Meet Kristin Hay | Floral Designer

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

Hi Kristin, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Starting my own business really came from a deep desire to shape my life in a way that felt intentional and fulfilling. I knew early on that I wanted to be a mom and have the kind of career that would give me the flexibility to work from home and be present with my kids—especially during those early years. That dream became a huge motivator for me.

In my 20s, I worked in a few different roles in the nonprofit world—and while I really respected the organization I was part of, I realized pretty quickly that a traditional desk job didn’t suit me. My job felt too stressful and too sedentary. I also knew I didn’t want to be commuting and working 40 hours a week when I started having kids.

Eventually, I landed on the idea of starting a floral business, and pretty quickly I knew I wanted to focus exclusively on weddings. Choosing not to open a traditional retail flower shop was very intentional—it gave me the best of both worlds. I get to do deeply creative, design-forward work, but I also have a lot of control over my schedule and workload. I can decide how many weddings I want to take on, and I can shape my calendar based on what’s happening in my life. For example, after I had my daughter, I was able to take a full three months off from work to be with her. That kind of flexibility is something I’m really grateful for, and it’s one of the reasons being a business owner continues to feel like the right fit for me.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
One of the things I’m most proud of with Kind Floral is that I built a business doing something I didn’t even know how to do six years ago. I didn’t have a background in floristry or a lucky connection that led me here—I just knew I wanted a creative, flexible career, and I decided to figure it out. At first, that felt like a huge roadblock: how do you even begin learning something you’ve never done before? But I took it one step at a time—pouring over floristry podcasts, taking online courses, and most importantly, connecting with real people in my community. Mentors, fellow creatives, and local business owners all played such a big role in my growth. I’ve learned that you can only get so far from your computer screen—real relationships are what open doors.

Another big lesson I’ve learned is that you don’t have to wait until you feel totally ready. You’ll never actually feel “ready” to start a business or start a family or make life-altering decisions like that. As a “planner” personality, that was really hard for me to realize at first and made me drag my feet for about a year on actually launching my business. Then when I finally launched, I wasn’t even sure what kind of work I wanted to do—pop-ups, everyday bouquets, weddings, sympathy work—I tried a little bit of everything. And I wasn’t afraid to pivot when something didn’t feel like the right fit. I’ve learned that putting one foot in front of the other matters more than perfection. You don’t need the full picture to get started—you just need to start and the rest will follow.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We’d absolutely go though Garden of the Gods. I know it’s a bit of a tourist staple, but it really is uniquely beautiful and everyone should go see it if they’re visiting. It also holds a lot of great memories for our family – it’s where my husband and I got engaged, where we used to hang out in the evenings with our college friends.

We’d also take a day or two to drive up to Buena Vista, which is one of our absolute favorite spots in Colorado. While we’re there, we’d take a trip up Cottonwood Pass and spend some time by Cottonwood Lake. It’s so beautiful and feels like the perfect little mountain escape without being too remote.

Back in the Springs, we’d make sure to grab lamb sliders at Cerberus Brewing—they’re a must. And we’d also go to Front Range Barbecue for their deep-fried artichoke hearts and their smoked brisket. We’d also take an afternoon to wander around Manitou Springs, if nothing else just so I can introduce them to the tiny custard shop on the main drag that has the best ice cream in the summer—it’s nostalgic and just so good.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
One person I absolutely have to give credit to is Cheri Garner of Southern Charm Weddings and Events here in Colorado Springs. She’s been such a mentor to me, especially in those early days when I was just starting out and didn’t know much about the wedding industry—or even much about floral design. Cheri really showed me the power of generosity in business. She never held back information or treated me like competition, even though she had every reason to. Instead, she welcomed me, answered questions, shared advice, and modeled what it looks like to build a business with a community-minded approach.

Because of her, I learned how meaningful it is to be helpful, to share freely, and to lift others up—even if they’re just getting started. It’s shaped how I show up in my own business now. Whether it’s sharing inventory with another florist in a pinch or lending a hand when someone needs help, I really believe that this industry can be collaborative and kind. A huge part of my success is thanks to Cheri’s encouragement and the example she set.

Website: https://www.kindfloral.com/

Instagram: @kind_floral

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

Image Credits
Hughes Photo Co
Madison Cotten Photography
Emily Mae Photography