Meet Stefanie Rutherford of Fresh Coast Floral Co.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stefanie Rutherford. 

Hi Stefanie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Flowers were something that found me long before I knew how much I needed them. My creative beginnings are rooted in little East Jordan MI, at the Backdoor Floral Studio where I started my senior year of high school. There, I learned the true beauty and meaning of flowers, while I nurtured my newfound love and skills. Art was always something I held close to, as it helped me work through hard and stressful times in life. The owner and flowers became a mentor to me that I didn’t know I needed. 

This experience continued and prepared me for the next chapter in life. I moved to Traverse City to begin college classes for something in the medical field because it was a “good, and reliable job.” While taking these classes I worked for another floral designer, the owner of Floral Underground. Here I assisted the owner in the production of large weddings and events. The owner and I quickly became great friends and he became a wonderful mentor. He encouraged me to participate in state-wide floral competitions which led me to become a nationally recognized Certified Florist. Through this, my love of flowers only grew and my realization that the medical field wasn’t for me. It did not take long for me to decide I wanted to do flowers for a living, no matter what it took! 

From there I worked for a retail florist for several years before finding the courage to invest in myself and start my own business. Once I finally did it was like everything clicked into place. I felt like I finally was living my authentic journey. This was about two years ago and I have absolutely zero regrets! Flowers became an integrated part of my life, helping me work through emotions and hard times but still allowing me to express myself through their beauty. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I cannot say my whole floral journey was traveled on a smooth road. There were definitely some bumps that I had to navigate. One of the struggles was making that first decision to stop taking college classes and completely change my direction. This stressed me out, mostly because I wanted to make myself and my family proud and have a “good” job. I first had to change my mindset and realize everyone’s journey is different and not everyone will take the traditional college path. I then had to see that a “good, and successful” job can mean many things and that the only success I really wanted was happiness. 

The hardest struggle was by far gaining the confidence to invest in myself and to pave my own road in my journey. There was always this voice in my head that kept saying “What – if?” or ” You need this first!” or “You are not good enough!” It took me a bit longer than I anticipated but with the endless love, support, and encouragement from my friends and family, I finally came to the realization that I am in fact good enough, and that the biggest what if was, what if I don’t! 

Through these struggles and all of life’s other struggles flowers were always there to guide me through it. Eventually, it became a no-brainer that with flowers I can do and get through anything! 

As you know, we’re big fans of Fresh Coast Floral Co. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Fresh Coast Floral Co is a traveling, full-service wedding and event floral company based out of Traverse City, Michigan. We specialize in providing wild, artful, and sophisticated arrangements for life’s special occasions. We accommodate all style types but we specialize in the daring, different, and vibrant. 

I believe what sets FCFC apart from other floral designers is our attention to detail, understanding of color, and our artistic flare. When given the opportunity to let my imagination run wild, that is when the true magic happens. I like to push boundaries and get away from the “traditional” ideas of what a wedding or event has to look like. The event needs to be just as unique as the person(s) we are celebrating. My favorite pieces to create are show-stopping arrangements like grand entrances, archways, and hanging instillations. These pieces create a wow factor and leave a lasting impact on the guests’ experience. 

I am proud that this little brand is being shaped into something more than I could have ever imagined. With my love of education, learning new things, experimenting with my style, and building customer relationships, I cannot wait to see all that this brand can truly grow be. 

What makes you happy?
What makes me happy? I used to think happiness was being successful, traveling the world, having a big house, and making a lot of money. As I have grown older my definition of happiness has changed drastically. Now happiness to me is having a loving partner, family, and friends. Happiness is cuddling with my cat, taking a walk on the beach, admiring the sky and moon, creating art, believing in myself, and smiling customers. Why? Because life isn’t just made up of big things and accomplishments but also of the small things and moments that create incredible memories. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.freshcoast-floralco.com
• Instagram: @freshcoast_floralco
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/freshcoastfloralco
• Other: www.tiktok.com/@freshcoastfloralco 

Image Credits
Hannah Nest Photography
Matte Photography
Oden & Janelle Photography
AllenKent Photography
Rachel Falardeau Photography
Wildly Yours Photography