, and bringing people together began in her home. Today, when I’m preparing a table or creating a celebration, I recognize her influence in my work. She gave me memories I treasure and lessons I continue to live by.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.casadeflorabar.com
• Instagram: Casadeflorabar
• Facebook: Casadeflorabar