Today we’d like to introduce you to Alicia Palomares
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born in El Paso to Mexican immigrant parents who gave up everything, leaving their home behind in search of a better life. Their courage and sacrifice shaped my own drive to pursue my dreams. I studied marketing at UTEP and after graduating I moved to Austin, TX, where I’ve built a career in digital marketing over the past 7 years.
My life took an unexpected turn in June 2023 when I lost my mom to cancer. Her passing changed everything for me and made me realize I wanted to create a more meaningful impact in the world. My mom and I shared a big love for flowers – this passion showed up in special moments of my life, like when I created my arrangements for my housewarming party, engagement party, and bridal shower. There was something magical about working with flowers and creating something beautiful with my hands.
Last September, I decided to follow this passion and launched my own floral design business. Floral design has become almost meditative for me – there’s something incredibly fulfilling about creating beautiful arrangements that bring joy to people’s lives. Every time I see someone’s face light up when they receive their flowers, my heart just bursts. My mom’s passing taught me that life’s too precious to not do what you love. Every arrangement I create feels like a way to spread a little more joy in the world, and I think that’s exactly what she would have wanted.
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?
The road hasn’t been smooth, but the challenges have shaped both me and my business in meaningful ways. The biggest and most profound challenge was losing my mom. That kind of loss changes you at your core, and while it ultimately helped clarify what I wanted to create in the world, navigating grief while building a business has been incredibly challenging.
Starting a floral design business has also come with its own set of hurdles, especially on the financial side. I don’t have unlimited financial resources to fall back on – every investment in my business has been carefully considered and strategic. I’ve had to be resourceful and creative, leveraging my marketing background to build my own website, design my logo, and develop my branding materials. This has been a blessing in disguise, as it’s helped me create a brand that truly reflects my vision.
The business side of floristry came with its learning curve. Understanding flower sourcing, managing perishable inventory, and developing proper pricing strategies – these were all skills I had to learn from the ground up. When you’re working with fresh flowers, there’s little room for error in your planning and execution. Every event requires careful orchestration, from ordering timelines to processing flowers to ensuring they’re at their peak for the big day.
It’s empowering to know that my entrepreneurial journey is part of a larger movement. I recently learned that Latinas are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the country, and I feel incredibly proud to be among these determined women who are building their dreams from the ground up. Building something from scratch isn’t easy, but it’s incredibly rewarding when you see your vision coming to life.
As you know, we’re big fans of Faith Flowers. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
As a Latina and first-generation-owned floral design studio, I bring a unique perspective to every creation. My design style is deeply romantic, classic, and thoughtful – each arrangement is crafted with intention and heart. While I create arrangements for all special events and occasions, my true passion and core focus lies in wedding florals.
Being a recent bride myself, I intimately understand how important wedding flowers are in creating those perfect moments. Every boutonnière, every centerpiece, every petal in the bridal bouquet plays a role in telling a couple’s love story. I approach each wedding with the same care and attention to detail that I wanted for my own special day.
The wedding experience I offer goes beyond just beautiful flowers. I take time to truly understand each couple’s vision, working closely with them to bring their dreams to life while infusing my signature romantic and classic style. From intimate courthouse ceremonies to grand celebrations, I believe every love story deserves to be told through gorgeous blooms.
For wedding clients, we offer full-service design including consultations, delivery, setup, and teardown. We also create beautiful arrangements for bridal showers, engagement parties, and other wedding-related celebrations. While weddings are our specialty, we still offer our signature romantic, classic style for other special events and occasions, like anniversaries and birthdays.
For me, flowers are so much more than just beautiful blooms – they’re a language of emotion. Whether I’m creating arrangements for a wedding, a birthday, or an anniversary, there’s something profound about helping people express their deepest feelings through flowers. Being able to translate those unspoken emotions into a stunning arrangement that says exactly what’s in someone’s heart brings me incredible joy.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is family – both the one I was born into and the one I’ve built along the way. My husband, Valentin, has been my rock and biggest cheerleader in this journey. He believed in my vision even on days when I doubted myself. My little sister, Ashley, has been another cornerstone in my life, supporting and cheering me on every step of the way.
I’ve learned that success isn’t just about individual effort – it’s about having people in your corner who believe in you and lift you up. My floral business wouldn’t be a reality without my amazing support system. They’ve helped me honor my mom’s memory by pursuing what I love, and they continue to encourage me to grow and evolve both personally and professionally.
At the end of the day, what matters most is nurturing these precious relationships that make everything else possible. When you have people who love and support you unconditionally, you can face any challenge and chase any dream.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shopfaithflowers.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopfaithflowers/
Image Credits
Alyssa Jarae Photography https://alyssajaraephotography.com/
