Rising Stars: Meet Alex Daniel of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Daniel.

Hi Alex, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I kind of fell into florals in a very unexpected way. When I was in college, I was interviewing for a bunch of different jobs, and when I got a callback for one at a flower shop, I just felt called to it. It definitely paid less than some of the other jobs I was considering, but something about it felt fun and creative, which was exactly what I needed outside of class.

Eventually, I completely fell in love with it and realized I wanted to keep doing it more than anything else. After graduating, I stayed at the shop for a while before deciding I really wanted to get into event work, because that’s where all the cool stuff is! I was so inspired by the scale of event design and the ability to create these big, beautiful installations and completely transform a space with flowers.

It took some time to find my footing and develop my own point of view as a designer, but now I feel really confident in the work I create and the direction I’m heading. I’m incredibly grateful to be where I am today and to have been running my own company, Bloom Riot Florals, for a little over three years now.

I feel especially drawn to artistic, art-forward floral design and creating work that feels intentional, unexpected, and a little outside of the traditional floral world. I’m still constantly learning and evolving, but I think that’s one of my favorite parts of what I do.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I wouldn’t say it’s been a smooth road, per se, but it has been incredibly rewarding. Becoming a business owner in your twenties comes with a lot of trial and error. I imagine that’s true at any age, but especially when you’re still figuring out all the other parts of life at the same time! I’ve learned to look at any hiccups along the way as a lesson in what I’ll do differently next time.

Then there’s the other side of florals: it can be incredibly hard on your body. There are long prep days (and sometimes nights), full event days in whatever weather gets thrown at you (the heat is always the worst), heavy lifting, late-night breakdowns, and even personal birthdays or events you sometimes have to miss because weekends are when you’re busiest.

I think people often imagine being a florist as this really cute, glamorous job, and don’t get me wrong, it is beautiful! But the beautiful part only comes after all the work it took to get us there. There’s so much happening behind the scenes that no one ever sees, and I think learning to embrace that part of the job has made the finished product feel even more rewarding.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
If I had to guess, I’d say my approach to design is what sets me apart. In the wedding industry, it can be really easy to fall into a cut-and-paste approach to florals, where the same types of designs are recreated from one event to the next. I’ve always wanted to push myself beyond that. I love approaching each wedding as something completely unique to the couple while still finding opportunities to create something interesting, unexpected, and new.

A lot of my inspiration actually comes from outside of the floral world. I’m really inspired by fashion, film, editorial work, interiors, and other forms of art, and I think that naturally finds its way into how I design. It also makes me look at each event through a wider lens than simply asking, “What flowers are we putting here?” I’m thinking about color, shape, movement, scale, the architecture of the space, and how everything works together.

More than anything, I want to create ambiance and atmosphere. Flowers have this incredible ability to completely change the feeling of a space, and that’s what excites me most about my work. I want someone to walk into a room and feel something.

I think I’m most proud of developing a design style and point of view that genuinely feels like my own. Bloom Riot has given me the space to experiment, take risks, and continue evolving creatively, and I’m really proud that people are beginning to recognize my work for that.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Honestly, the biggest and best resource that helps me do my best in life is my husband. He’s continually been such an amazing partner to lean on. He’s always there to help with events whenever I need the extra manpower (yes, I absolutely keep him around for the heavy lifting), but more than that, he’s just an incredible supporter of my work and my dreams.

This job comes with a lot of odd hours, weekends taken up by events, and nights spent working late on everything from emails and design concepts to complete website overhauls. Having someone who understands that, encourages me, and believes in what I’m building has made such a difference.

I genuinely don’t think I’d be in the position I am today without his support and encouragement. Having someone in your corner who believes in what you’re doing, especially during the moments when you might be questioning it yourself, is pretty invaluable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bloomriotflorals.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloomriot.florals/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Bloom-Riot-Florals-100091326145921/