Today we’d like to introduce you to Raquel Lovern Harris.
Fourth Generation Dallas gal, Raquel, also known as Rocky, comes from a long line of entrepreneurial women. Her great-grandmother started Dallas Tortilla & Tamale Factory back in 1950 when few women, especially minority women, had the gumption to do so.
Growing up on the shores of Lake Lewisville gave her a true love for all things natural. Raquel spent the days of her childhood painting, dancing, singing, and constantly being inspired by her painter-gardener mother with color, texture, flowers, and artistic flair. You could say her love affair with flowers began at an early age when she started making bouquets for her teachers with flowers on the playground. Her floral design education began in high school where she was inspired by all things flora and decided to study plant biology.
After a degree in Biological Anthropology and Botany from The University of Texas, and several years in the hospitality industry working weddings, golf tournaments, large community events, and UIL state championships Raquel began to help friends with their wedding flowers and fell in love with design all over again. In 2010 R Love Floral was born and Raquel has since traveled the country to study under the top florists in the world to hone her design eye, experiment with texture and explore the world of flowers.
While not designing beautiful flowers Raquel loves spending time with her new baby boy and hubby, golfing, playing tennis, savoring moments with family, and drinking champagne with her friends at any occasion.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t think, owning your own business can every truly be smooth, because there are always challenges and obstacles you must overcome along the way, however, it’s a very rewarding journey. The biggest obstacle I have faced is trying to grow a business and grow my family at the same time. I began my business right after college when I was young and single and could give all my time to growing my business and my brand.
Today I am married with an 18-month son who I want to spend all my time with. Learning to balance being a wife, mother and business owner has strengthened me and made me a better version of myself. It is truly a blessing and a calling to design beautiful flowers for my customers so when I am not home around my family, I am thankful for the career that I have!
R. Love Floral – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
R. Love Floral is a Dallas-Fort Worth creative floral design studio specializing in weddings, events and intimate soirees. We create floral arrangements that awe, by blending natural, organic, and romantic elements together to truly make each arrangement one-of-a-kind. Owner and lead designer Raquel Lovern is attracted to the asymmetrical, colorful, wild and unruly presence of nature and tries to incorporate those elements into her designs.
Our team can design the most beautiful and unique weddings and events and of course, smaller more initiates designs like showers, soirees, and special deliveries. Raquel also comes from an education background and loves to host workshops and classes at her studio in North Dallas for advanced designers, beginners, birthday parties and bachelorette parties too. We are passionate about flowers and design and we cannot wait to make your visions come to life!
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment is the day I was able to leave my full-time teaching job to pursue my floral business. I had been designing weddings and teaching simultaneously for three years and by the end of that third year, I was exhausted. I had been hustling, selling weddings and also teaching science full time at an award-winning elementary magnet school in Dallas.
I loved teaching and it was a hard decision to leave such a wonderful school with brilliant students and loving colleagues behind to pursue my dreams full time. By working full time while starting my own business I was able to build my brand and grow my business without taking out a business loan or going into any debt. I am happy to say that seven years later I am debt free and now bring in sales over $250k a year.
Pricing:
- Our full-service weddings begin at $5000 including labor, delivery, set up and breakdown.
- Our average brides spend between $6-$8k on her wedding flowers
- Be prepared to spend 10-15% of your total wedding budget on flowers.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rlovefloral.com
- Phone: (214)668-4343
- Email: Raquel@rlovefloral.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rlovefloral/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rlovefloral/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/rlovefloral?lang=en
- Other: https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/r-love-floral-designs-dallas/65a2f7ba49f87124.html
Image Credit:
Kristen Dee photography, Charla Storey
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