How a Sister’s Bridal Shower Bloomed Into Couture Florals & Events
By Lori Leath Miller
I knew Kristin Lockhart was talented long before I sat down to interview her.
I knew it the moment I walked into my wedding reception at The Alice in Destin and saw months of planning transformed into something even more beautiful than I had imagined. As a recent Couture Florals & Events bride, I had experienced the finished product firsthand. What I hadn’t yet discovered was the story behind it.
That story begins long before weddings, floral installations and luxury events. Creativity has been part of Kristin’s life for as long as she can remember. Long before she was designing celebrations along the Emerald Coast, she spent hours scrapbooking, turning simple photo albums into keepsakes filled with ribbon, embellishments and artistic details.
That creative spirit found a new outlet in 2012 when she designed an Alice in Wonderland-themed bridal shower for her sister. What began as a labor of love would eventually become the spark that launched Couture Florals & Events, now one of the area’s premier wedding and event design companies.
At the time, Kristin had little experience with floral design beyond creating a few silk arrangements for family members. But for her sister’s shower, she envisioned something extraordinary. The space was transformed into a whimsical tea party complete with moss-covered displays, trees, stacked teacups, tree stumps, squirrel accents and even a custom tea kettle cake. “When people walked in, they were amazed,” Kristin recalled. “Throughout the event, so many people told me I had a natural talent and creative eye for this type of work.”
More importantly, the experience awakened what would become her passion. “That truly sparked something in me,” she said.
Kristin began exploring floral design more seriously, eventually working professionally with fresh florals while managing a floral department. As her skills and confidence grew, so did her vision. In 2016, she launched Couture Florals & Events with a desire to create meaningful, elevated celebrations tailored to each client.
Today, what started as a shoestring startup has grown into a thriving business trusted by couples, wedding planners and event professionals throughout Northwest Florida. For Kristin, however, the attraction was never simply flowers. “I completely fell in love with the artistry, creativity and emotion behind transforming spaces and bringing people’s visions to life,” she said.
That blend of artistry and organization continues to shape her work today. While many people imagine floral design as a profession spent arranging beautiful blooms, Kristin says the reality is far more demanding. “People often think this job is just playing with flowers all day, but there is so much more that goes into what we do,” she said. “Behind the beauty is an incredible amount of planning, logistics, problem-solving, physical labor, setup, execution and cleanup.”
Over the years, she has learned to intentionally separate creative time from business time, allowing her to remain fully present when designing for clients. Even so, she believes artistry extends far beyond the flowers themselves, viewing each proposal as the first step in helping couples visualize the wedding or event of their dreams.
Like many entrepreneurs, Kristin faced uncertainty in the early years. One of the most difficult seasons came during the COVID-19 pandemic when weddings and events were postponed, rescheduled or canceled. “It was extremely difficult navigating the uncertainty while trying to protect and sustain a newer business at the time,” she said. Still, she remained committed to the business she believed in. “There is always risk involved with entrepreneurship, but I truly believed in what I was building and continued pushing forward.” Those challenges ultimately strengthened both Kristin and her company, teaching resilience, adaptability and the importance of relationships.
Today, Couture Florals & Events is known for designs that feel deeply personal rather than simply decorative. “I believe florals should feel emotionally connected to the people and the celebration,” Kristin said. “My goal is always to create an atmosphere that feels intentional, immersive and reflective of each client’s unique story and style.”
That process begins long before a flower is selected. When meeting with a couple for the first time, Kristin focuses on far more than color palettes and Pinterest boards. “I pay attention to their connection — how they interact, communicate and naturally vibe together,” she said. “You can truly feel the love they have for each other, and that often becomes the inspiration behind the overall design.”
She believes unforgettable weddings are created through thoughtful layers of candlelight, texture, place settings and carefully curated design elements that create a complete guest experience. “The small, intentional details and, of course, the couple themselves, are what separate a beautiful wedding from a memorable one,” she said. “The love, energy and connection a couple shares are what truly set the tone.”
“I especially love when couples fully trust us in the process and allow us the artistic and creative freedom to bring their vision to life in a meaningful and elevated way.”
As she described her design process, I found myself thinking back to my own wedding day. Months of planning suddenly became reality the moment I stepped into our reception space. The florals did more than decorate the room — they helped tell mine and Scott’s story.
What impressed me most was Kristin’s ability to take fragments of ideas and transform them into a cohesive vision. Calla lilies, moss, driftwood and flowing amaranthus came together in ways I never would have imagined, creating a design that felt sophisticated, personal and completely authentic to us. It wasn’t simply beautiful. It felt like us.
While trends continue to evolve, Kristin remains drawn to timeless elegance paired with natural texture and movement. Yet some of her greatest inspiration comes from the Emerald Coast itself. “What excites me most creatively about designing for clients in Destin is the atmosphere and natural beauty of our area,” she said. “The emerald water, sugar-white sand and relaxed, yet elevated, atmosphere create a backdrop that is hard to replicate anywhere else.”
Perhaps the most rewarding part of her work comes when a couple sees the finished design for the first time. “When a bride genuinely gasps, becomes emotional or gives a heartfelt reaction to what I created for her, it makes every long hour and stressful moment completely worth it,” Kristin said. “I truly live for those moments.”
As Couture Florals & Events continues to grow, Kristin hopes to keep challenging herself creatively through larger installations, new design opportunities and unforgettable events. Recognition may come, but it has never been the goal.
When asked what she hopes couples remember long after the flowers have faded, her answer is simple. “I want them to remember the experience,” she said. “If they look back on their wedding day and remember feeling completely taken care of and genuinely wowed by the end result, then I know we’ve done our job well.”
Having recently entrusted my own wedding to Couture Florals & Events, I left our interview with an even greater appreciation for what happens behind the scenes. The flowers were stunning. The designs were memorable. But what stayed with me most was exactly what Kristin hopes every client remembers: the feeling.
Long after the bouquets have faded and the candles have been extinguished, the memories remain. For Kristin, flowers are the medium, but creating lasting memories is the true art.
