Kristie Brashears of Geronimo’s KB Flowers brings Central Texas brides the native wildflower weddings of their dreams.
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Story by Pamela Price
Sometimes a mid-life career change comes suddenly. Sometimes it comes in fits and spurts.
For Kristi Brashears of KB Flowers in Geronimo (Instagram), the journey from marketing pro to stay-at-home mother to florist took place over a decade. Along the way she perfected her skills while coming to appreciate Texas native wildflowers—and what they can bring to bouquets and arrangements.
Yet she almost didn’t complete the leap to floristry, thinking instead that she’d go back to marketing once her kids were older.
“I was on my third interview for a marketing job in Austin,” Brashears recalled. “I decided it just wasn’t for me. I like the freedom of working from home, being close to the school.”
That’s when she made the final decision to proceed with floral design as her profession. Her first big solo gig? A wedding last year.
Wildflower weddings
“I’ve done more than twenty events in the last year. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind, but people seem to really like the native flowers I use,” she said in a late December telephone call. “They’re beautiful and there’s an eco-friendly, organic vibe that’s appealing.”
Given that Brashears harvests the wildflowers herself, there’s a personal touch, too, in the finished product. This fresh, spirited authenticity suits brides and grooms that want something distinctive, original.
“My husband’s family is in the cattle business, and we have property in Geronimo. That’s where I harvest most of the flowers. If I have a wedding coming up, I’ll walk the fields a couple of weeks out, to my secret spots. That’s part of the challenge, of course, knowing which flowers bloom when. But I have a much better sense of what to expect now than when I began. Plus, not every flower is good enough for a bridal bouquet, either.”
She added that she’ll often put together a sample arrangement a week or two out from the wedding, so brides have a chance to give their own input. “Likes are as important as dislikes, especially when I am using flowers they may not have noticed before. And it’s their wedding . . . I have been blessed with some wonderful, trusting brides who give me alot of creative freedom.”
As beautiful as the flowers are—alone or when paired with traditional, non-native blooms—they can present creative challenges.
“Most natives have smaller, skinnier stems than non-natives. They’re more delicate and can break more easily. I’ve learned what to do.”
Working with the blooms, Brashears has developed a few tricks for keeping flowers comfortable from field to bouquet or table, too. “I use a lot of coffee cans rather than traditional buckets,” she said, adding that simple items like shotgun shells can be incorporated into boutienieres to provide more water during a wedding ceremony and reception.
Although our native Texas wildflowers can be tricky to work with in inexperienced hands, Brashears points out that they’re especially well suited for outdoor weddings. “Because they’re natives, they’re used to the harsh climate. They adapt.”
A growing business
To supplement her wild harvest, Brashears has also seen her home garden grow “exponentially” in the year since launching her business. “I’ve always loved growing and propagating plants.”
It’s clear from a conversation with the entrepreneur—and her Instagram feed—that Brashears loves her work. That’s good, because 2020 is shaping up to keep her busy. In addition to weddings, she also does a full range of events: quinceaneras, retirement parties, corporate and hotel arrangements, birthday parties, homecoming, prom, and baby showers.
Whatever the occasion, connecting clients with the Lone Star State’s natural floral beauty continues to bring Brashears joy.
“The greatest compliment I can receive is having my customers tell me they now slow down and notice things on the roadside,” she said.
And while she arranges flowers for all sorts of occasions, there’s still something special about weddings in particular. “Witnessing the love and appreciation couples and their families have for my work, sharing my love of natives with them—that’s amazing. Brides are looking at Pinterest for ideas, but they’re trusting me to make something uniquely their own. I’m lucky.”
