Meet Adriana Luevano | Floral Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adriana Luevano and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adriana, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I worked at a catering company in 2014 for four in half years, I was one of their event planners, and I was assigned to be their in-house florist for our corporate clients, then we started to offer flower arrangements for private parties and weddings. I was self-taught, and I started to enjoy it, so I started to research the floral design industry. I love the art and mechanics behind putting all the arrangements together. My favorite is installations, I’m 5’0, and I feel like a badass climbing a 7ft ladder to install a lush floral installation. I love the different technics and how to care for the flowers, and this may sound crazy, but I love the rush of events when setting up onsite at an event or wedding. I checked out local floral designers here in Denver, and I just became so intrigued by the art and all the work that goes into it. So I decided to enroll myself in The Floral School of Art LLC in Denver after finishing my courses; I started Floral Wild in 2017. I started my business in my one-bedroom apartment in Lakewood, and a year later, I have a small studio in an art warehouse called Grace in the Globeville/Rino area.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Starting my own business was never part of my plan; there are days where I’m like, really? Am I really doing this? I am so proud of myself, especially being Mexican American in my 30’s, a Colorado Native Woman owning Floral Wild. It wasn’t an easy start. As I mentioned before, I started my business from a one-bedroom apartment, I have had side jobs to finance my business, I have never taken out a loan, and I have built my business from scratch. It’s amazing to see it flourish. There are many challenges I face and what I have learned is to take note of what worked and what didn’t; no one is perfect, we all make mistakes, I don’t know everything there is about flora design and what I love about this industry is that it is always a learning experience, there is always someone you can teach and vice-versa. I have been fortunate with all the amazing clients I have booked for weddings in the last four years. Not only do I care about their floral arrangements but the experience they have with Floral Wild.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This is a tough question because there are so many places that I love! If we were to start in the city, I would go to east Colfax or Mississippi for authentic, whole-in-the-wall Mexican food, too many taquerias, restaurants, and panaderias to name. Union Station is my favorite place other than the airport to people watch. I’m a sucker for crafty cocktails; Williams & Graham is a must. Do you want a good local steak? Bastien’s: Home of the Sugar Steak, typing their name is making me hungry, amazing service, delicious, apps and of course steaks. Last but not least, Botanic Gardens and City Park. Outside of Denver, I take anyone and everyone to St Mary’s Glacier. An overnight stay or two in Breckenridge or Winter Park is also a must.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to shoutout to Sarah Rovner with Calla Blue Florals. We are not only friends, but she is an inspiration and a great mentor. She is an amazing woman. She is a mother of two, a wife, a friend, a daughter, and her work is STUNNING. She will be my florist when I get married. I met Sarah through the courses we took at the School of Floral Arts, she actually took the courses the year before I did and she dropped in to say hello, and I asked her to meet for coffee, and we have been friends ever since. She is my go-to when I want to give up or when I am too critical of myself. Even though we are in the same business, and I guess we are competition, we don’t see it that way, and we share ideas, learn, and have grown together in the floral industry.

Website: www.floralwild.com

Instagram: @Floralwild_designs

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floralwildllc/

Image Credits
“Purple Scheme Photos with the Bride and My Seflie (Wearing ALL Black)” Venue: @rallyhotel Planning/Design: @kaitlinsheaweddings Florals: @floralwild_designs Photography: @the.irisphotography “Blush, Standing Arrangement with Couple and the Pic of Myself working”: Photography – Heather Callanan Photography @heathercallanan.photography Photography – Alyssa Wood Photography @alyssawoodphotography Planning & Design – Moss & Maeve Event Planning & Styling @mossandmaeve Venue – Camp Hale @camphaleweddings Florals – Floral Wild @floralwild_designs