I’m Natalie Ransom of Pozie by Natalie. I’m a Bellingham-based floral designer of one-of-a-kind pieces for weddings, businesses, and special events.

Although I call the Pacific Northwest home now, I grew up on my family’s farm in Michigan’s rural Upper Peninsula, also known as ‘the U.P.’ At heart, I’m still and always will be a die-hard ‘yooper.’ My dad Chip taught me how to grow, forage for, and arrange flowers while I was growing up. We used to make things together and sell them at the local farmers market on the weekends. So in some ways, I’ve been doing this work all my life. My business is really about bringing joy to the customer through nature. I also believe you should do things that you are passionate about. That’s how I got started with my business. I followed my heart.

Instead of projecting my own style or look onto a client’s event, I try to listen very carefully to their ideas and desires, their passions, and even the positive and negative memories they’ve associated with a particular flower or look over the years. Then I do my very best to give them exactly what they dreamed of. Sometimes my wisdom and experience in the floral industry tells me I should try to steer them away from a bad decision, but in each case, it’s really about giving them something that’s as close as possible or better than they imagined. Whenever possible, I use locally-sourced and sustainably-grown plants and flowers. I’ll often suggest options that are outside of the usual florist selection so that people can avoid using a flower that’s been grown half way around the world. I like that making these little changes can be better for our planet.

I often tell couples to do what you want to do because it’s your day. Don’t feel bound by specific traditions like tossing the bouquet unless that’s your preference. Do what is going to make you happy and build a lasting positive memory with personal touches unique to you. At the end of the day, the wedding is yours, so try to resist pressure from others. You want to look back and remember it as entirely your day.

It’s very difficult to pick just one because they are all wonderful in their own way. But my dear friends were married in September 2016. The bride gave me lots of freedom and said, “Go nuts! Do whatever you want.” My partner Ryan and I both care about them deeply and we got to attend the wedding–something I don’t often get to do as a floral designer. I loved being able to see the reactions of the bride and guests. The bride chose to have each of the five bridesmaids dressed in a different color so I made five different bridesmaids bouquets in a fitting style and bold colors. I combined local flowers like zinnias and dahlias and mixed them with bright tropical flowers like protea and orchids. Each bridesmaid was different and held a contrasting bouquet. It was a true surprise for the bride and I was honored that she trusted me and was so happy with the results.

Due to the large number of flowers available and varying styles, I don’t use packages. People and tastes vary widely and I don’t want to confine anyone to a box. The same goes for price range. I work within people’s individual budgets and cater to a variety of price ranges. My work can be as small as a single bouquet and a boutonniere all the way to up to an opulent, bespoke multi-day celebrity-level event.

I love cooking and trying new recipes at home with my true love. Of course, I couldn’t live without flowers of all kinds. I don’t have a favorite because they are ALL my favorite. Also, in my work and my life, I couldn’t live without a sense of community. Through my business, I call that ‘floralanthropy’ where I work closely with local nonprofits to lower the cost of their events by donating my labor and offering deep discounts for their charity galas and events to help them raise funds. Nonprofits like Lydia Place are my favorites. In my personal life I hold board positions with Blue Skies for Children and Whatcom Women in Business.

http://poziebynatalie.com/

https://www.facebook.com/PoziebyNatalie/

@poziebynatalie