Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeanine Sawyer.
Hi Jeanine, 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 grew up with a creative side, taking art classes from when I was in elementary school to studying Fine Art in college. But after college, I struggled with how to turn that creativity into a career. Fast forward several years, more than I’d care to admit, I got married in 2019 and I absolutely loved planning it! Even though I had heard cautionary tales about how stressful the whole process would be, I found it incredibly exciting, and I fell in love with the wedding industry.
I loved weddings, but wanted to make sure that making it a career path was a good fit. So, I started working at the Darlington House in La Jolla in 2021, right as it reopened after the COVID pandemic. We were BUSY! I worked hundreds of weddings and made some lifelong friends with the other Venue Attendants. I soon became known as the one Wedding Planners would turn to if they needed to get rid of some flowers at the end of the night. It hurt my heart to see such beautiful arrangements tossed out, so I would take the flowers home and rearrange them for me and my neighbors. I learned so much about the mechanics of an arrangement and the lifespan of specific flowers that way. After a year of working at the Darlington House, I wanted to get back to being on the creative side of things.
I started networking and assisting another former Venue Attendant as she started her journey as a wedding planner with her company, Cloud9 Events, but I was continually drawn to the floral side of things.
Fast forward again to my own venture as the owner of Little Goldfinch. I focus on wedding floral, Bloom Bars for DIY bouquets and floral arranging workshops.
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?
Finding my niche in the wedding industry was the hardest part of my journey. As soon as I focused on floral, it felt like the perfect avenue for me. My maiden name is even Fleur, which means “flower” in French. My absolute favorite thing is to talk with couples and help them realize their dream wedding floral within their budget. I launched my business in November of 2023, so even though I’m designing floral for several brides for later in the year, I’m really looking forward to bringing my first wedding together.
In the meantime, I’ve done Bloom Bars for some events like Bachelorette Parties and Birthdays. I also held my first workshop, helping participants to create their own Christmas wreaths. Next up is a workshop creating floral arrangements on a wine bottle for Valentine’s Day!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Little Goldfinch was my Great Aunt’s nickname for me, and she was the consummate hostess. She was so glamourous and creative, so I hope I’m making her proud. I really cater to DIY brides and making the most out of a smaller budget. I was a DIY bride myself. Not everyone can afford a $5,000 floral extravaganza, but absolutely everyone deserves to have a beautiful wedding! I focus on getting the most for your money with repurposing and elevating flowers and greenery that are more “affordable”. I can even help create a custom floral DIY package where I help the couple pick the flowers for their wedding and then give them some guidelines to putting it all together with some help from their friends and family.
In addition, my floral workshops are bi-monthly and so much fun for a day out with friends at fun local bars, coffee shops, restaurants, and wineries. The workshops can also be planned as a private event in your own home.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The best thing about the floral industry is that there are basic rules and mechanics in putting an arrangement together, but it’s always evolving. For example, many florists are trying to be more sustainable. I try to use more environmentally friendly mechanics whenever possible. Using chicken wire instead of floral foam and repurposing arrangements are just a couple of examples. The beauty of flowers is that they’re imperfect, fleeting, and not one is the same. Just like us. Their limit is only to the extent of our imagination. Their lifespan is a temporary luxury, and that just makes me love them more. We have to appreciate them in the moment. You know the saying, “Stop and smell the roses.”
Pricing:
- Bloom Bar – Starting at $350
- A La Carte Wedding Items – No minimum
Contact Info:
- Website: www.littlegoldfinch.com
- Instagram: @little.goldfinch.sd
Image Credits
Naomi Renee Photography
Dom + Dianna Photography
